There is perhaps no greater
Connecticut legend than that of the Charter Oak.
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. Charles’ death in 1685 brought his brother, James II, to the throne.
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 New England
Dominion, met with leaders of the Connecticut colony in Hartford. Debates
continued for hours as the colonists steadfastly refused to give up the
Charter. According to legend, all of the candles in the meeting house, Sanford’s Tavern suddenly blew out and,
during the confusion, the 1662 Charter disappeared. Captain Joseph Wadsworth was positioned outside the
tavern and in the chaos of the darkness rode off to George Wyllys farm where a
huge Oak tree stood. It was hidden in the trunk of a large white oak tree
where it was protected from the King and from Andros. .... known from
this day forward as the Charter Oak tree and became Connecticut’s state
tree.... not only did the tree become famous, but 325 years later, a craft beer
was born.
Despite Connecticut’s
resistance, 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, when the Constitution was introduced. In 2011, the Charter Oak
Brewing Company was founded, A True Legend!
On August 21, 1856, the
Charter Oak, estimated at nearly 1,000 years old and 33 feet circumference, fell
down during a violent storm.
BUT, the brewery lives on
to tell the tale....
