The Pine Tree Riot
6/3/2026 | 1m 37sVideo has Closed Captions
The fight over New Hampshire’s white pine trees helped spark the Revolution.
Long before the Boston Tea Party became famous, New Hampshire colonists rebelled over the King’s claim to their trees. The Pine Tree Riot became an early symbol of resistance on the road to revolution.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Granite State History Minute is a local public television program presented by NHPBS
The Pine Tree Riot
6/3/2026 | 1m 37sVideo has Closed Captions
Long before the Boston Tea Party became famous, New Hampshire colonists rebelled over the King’s claim to their trees. The Pine Tree Riot became an early symbol of resistance on the road to revolution.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch Granite State History Minute
Granite State History Minute is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, LG TV, and Vizio.
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipDid you know that in Colonial New Hampshire, you might own the ground beneath your feet, but not the white pine tree towering over your head.
In the 18th century.
The British crown claimed ownership of the white pine trees in New Hampshire, even if they were growing on private land.
The British needed them as masts for the Royal Navy, which was growing like crazy during this period, and there wasn't any place in Britain to find trees this tall and sturdy.
But New Hampshire had plenty of them.
In fact, we supplied the British Navy with around 4500 white pine trees for ship masts during the colonial period.
But not everyone was happy about it.
In 1772, farmers in Goffstown and Weare were caught at a mill cutting up the King's pine trees.
The men of Goffstown just paid their fines and let it go, but the men of Weare refused.
Not only did they not pay their fines, they called in a lawyer to represent them to the Royal Governor in Portsmouth, but the Governor would not waive the fine.
When the sheriff showed up and Weare to collect, the men responded by storming into his room at the local inn in the middle of the night, beating him with pine branches and sending him galloping out of town.
This episode is called The Pine Tree Riot and it became a symbol of liberty and independence.
Another step on New Hampshire's road to revolution.
Support for PBS provided by:
Granite State History Minute is a local public television program presented by NHPBS