From Matthies: "The tablet on the tree read: 'This ancient white oak was named when John Brown 'whose soul is marching on' played under it as a tiny child, and called it 'my tree.' ' John never forgot this tree and came to it on each of his trips to Connecticut. The oak had previous historic interest for it was a council tree of the local Indians. John Brown was born in 1800 in the neighboring town of Torrington."