Historical Name: Salem, NJ
Common Name: White Oak
Latin Name: Quercus alba
The Salem White Oak was a venerable 500-600 year old tree located in the cemetery of the Friend’s Meeting House in Salem, NJ. It grew near to where John Fenwicke made a peace treaty with the local Native Americans shortly after he purchased half of New Jersey for $5000 in 1675. Working with Edward Byllings and other backers, a small colony of Quakers was established by Fenwicke at Salem, and the treaty was never violated. No colonists were ever killed by Native Americans in Salem County. One of the oldest and largest trees in NJ, the Salem Oak was damaged by storms in the early 2000’s and started to decline. On June 6, 2019 the tree unexpectedly collapsed and died as a result of significant internal decay. The tree found in UCNJ’s Historic Tree Grove was grown from an acorn collected from the Salem Oak, and was planted into the Grove in 2003.