Quick Facts
Biography
Robert Treat (February 23, 1624 – July 12, 1710) was an American colonial leader, militia officer and governor of the Connecticut Colony between 1683 and 1698 and the founder of Newark, New Jersey.
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. 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.
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, 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. 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.
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
- Sidney Mason Stone (1803-1882), architect
- Margaret Sidney (1844-1924) author of Five Little Peppers children's series.
- Nathaniel Treat (1798–1895), politician
- Joseph B. Treat (1836–1919), politician
- Charles Treat (1859–1941), general
- Charles H. Treat (1842–1910), Treasurer of the United States from 1905 to 1909
- Charles W. Woodworth (1865–1940), entomologist
- Treat Williams (b. 1951), Actor/Director/Singer/Pilot
- William W. Treat (May 23, 1918 - January 10, 2010), Judge/Banker/Founder of Bank Meridian/Founder of the National College of Probate Judges/Chairman of the NH Republican Party from 1954-58
- Thomas Treat, (4 Sept 1761 - 11 March 1847), 2nd Great Nephew to Robert Treat, Revolutionary War Soldier, fought in the Battle of New London, CT on 6 Sept. 1781.