As the year-long celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence 250 years ago continued Saturday, April 4, the Florida Society Sons of the American Revolution —Jacksonville Chapter dedicated Jacksonville’s historical Treaty Oak as a nationally recognized Liberty Tree.
The dedication was well attended with remarks from Harrison Conyers, director of military and veterans affairs representing Donna Deegan, Mayor of the City of Jacksonville. Within his greeting, he read a proclamation designating “April 4, 2026. America’s 250th Liberty Tree Day.” Others sending greetings were: Ester Byrd, representing U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody; Florida Society Sons of the American Revolution President Christopher Washer; and Florida State Children of the American Revolution President Jaylen Tillman.
The group also heard presentations from student Zander Fontaine, SAR Jacksonville Chapter’s Rumbaugh Oration winner; SAR Jacksonville Chapter President Paul Tucker’s history of the Treaty Oak; and from Gray Chandler who spoke about the Sons of Liberty group that later became the present-day Sons of the American Revolution.
Jacksonville’s Treaty Oak is an impressive Southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) and an iconic arboricultural landmark in downtown Jacksonville. Estimated to be at least 250 years old or more, the Treaty Oak predates 1822 and the founding of the City of Jacksonville.
In the 1930s, Pat Moran, a local journalist, solicited public support with stories boosting the tree’s historical significance. Moran published stories suggesting that early treaties between indigenous populations and European settlers were signed under its branches. Therefore, the tree was given its popular name, the Treaty Oak.
Within Saturday’s ceremony, an SAR Liberty Tree plaque was dedicated and will join an existing Daughters of the American Revolution Liberty Tree plaque on the pillars at the entrance of Jessie Ball DuPont Park.
During the year-long celebration, the Sons of the American Revolution have plans to plant 250 new oak trees in every SAR chapter’s service area. The Treaty Oak/Liberty in Jacksonville is unique as one of the very few mature trees to receive the designation.
The first Liberty Tree was a large elm tree that stood in Boston near Boston Common in the years before the American Revolution. In 1765, colonists in Boston staged their first act of defiance against the British government at that tree. However, in 1775, the British had enough of these rebellious rallies at the Liberty Tree and had it cut down. However, during the American Revolution, each of the 13 original colonies designated a “Liberty Tree” as a gathering point for patriots.
