From Matthies's book: "The Ledyard Elm which stood south of the Lincoln Iron Works on Arch Street was planted in 1773 to commemorate the canoe trip of John Ledyard, 'The Great American Traveller,' from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, down the Connecticut River to Hartford. John Ledyard was born in Groton and went to live with his cousin, Governor Seymour, when he was nineteen. The property was deeded to Mr. Lincoln on condition that the tree should never be trimmed or cut down except by the Park Commissioners. It was destroyed sometime during the eighteen-nineties."