The Legend of the Charter Oak

This article was originally published on the Connecticuthistory.org website. It was written by Erin Strogoff. It is no longer published on the Internet, and so has been republished here with some language changed to make it more kid friendly.

Many places in Connecticut share a similar name: Charter Oak Bridge, Charter Oak State College, Charter Oak Park. Why are so many places and things in Connecticut named “Charter Oak”? The name comes from one of Connecticut’s most famous legends.

The Charter Oak by Charles de Wolf Brownell (Wikimedia Commons)

In 1662, the colony of Connecticut, owned and governed by England, was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II. The “Connecticut Charter” permitted the colony to make some of its own rules and to elect certain officials. After Charles’s death in 1685,  his brother, James II, became King. James disapproved of the Royal Charters and demanded their return. The charters interfered with James’s plan to establish the Dominion of New England—a combination of the New England colonies and the colony of New York under the leadership of one royal official.

In 1687, Sir Edmond Andros, the Royal Governor of the Dominion, met with leaders of the Connecticut colony in Hartford. Debates continued for hours as the colonists refused to give up the Charter. According to legend, all of the candles in the meeting house suddenly blew out and, during the confusion, the Charter disappeared. It was hidden in the trunk of a large white oak tree where it was protected from the King and from Andros.

Wikimedia Commons

Despite Connecticut’s efforts to resist, it became part of the Dominion of New England for the next two years. In 1689, James II was overthrown and Andros lost power in the colonies. The Connecticut Charter emerged from hiding and was used to govern Connecticut until 1818.

On August 21, 1856, the Charter Oak, estimated at nearly 1,000 years old, fell down during a violent storm. Because it was such an important part of Connecticut history, people used the wood to carve chess pieces, chairs, and many other items. Original artifacts made from its wood, along with numerous images, are on display at the Connecticut Historical Society.