From Matthies's book: "In colonial days it was the custom for the bride-to-be to bring a tree from her father's home and plant it near her new home. Sarah Saltonstall came from New London to marry Daniel Buck just before the Connecticut River froze over and so was not able to bring a tree with her. The next spring as she was drawing water from her well, she saw an old Indian approaching and bearing a sapling in his hand. After some conversation in the sign language Sarah exchanged a quart of rum for the sapling which she planted by the well. This proud elm still stands today shading house where Sarah and Daniel Buck lived in 1775."