Meet the American who first planted apples in the colonies: William Blaxton

Meet the American who first planted apples in the colonies: William Blaxton, eccentric settler

Apples arrived after European exploration, became fuel for pioneers and symbol of American bounty

By Kerry J. Byrne Published September 13, 2024 3:40am EDT

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This man planted the first apple orchards in colonial America — here's his fascinating story

William Blaxton (also Blackstone) arrived in America from England and helped give us the apples we enjoy every fall.

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This fall, tip your basket to William Blaxton when you pluck a plump apple from a tree, bob for apples on Halloween or cherish your grandmother's amazing apple pie on Thanksgiving.

"There may be historical characters who did more than he did for apples in America, but he was certainly the first — and at least the first known — to bring this exotic crop to our shores," said John Bunker, an American apple expert, grower and author. 

"That’s a pretty awesome legacy," added the New England apple enthusiast, who spoke to Fox News Digital while "tracking down ancient trees" in the woods of rural Maine.