This tree is part of a very interesting piece of folklore and putative Mobile History. In essence, in 1835, a man (Charles Boyington) was charged, convicted and hanged for the murder of his best friend. On the gallows before the hanging, he proclaimed that an oak tree would grow from this heart as evidence of his innocence. A few years later, someone else confessed to the crime and surprising to most, a tree had already started growing. This is said tree...approximately 190 years old. BTW, Live Oak trees can live up to 500 years. I certainly hope it will. read more

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The legend of this tree is definitely cool. Back in 1835, Charles Boyington was convicted of the murder of his friend, Nathaniel Frost. Throughout the trial and after his conviction and he sentence to be hanged, Boyington proclaimed his innocence. Just prior to his death, Boyington stated that his innocence would be proven when an oak tree would grow out of his heart and from his grave. Later, two people would confess to the crime, but unfortunately, it was too late for Boyington. An oak tree did indeed grow from the location of where he was buried and still stands today. There are claims that people hear crying and whispering near the tree and attribute it to the ghost of Charles Boyington seeking his vindication. I love these cool discoveries and ghost stories. If you are in Mobile, Alabama, I recommend seeking this tree out. read more

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A beautiful old, haunted Southern Live Oak Tree not far from Downtown Mobile, it is a short walk. Legend has it that Charles R. S. Boyington moved to Mobile, Alabama from Connecticut in 1833. Boyington was stayed at a local boardinghouse where he befriended Nathaniel Frost, his roommate. On May 11, 1834, Boyington & Frost were seen walking together by the Church Street Graveyard, which was located along the very edge of the city at that time, which is now in Downtown, Mobile, Alabama. Nathaniel Frost was found murdered (stabbed) & robbed near The Church Street Graveyard. Boyington was the obvious suspect in the murder, but steadfastly professed his innocence even after he was found guilty of the crime. He was executed on February 20, 1835 for the murder of Frost and buried in the northwestern corner of Church Street Graveyard, in the potter's field section. Prior to being hanged, Boyington reportedly stated that a mighty oak tree would spring from his heart as proof of his innocence. An oak tree did eventually grow from the grave. Although the grave and tree were originally inside the brick wall surrounding the cemetery, the wall was moved back from this section shortly after the turn of the 20th century. Today the Boyington Oak stands just outside the cemetery wall, on the edge of Bayou Street. The story of the Boyington Oak has been published numerous times. The story is featured in Kathryn Tucker Windham's Jeffrey's Latest 13: More Alabama Ghosts, John S. Sledge's Cities of Silence, Nelson and Nelson's A History of Church Street Graveyard, and Pruitt and Higgin's "Crime and Punishment in Antebellum Mobile: The Long Story of Charles R. S. Boyington" in the Gulf Coast Historical Review. Ghost stories about the tree claim that visitors have reported hearing crying and whispering sounds emanating from the vicinity of the tree. In November 2019, Boyington Oak: A Grave Injustice was released. Thoroughly researched and written by Mary S. Palmer, this creative nonfiction book recounts the story of Charles R. S. Boyington, his murder conviction, and execution by hanging. Boyington's prediction was that a tree would grow from his grave, proving his innocence in the crime. The tree stands today! Please note, I copied and pasted some of this story from Wikipedia to add to the photos I added of The Boyington Oak. read more

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