Notes
Gov. Robert Treat (abt 1623-1710)
Father of Newark, New Jersey
Commander in Chief / King Philip's War
Governor of Connecticut
Burial Place: Old Burying Ground, Milford, Connecticut
From "Biographies of American & Colonial Governors" by Meckler
TREAT, Robert, Governor of Connecticut 1683-1687, 1689-1698
Born circa 1622 in Pitminster, Somerset, England, the second son of
Richard and Alice (Gaylard) Treat (or Trott). A Congregationalist.
Brother of Richard, James, Honor, Joanna, Sarah, Susanna and Catherine.
Married circa 1647 to Jane Tapp, by whom he was the father of Samuel,
John, Mary, Robert, Sarah, Hannah, Joseph and Abigail; after his first
wife's death in 1703, remarried on October 24, 1705 to Elizabeth (Powell)
Hollingsworth Bryan; no children by his second wife.
Immigrated with his parents to America, probably late in the 1630's;
later became one of the early settlers of the town of Milford in New
Haven Colony. Was serving as a Deputy in the New Haven General Court by
1653, representing Milford; also named Lieutenant and Chief Military
Officer of Milford in 1654. Selected as a Magistrate of New Haven Colony
in 1659, a position which he held until he declined to serve in May 1664.
Following the formal merger of New Haven with Connecticut in 1665, acted
briefly as a member of the Connecticut General Assembly, but soon moved
to Newark in East Jersey; served as a Deputy in the East Jersey Assembly
from 1667 to 1672; also held office as Magistrate and Recorder of Newark.
Returned to Connecticut early in the 1670's, and became an Assistant of
that colony in 1673. From 1675 to 1676 played a major military role
during King Philip's War, serving as Commander-in-Chief of the
Connecticut forces deployed against the Indians. Elected Deputy Governor
of Connecticut in May 1676, a position he retained until he succeeded the
deceased Governor William Leete in April 1683.
Except for the period between November 1687 and the spring of 1689, when
Sir Edmund Andros governed the colony as part of the Dominion of New
England, Treat served as chief executive of Connecticut from 1683 to
1698. A political moderate, Treat agreed to serve as a member of Andros'
Council during the eighteen months of Dominion rule, but he also wished
to avoid unnecessary encroachment by Crown officials. Consequently, after
the demise of Andros, Treat advocated resumption of government under
Connecticut's old charter, a charter which had never been legally
invalidated. The impressive victory by Treat in the gubernatorial
election of May 1689 was a major triumph over both the conservative
Gershom Bulkeley, who claimed that the overthrow of Andros had been
illegitimate, and the popular James Fitch, who attacked Treat's
complicity with the Dominion government.
Following his tenure as chief executive, the aged Treat continued to
serve as deputy governor until 1708. He died on July 12, 1710.
Bibliography: John Harvey Treat, the Treat Family (Salem, Mass., 1893);
George W. Solley, "Major Robert Treat," Pocumtuck Valley Memorial
Association, Proceedings, V (1912), 62-78; George Hare Ford, "Robert
Treat, Founder, Farmer, Soldier, Statesman, Governor," New Haven Colony
Historical Society, Papers, VIII (April 1914), 163-80; Charles A Scully,
Robert Treat, 1622-1710 (Philadelphia, 19599), DAB.
From the "History of Newark, NJ" by Joseph Atkinson (1878):
FOUNDER OF NEWARK
Robert TREAT is described as "the flower and pride of the whole company."
In establishing and laying out the town he was among the most active and
energetic. More than any other settler he is justly entitled to be
remembered as THE FOUNDER OF NEWARK. To none more than to Treat is the
Newark of today indebted for the natural beauty of its location, the
order of its original plan, and the width and attractiveness of its
leading thoroughfares, more especially Broad street. In evidence of the
esteem in which he was held by his fellow settlers of Newark, the town
records tell that when the town was parceled into lots, he was given
first choice by universal consent, and besides, two extra acres or lots
in recognition of his services in negotiating for
the settlement.
GOVERNOR OF CONNECTICUT
He remained in Newark after its settlement only some six years, returning
to Connecticut in 1672. In Connecticut he became more than ever a man of
mark. Besides taking a commanding military position in early colonial
Indian warfare, Treat served the Colony for thirty-two years as Deputy
Governor and Governor. It is traditionally related that at the "Battle of
Bloody Brook," between the Indians and the Colonists, Major Treat
commanded the latter, and behaved heroically. It is said that in the
action: "He that commanded our forces then and now us, (the Colonial
Legislature), made no less than seventeen fair shots at the enemy, and
was thereby as oft a mark for them." As Governor (of Connecticut) he was
elected annually from 1683 until 1698. He died July 12, 1710, full of
years and honors. He was in his 85th year. Trumball, Connecticut
historian, justly says of this remarkable man: "Few men have sustained a
fairer character or rendered the public more important services. He was
an excellent military officer; a man of singular courage and resolution,
tempered with caution and prudence. His administration of government was
with wisdom, firmness and integrity. He was esteemed, courageous, wise
and pious. He was exceedingly beloved and venerated by the people in
general, and especially by his neighbors at Milford where he resided."
SHE'D RATHER BE TREATED THAN TROTTED!
He was twice married, his first wife being Jane Tapp, a daughter of one
of the "seven pillars" of the Milford church. Like brave men generally,
Treat appears to have been exceedingly timid and backward in the presence
of the fair sex. That is to say, he was extremely backward in coming to
the main point - a proposal of marriage. There is good authority for
saying that once, while familiarly dancing his future wife on his knee,
as was permissible by their disparity of age and long intimacy, the
damsel brought her lover to a prompt decision by the suggestive
expostulation: "Robert, be still that I had rather be Treatted than
trotted."
