The Tree of Liberty
William Ellery Park
To commemorate the repeal of the Stamp Act in March 1766, William Read deeded a small triangle of land at this site where grew the original Tree of Liberty, to William Ellery and others in trust. This tree was cut down by British occupation forces soon after their arrival on December 6, 1776.
A new tree was planted in April, 1783 by a group of thirteen citizens named on a copper plate placed on the tree in 1823 which is now in the Newport Historical Society Museum.
The present tree was planted in 1897 and rededicated in 1919 when Henrietta C. Ellery deeded this park to the city.
This memorial placed by the Rhode Island Society, Sons of the Revolution, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Tree of Liberty.August 29, 1966.
Marker is at the intersection of Poplar Street and Thames Street, on the right when traveling east on Poplar Street.
Courtesy hmdb.org
