A Brief History
On April 14, 1772, the building tension toward open rebellion of Americans against the British erupted in New Hampshire in an incident known as The Pine Tree Riot. The dispute at the core of this incident concerned the protection of Eastern White Pine trees of 12 inches or greater diameter, setting these aside for the exclusive use of British shipbuilders. Obviously, colonists thought they had better uses for the wood growing in their own backyard!
Digging Deeper
Britain, an island nation of immense naval power, had largely stripped its own land of trees suitable for building ships, especially those required for masts and booms, vital pieces during the Age of Sail. American Eastern White Pines happened to be quite appropriate for use as masts and booms on ships, and thus were appropriated by the British Government through the Colonial British Government of New Hampshire.
Facing severe fines for ignoring this law, colonists nonetheless defied the law and made it a point of pride that no floorboards should be less than 12 inches across, testament to their defiance. This proscription against using local lumber had angered colonists even beyond the anger generated by the Stamp Act and various Tea Taxes. The local authorities did not enthusiastically enforce this law until John Wentworth became Governor in 1766, when he insisted on the obedience to the law. In a crackdown against offenders in 1771-1772, several sawmills were found to be in possession of lumber earmarked for the Navy, and were ordered to pay fines or be prosecuted. Some paid, but some refused, and warrants for the arrest of those offenders were issued.
