The King's Broad Arrow

In the late 17th century, the King of England claimed all large Eastern White Pines as property of the Crown. Surveyors were dispatched to New England’s forests, marking pines of at least 24 inches in diameter with a “broad arrow” — three axe slashes indicating royal ownership. This decree, codified by the Mast Preservation Clause of 1691, applied to all suitable trees within 10 miles of navigable waterways in British territories, though it excluded private lands. Anyone found cutting these reserved trees without royal permission faced a heavy fine.

The King's Broad Arrow Mark

In 1699, King William appointed a Surveyor of the Woods to protect these prized pines, advising colonial governors to ensure compliance. The law stirred resentment among colonists, whose livelihoods often depended on harvesting and selling pine timber. Colonists viewed the restrictions as oppressive, especially as British timber supplies dwindled and pressure grew to enforce the law more strictly. British acts in 1711, 1722, and 1772 even expanded protections to smaller trees, which only deepened colonial frustration.

Eastern White Pine, the tallest native pine in North America, was highly valued for its strength, lightweight, and decay resistance, making it ideal for building, particularly in ship masts. Trees measuring 150 to 240 feet in height and clear of branches for 80 feet or more were common when English colonists arrived. They built homes, businesses, and ships from this versatile wood, and shipbuilders found it perfect for constructing the tall masts needed for the Royal Navy’s growing fleet. However, competition from European powers for Baltic timber made New England’s forests increasingly valuable to Britain. Securing exclusive rights to New England’s white pines was vital for maintaining naval dominance.

As enforcement intensified, colonists pushed back, often violating the law by cutting down reserved trees and even re-marking smaller, less valuable ones with the broad arrow to deceive officials. This resistance escalated into incidents like the Pine Tree Riot, where settlers openly defied British restrictions. The Eastern White Pine thus became a symbol of colonial resistance, as central to the rebellion as the British imposed taxes. In fact, some early American flags, including one reputedly flown at the Battle of Bunker Hill, bore a white pine emblem, signifying the tree’s role in the drive for independence.

The protection law was abandoned after the American Revolution. The tax on tea was not the only issue that raised anger among American colonists in the 1700s. Eastern White Pine played an equally key role in events that led to the Revolutionary War and American Independence from England.

As settlement expanded in what would become Wilbraham in 1763, the area, then part of the British Colonies, lay within 10 miles of the Connecticut River, a navigable waterway. While British law protected Eastern White Pines near such waterways, the land known as the Outward Commons was granted to private individuals on February 3, 1685, exempting it from these restrictions. This allowed settlers to harvest the towering pines freely, using them in the construction of homes and structures, where they were often crafted into wide planks for floors, paneling, and roof sheathing.

In 1684, however, the colony faced a significant threat: Sir Edmund Andros, Governor of Massachusetts, aimed to revoke the colony's charter, which would place unappropriated lands—like the Outward Commons—under the Crown’s control. In response, land grants were quickly issued in 1685 to ensure the property remained in colonial hands, securing it for private settlers rather than for the King.

One notable example of this early construction is the Silas Bliss House, located at 218 Mountain Road, built in 1769. The home retains large, historic pine boards, some nearly 20 inches wide, showcasing the majesty and utility of these old-growth trees. Homes like this offer a tangible connection to the colonial era, displaying the enduring quality and beauty of Eastern White Pine in early New England craftsmanship.

Silas Bliss house built in 1769

Silas Bliss front entryway.