Robert Treat

Robert Treat (February 23, 1622 – July 12, 1710) was an American colonial leader, militia officer and governor of the Connecticut Colony between 1683 and 1698.

Biography

Treat was born in Pitminster, Somerset, England and emigrated to Massachusetts with his family when he was fifteen. His father was Richard Treat and his mother was Alice Gaylord. His family were early settlers at Wethersfield, Connecticut. He settled in Milford, Connecticut in 1639 and became one of the leaders of the New Haven Colony, serving in the General Court as its assembly was known.

On Christmas Day, 1647 he married Jane Tapp in Milford, with whom he had eight children. Their great-grandson, Robert Treat Paine, signed the Declaration of Independence. Jane died on October 31, 1703. He then married Mrs. Elizabeth (Powell) Bryan, the daughter of Elder Michael and Abigail Powell of Boston, on October 24, 1705. She was twice widowed before marrying Gov. Treat. She died on January 10, 1706.^[1]

Career

When the New Haven Colony was absorbed into the Connecticut Colony in 1662, many of the Puritan settlers were displeased at the fact that the new colony's constitution didn't include certain restrictions on non-Puritan settlers.^[2] The New Haven colonists believed that only members of the Puritan church should be allowed to vote, and that only the children of church members could be baptized.^[2]

In response, the New Haven Puritans sent Treat and John Gregory to meet with Philip Carteret, the new Royal Governor of New Jersey. The group chose the present day site of Newark for a new settlement. In May 1666, the Puritan settlers led by Treat purchased the land directly from the Hackensack Indians.^[2] They were joined by other dissidents from Branford, Connecticut, another part of the former New Haven Colony. The dissidents from Branford were led by Abraham Pierson, Sr. Robert Treat wanted the new community to be named Milford, New Jersey. Pierson, a devout Puritan, preferred the name New Ark, and this place is now known as Newark.^[3] Robert himself returned to Milford, Connecticut in 1672 and lived there the rest of his life.

Treat headed the colony's militia for several years, principally against the Narragansett Indians. This included participating in King Philip's War in 1676. He served on the Governor's Council continuously from 1676 to 1708.

First elected Governor in 1683, Treat was supplanted by Sir Edmund Andros in 1687, making Connecticut part of the Dominion of New England. Treat is credited with having a role in concealing the state's charter in the Charter Oak, and resumed his job as governor when the dominion scheme fell apart in 1689. He was re-elected annually until being defeated by Fitz-John Winthrop in 1698.

Death

Treat died in Milford, New Haven County, Connecticut, on July 12, 1710. He is interred at Milford Cemetery in Connecticut.^[4]

Notable descendants

His descendants include:

• Robert Treat Paine (1731–1814), signer of the Declaration of Independence
• Stephen Crane (1871–1900), author (The Red Badge of Courage)
• Thomas Edison (1847–1931), inventor
• Charles H. Treat (1842–1910), Treasurer of the United States from 1905 to 1909
• Charles W. Woodworth (1865–1940), entomologist
• Treat Williams (born 1951), actor, director, singer, pilot^[5]
• William W. Treat (May 23, 1918 - January 10, 2010), banker, founder of Bank Meridian, founder of the National College of Probate Judges, and Chairman of the NH Republican Party from 1954-58^[6]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Robert Treat.

• Robert Treat family tree Some Descendents
• Robert Treat directing landing of founders of Newark, Adolph Treidler poster