Gross plants ‘Liberty Tree’ in honor of family ancestor who signed Declaration of Independence
When Randi Gross found out last month she was a direct descendant of Thomas Nelson, Jr., one of signers of the Declaration of Independence, Gross immediately knew she wanted to do something to honor and preserve his legacy.
Gross, who lives on a 40-acre farm in southern Colbert County with her husband John, remembered seeing where all 67 Alabama counties each were offered a Princeton Elm tree this spring in advance of America’s Semiquincentennial, which celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Gross decided she would plant a Princeton Elm, the same type tree sent by the -Alabama USA Semiquincentennial Commission to each Alabama county, to be planted as a Liberty Tree, a living monument to honor the nation’s legacy of enduring freedom.
The Liberty Tree holds a significant place in American history. It was an elm tree near Boston Common that served as the location for the first resistance against the British government.
The tree was cut down by British loyalists after it developed as a rallying point for the Sons of LIberty secret society. But the colonists continued to gather at the location as it became a symbol of developing America.
It was Gross’ sister, Rebecca Ruiz, the family’s unofficial genealogy expert, who first learned they were descendants of Nelson, on their mother’s side.
After Gross verified their relation to Nelson, she wanted to learn more about him and how he ended up a signatory on America’s most significant document.
It wasn’t easy to find a Princeton Elm, with none of the first seven growers she called even having one in their inventory. Gross found one available at a Maryland nursery, but was concerned it was too large to be shipped to Alabama.
Ultimately, she found one available on Amazon, a beautiful three-foot tall Princeton Elm that she planted in her front yard, with a commemorative granite marker to honor Nelson.
Gross later decided she would bury a time capsule under her Liberty Tree that would contain important documents and photos that told about the family’s history.
The tree, along with the time capsule, was the perfect addition to the Gross’ beautiful farm, complete with woods, a meadow, a flowing creek and privacy, all things Gross and her husband looked for when they decided to relocate to Northwest Alabama after retirement.
“When we visited the property and saw the creek, we were sold, so we came down to Alabama in July 2003 to close on it,” Gross said. “I was raised on a farm so I couldn’t wait to get back to the country after living in Los Angeles.”
The granite marker at Gross’ Liberty Tree was made by Atkins Marble & Granite in Russellville. It reads: “This Princeton Elm is dedicated by the descendants of Thomas Nelson II, signer of the Declaration of Independence, on July 4, 2026.”
Whether fate or coincidence, discovering your descendants of a Declaration of Independence signatory in the year we celebrate its 250th anniversary was the perfect time.
And burying a time capsule with a copy of the famous document under Gross’s freshly planted Liberty Tree, it seems Gross has found the perfect place to preserve her family’s connection to American history.