Robert Treat

Robert Treat (February 23, 1622 – July 12, 1710) was a New England Puritan colonial leader, militia officer and governor of the Connecticut Colony between 1683 and 1698. In 1666 he helped found Newark, New Jersey.

Robert Treat
Robert Treat depicted by Adolph Treidler for the 250th anniversary of Newark
23rd Governor of Connecticut Colony
In office
1689–1698
Preceded byPosition re-established
Succeeded byFitz-John Winthrop
In office
1683–1687
Preceded byWilliam Leete
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Personal details
Born(1622-02-23)February 23, 1622
Pitminster, Somerset, England
DiedJuly 12, 1710(1710-07-12) (aged 88)
Milford, Connecticut Colony
SpouseJane Tapp Treat
OccupationFarmer/politician

Biography

Treat was born in Pitminster, Somerset, England, and emigrated to Massachusetts with his family in 1630, when he was six. His father was Richard Treat and his mother was Alice Gaylord. In 1637, 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. 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 Connecticut Charter of 1662 forced the New Haven Colony to merge with Connecticut in 1665, Treat led a group of dissidents who left the colony. They moved to New Jersey in 1666 where 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, the elder. Treat wanted the new community to be named Milford. Pierson, a devout Puritan, preferred the name New Ark, and this place is now known as Newark.[2] Treat 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, where he was named Commander-in-Chief of Connecticut's forces. Treat, for example, had a crucial role in fighting that took place near Deerfield, Massachusetts, along with 300 Connecticut militiamen. He also took part in the Great Swamp Fight, one of the bloodiest battles of the war, against the Narragansetts. 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.[3]

Notable descendants

His descendants include:

References
  1. "Robert Treat". Connecticut State Library. Archived from the original on 8 January 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  2. New Jersey Opinion: Where Did This Name Come From? by Abraham Resnick — New York Times — February 25, 1990
  3. "Robert Treat". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  4. Treat Williams

Further reading
  • Edward Paul Rindler, "The Migration from the New Haven Colony to Newark, East New Jersey: A Study of Puritan Values and Behavior, 1630-1720" PhD dissertation u of Pennsylvania; Dissertation Abstracts International (1978), 38#11 pp 6792–6792 online
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