From Matthies's book: "The property on which the oak stands was purchased by Nathaniel Johnson from Thomas and Martha Mulliner in 1714. It remained in the Johnson family until 1916, since which time it has often changed hands. The tree was saved from destruction in 1931 when the course of the state road was changed at the request of the town. The measurements of the tree in 1800 were as follows: circumference of trunk, thirty feet; branch spread, east and west one hundred and eleven feet, north and south one hundred and seven feet. Its estimated age is over two hundred years."