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Robert Treat
Robert Treat
	A 1916 illustrator of Treat by Adolph Treidler
Governor of Connecticut
	In office; 1683–1687
Preceded by	William Leete
Succeeded by	Position abolished
	In office; 1689–1698
Preceded by	Position re-established
Succeeded by	Fitz-John Winthrop
Personal details
Born	February 23, 1622; Pitminster, Somerset
Died	July 12, 1710 (aged 88); Milford, Connecticut
Spouse	Jane Tapp Treat
Occupation	Politician, military officer, colonial administrator

Robert Treat (February 23, 1622 – July 12, 1710) was an English-born politician, military officer and colonial administrator who served as the governor of Connecticut from 1683 to 1687 and 1689 to 1698. In 1666, he co-founded the colonial settlement of Newark, New Jersey.

Early life

Robert Treat was born on February 23, 1622 in Pitminster, Somerset and emigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony with his family in 1630. 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 people. 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:^{[citation needed]}

Robert Treat Paine (1731–1814), signer of the Declaration of Independence
Israel Crane (1758–1848), merchant in Cranetown (present-day Montclair, NJ)
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 (1951–2023), Actor/Director/Singer/Pilot^[4]

References

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

External links

Robert Treat family tree Some Descendents at the Wayback Machine (archived March 27, 2007)
Robert Treat at Find a Grave

Political offices
Preceded by William Leete	Governor of the Connecticut Colony 1683–87	Succeeded by Sir Edmund Andros as Governor of the Dominion of New England
Preceded by Sir Edmund Andros as Governor of the Dominion of New England	Governor of the Connecticut Colony 1689–98	Succeeded by Fitz-John Winthrop