Hangman's Elm
Encyclopedia
Hangman's Elm, or simply "The Hanging Tree", is an English Elm
located at the Northwest corner in Washington Square Park
, in the New York City
borough
of Manhattan
. It stands 110 feet (33.52 m) tall and has a diameter of 56 inches (1.42 m).
In 1989, the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
determined that this English Elm was 310 years old, making it the oldest known tree in Manhattan
. The elm has outlived the city’s other famous old trees: Peter Stuyvesant
’s pear tree at the northeast corner of 13th Street and Third Avenue
, and the great Tulip poplar at Shorakapkok in Washington Heights
.
The earliest references to the elm as a "hanging tree" date from the late 19th century, long after the supposed hangings were said to have taken place. Recent extensive research into the park's history by more than one historian
has shown that the tree was on a private farm until the land was bought by the city and added to Washington Square in 1827. No public records exist of hangings from this tree.
The only recorded execution in this area was of Rose Butler, in 1820, for arson. She was hanged from a gallows
in the city's potter's field
, on the eastern side of Minetta Creek, about 150 meters from the elm; at that time, Minetta Creek ran in a shallow ravine between the potter's field and the farm where the elm stood.
English Elm
Ulmus procera Salisb., the English, Common, or more lately Atinian, Elm was, before the advent of Dutch elm disease, one of the largest and fastest-growing deciduous trees in Europe...
located at the Northwest corner in Washington Square Park
Washington Square Park
Washington Square Park is one of the best-known of New York City's 1,900 public parks. At 9.75 acres , it is a landmark in the Manhattan neighborhood of Greenwich Village, as well as a meeting place and center for cultural activity...
, in the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
borough
Borough (New York City)
New York City, one of the largest cities in the world, is composed of five boroughs. Each borough now has the same boundaries as the county it is in. County governments were dissolved when the city consolidated in 1898, along with all city, town, and village governments within each county...
of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. It stands 110 feet (33.52 m) tall and has a diameter of 56 inches (1.42 m).
In 1989, the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
The City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation is the department of government of the City of New York responsible for maintaining the city's parks system, preserving and maintaining the ecological diversity of the city's natural areas, and furnishing recreational opportunities for city's...
determined that this English Elm was 310 years old, making it the oldest known tree in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. The elm has outlived the city’s other famous old trees: Peter Stuyvesant
Peter Stuyvesant
Peter Stuyvesant , served as the last Dutch Director-General of the colony of New Netherland from 1647 until it was ceded provisionally to the English in 1664, after which it was renamed New York...
’s pear tree at the northeast corner of 13th Street and Third Avenue
Third Avenue (Manhattan)
Third Avenue is a north-south thoroughfare on the East Side of the New York City borough of Manhattan, running from Cooper Square north for over 120 blocks. Third Avenue continues into The Bronx across the Harlem River over the Third Avenue Bridge north of East 129th Street to East Fordham Road at...
, and the great Tulip poplar at Shorakapkok in Washington Heights
Washington Heights, Manhattan
Washington Heights is a New York City neighborhood in the northern reaches of the borough of Manhattan. It is named for Fort Washington, a fortification constructed at the highest point on Manhattan island by Continental Army troops during the American Revolutionary War, to defend the area from the...
.
The earliest references to the elm as a "hanging tree" date from the late 19th century, long after the supposed hangings were said to have taken place. Recent extensive research into the park's history by more than one historian
has shown that the tree was on a private farm until the land was bought by the city and added to Washington Square in 1827. No public records exist of hangings from this tree.
The only recorded execution in this area was of Rose Butler, in 1820, for arson. She was hanged from a gallows
Gallows
A gallows is a frame, typically wooden, used for execution by hanging, or by means to torture before execution, as was used when being hanged, drawn and quartered...
in the city's potter's field
Potter's field
A potter's field was an American term for a place for the burial of unknown or indigent people. The expression derives from the Bible, referring to a field used for the extraction of potter's clay, which was useless for agriculture but could be used as a burial site.-Origin:The term comes from...
, on the eastern side of Minetta Creek, about 150 meters from the elm; at that time, Minetta Creek ran in a shallow ravine between the potter's field and the farm where the elm stood.