MISCELLANEOUS
Gov. Treat left Newark a rich legacy in the persons of several estimable
children. His son John, who married Sarah Tichenor, was a Justice of the
Peace under Cornbury; represented Essex County in the Assembly when it
was necessary that members should along with other requirements, own
1,000 acres of land or L500 in personal estate; was in 1712, Presiding
Judge of the local court; and in 1731, held the military title of Major,
like his distinguished father. The Governor's daughter Mary became the
wife of Deacon Azariah Crane, who left his "silver bole" to be used by
"the church in Newark forever," and who appears to have outlived all the
original settlers. Governor Treat's "home-lott" was occupied by his
daughter's descendants until the beginning of the present century (1800).
On a portion of it now stands a noble monument not only to Robert Treat
but to all the original settlers - the First Presbyterian Church of
Newark. Though the name of Treat is extinct in Newark, and almost
entirely so in the State of New Jersey, the Governor's descendants are
numerous and representative of the best citizenship and the highest
reputation. In New England and the West the Treats number not a few
distinguished men in public as well as in private life.
TIMELINE OF GOV. ROBERT TREAT
Abt 1621 - born in Pitminster, Somerset, England®154
Late 1630s - immigrated with his parents to America®171
One of the early settlers of the town of Milford in New Haven Colony®171
c. 1647 - married to Jane Tapp and they had children: Samuel, John, Mary,
Robert, Sarah, Hannah, Joseph and Abigail®171
1649 - married to Jane Tapp®154
1653 - was serving as a Deputy in the New Haven General Court,
representing Milford®171
1654 - Lieutenant and Chief Military Officer of Milford®171
Commander in Chief of the Connecticut troops in King Philip's War®69®154
1659 to May 1664 - Magistrate of New Haven Colony®171
1665 - following the formal merger of New Haven with Connecticut in 1665,
acted briefly as a member of the Connecticut General
Assembly, but soon moved to Newark in East Jersey®171
1667 to 1672 - was Deputy in the Assembly of East Jersey®69 also
Magistrate and Recorder of Newark®171
Early 1670s - returned to Connecticut®171
1673 - served as Assistant of Connecticut Colony®171
1676 - he was made Deputy Governor of the Province of Connecticut®154
1682 - Robert Treat Sr. of Milford, CT deeded to his son-in-law Azariah
Crane and daughter Mary Crane of Newark, for a homelot of 8
acres at Newark (bounded) S. (by) Abraham Pearson, E., N. and W. roads; 6
acres of upland and meadow in the Cove, S.E. Samuel
Swaine, S.W. a road, N.W. Josiah Ward, N.E. John Treat; 6 acres at Beife
Point, N. the river, S. upland, W. Richard Lawrence, E.
John Treat.
Robert's son John Treat, whose property abuts two of these tracts,
remained in Newark.®154
1683-1698/1701 - Governor of Connecticut (except the period between Nov.
1687 and spring 1689)®69®154®171
1702-1708 - served as deputy governor®171
1703 - death of wife, Jane (Tapp) Treat
24 Oct 1705 - married Elizabeth (Powell) Hollingsworth Bryan®171
12 Jul 1710 - died in Connecticut and was buried in the Old Burying
Ground at Milford®154
Reference Note 69
Three Centuries of New Haven, 1638-1938; by Rollin G. Osterweis, Yale
Univ Press 1953
Reference Note 154
Jasper Crane Genealogy -- Co-Founder of Newark, NJ in 1666
Margaret Angevine Riggin, Bloomfield, New Jersey
20 Nov 1971 (Revised 4 Sep 1975)
Copy presented to the Historical Society of West Caldwell on permanent
loan from the West Caldwell Public Library Oct 1979
Reference Note 171
Biographies of American & Colonial Governors; by Meckler
The First American, robert was born in England. He came to America with
his parents only 15 years after the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. In
his youth he helped in the settlement of Milford, Connecticut in
1639-40. By 1653 he was regularly elected deputy from Milford to the
General Court of the Colony. In 1654 he was chosen lieutenant and chief
military officer of the town. From this he advanced to magistrate in
1659 and was annually re-elected until 1664. He was unhappy because the
New Haven Colony was absorbed by the Connecticut colony. He became the
leader of a group that settled Newark, New Jersey. (There is a hotel in
Newark, New Jersey today named the Robert Treat Hotel) and frorm 1667 to
1673 he served as deputy from that town to the Assembly of East Jersey.
He was magistrate and recorder. Eventually he returned to Milford, was
chosen an assistant of Connecticut in 1673. He also became active in the
military and was ap[pointed a Major. He fought with his men against the
Indians. He was elected deputy-governor in May of 1676 and when the
governor died in April 1683, he advanced to Governor. He continued
as Governor until 1698, when he stepped down to the deputy-governorship.
He continued to serve until 1708. He died two years later.
Ref#168:
pg. xxxiii
In the case of the last will and testament of Hugh Roberts, of Newark,
dated February 26, 1670, the record declares that it was signed, sealed,
and delivered in the presence of Capt. Robert Treat, who makes oath,
November 22, 1671, that "this will above mentioned is the last will and
testament of the said Hugh Roberts to the best of his knowledge," and
proof being made before William Pardon, Deputy Secretary of the
Province. There follows the inventory and appraisement, the overseers
being sworn before Robert Treat, Magistrate, November 17, 1671. Mary
Roberts swears to the inventory, November 22, 1671, "before Robert Treat,
by permission of the Governor." In other words, Capt. Treat was
authorized to act as deputy surrogate for the Governor, for this purpose.
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