Boston History: The Great Elm
An American Elm tree that predated Boston itself stood in Boston Common for more than 200 years, having likely first sprouted around the same time the first pilgrims arrived. The tree was Boston's "first city hall" and had many uses. Here are some of the many events this piece of Boston history witnessed over the years.
The Sons of Liberty assembled below its branches during the American Revolution. A few years later, in 1790, Jesse Lee delivered the first Methodist sermon in New England.
The tree also served as a gallows for pirates, non-puritans, indigenous Americans, slaves, witches, and others who were considered felons at the time. This image shows Mary Dyer’s walk to the gallows at the Elm. Hear her fascinating story on our Boston Common History tour!
One of the most famous hangings in Boston’s history was Rachel Wall, the only known female pirate in New England waters.
Rachel Wall was was caught, tried, and hanged on the Elm for capturing ships and killing their crews with her husband and fellow pirates. Although caught for robbery, she requested that she be tried as a pirate despite the certainty that she would be sentenced to death.
When the Great Elm was too old and weak to support hangings from the tree itself, scaffolds and gallows were built next to the tree to continue public executions. Public hangings continued in Boston Common until 1817.
The Great Elm became a prominent landmark and meeting point as the area surrounding Boston Common became a more desirable residential neighborhood. Heavy winds during a storm toppled the Great Elm on February 15, 1876. Thousands of people, including the mayor of Boston, gathered to take a look and grab a souvenir.
In 2019, a new tree of the same rare American Elm species was planted in the same location by Boston's Parks and Recreation Department!
You can visit the location where all of this Boston history took place, in the center of Boston Common as marked on the map below! Although it was a popular location at the time, today not many Bostonians know about this hidden gem.
