From Matthies's book: "It is said that about 1650 Governor John Winthrop imported thirty-six apple trees which he distributed to the thirty-six families of New London 'to plant and make a town of orchards.' What is supposed to be the only one of these trees still living is in the back yard of the old Hempsted House which was built by Robert Hempsted in 1643 or 1645 and is now owned by Miss Anna Hempsted Branch, a direct descendant in the tenth generation. The variety of apple appears to be Roxbury Russet which, according to Beech's 'Apples of New York', is supposed to have originated in Roxbury, Massachusetts, about 1640 and introduced into Connecticut in 1649 or soon thereafter! It is well known that Governor Winthrop made frequent trips between New London and Boston, and if we assume that the thirty-six trees were 'imported' from Boston the facts and stories agree very closely."