portsmouthhistorynotes

I attended a lecture on the beech trees of Newport and the director of the Aquidneck Land Trust commented that some the trees of this forest are 300 years old. I have researched the British Occupation of 1776-1779 and I usually make a point of saying that the British and Hessians (Germans) chopped down most all of our trees except those in the Glen. If the Oakland trees are 300 years old they were there during the Occupation.

A number of years ago I was privileged to take a tour of the Glen with arborist Matt Largess. He commented that the Glen itself was one of the few areas on the island with old growth trees because the British were not able to easily cut down the trees during the occupation of the Island. That explained why in the 1850s the Glen would be an attraction because its natural beauty had been preserved.

Online the Aquidneck Land Trust says: Aquidneck Land Trust’s Oakland Forest includes a regionally ecologically unique old-growth American beech forest, with trees estimated to be between 200 and 300 years old based on tree coring done in 2000.”

Reading through British soldier Mackenzie’s diary it is clear why so much wood was needed by the Royal forces. Mackenzie writes on December 6th, 1778:

“Every step is being taken to supply fuel: All the timber trees on the island are cutting down and the old wharves will be broken up.”

Vacant houses were taken apart and the wood was used for fuel. Rail fences were taken apart and burned. On December 13th his diary entry reads:

“All the carriages that can be collected on the Island are employed in bringing in the wood which is cut by the party out on the island.”

“Turf” was cut on Brenton’s Neck and used for fuel. When the island was exhausted, they sent fleets out to collect wood on Conanicut, Block Island and Long Island.

Looking at Revolutionary era maps, I do see areas still shown as forested.

I am not sure about the accuracy of the core samples, however I don’t dismiss them. From now on I need to express the probability that some of the trees at Oakland Forest were spared by the British.