My direct line from Richard Treat(1): Robert (Gov.) Robert Treat (2), Joseph (Capt) Treat (3), Samuel Treat (4), Samuel Peet Treat (5), Anna Treat (6), Charles Giles Graves (7), Clara Augusta Graves (8), Marguerite Josephine Terwilliger (9), Mary Marguerite Kuhn (10), Celia Gillespie (me).
Richard TREAT is another of the early New England settlers in my mother's ancestral line, having arrived approximately 1635. Note that in England, this TREAT ancestral name is directly related to the TROTT surname, this group of ancestors having changed spelling in America shortly after settling in the New England Colonies. Another group of TROTT immigrants in New England did not change the spelling and are likely relatives - not as yet proven with DNA and genealogy research.
Richard TREAT's parents were Robert & Honora TROTT; he was one of 5 children attributed to this couple who lived in Pitminster, Somerset, England. Richard was baptised 28 Aug 1584 in Pitminster, and his wife, Alice GAYLORD (Gaylaud, var.) was baptised there 10 May 1595. They married 27 Apr 1615 in Pitminster, and they emigrated from Somerset after the death of both Richard's parents: Robert in 1598/99, and Honora on 17 Sep 1627, and very shortly after the birth of their youngest child, Katharine.
Richard & Alice TREAT had 11 children baptized in Pitminster, but 2 died before the family emigrated. The Treat family settled first in Dorchester, Massachusetts before moving to Wethersfield, Connecticut, where they remained:
A first son, Robert, apparently died as an infant
1. Honor, bap 19 Mar 1615/16; m. John Deming in CT, 10 children
2. Joanna, bap 24 May 1618, d. Oct 1694; m. Lieut. John Hollster; 8 children
3. Sarah, bap 3 Dec 1620, d. after Jun 1673; m. Matthew Canfield, 9 children
4. Richard, bap 9 Sep 1623, d. 1693 Newark NJ; m. Sarah Coleman, 4 children; apparently an alternate date of 9 Jan 1621/22.
5. Robert [ancestor], bap 23 Feb 1623/4 or 1624/25, d. 12 Jul 1710; m. 25 Dec 1646 to Jane TAPP, 8 children [Governor of Connecticut]
6. Elizabeth, bap 25 Jul 1627; m. George Wolcott, 4 children
7. Susanna, bap 8 Oct 1629, d. bef 7 Nov 1705; m. 1652 to Lieut. Robert Webster, 5 children
8. Alice, bap 16 Feb 1630/31, d. 2 Aug 1633 Pitminster Eng.
9. James (Lieut), bap 20 Jul 1634, d. 12 Feb 1708/09; m. 26 Jan 1664/65 to Rebecca Lattimer, 9 known children
10. Catharine, bap 29 Jun 1637; m. 19 Nov 1655 to Rev. William Thompson
Richard was one of the Patentees of the Charter of Connecticut to King Charles II. Written in May 1661, it was taken to England by their current Governor, John Winthrop, and finally approved 1 May 1662. Richard was Deputy to the Connecticut General Court 1644-1658, Magistrate or Assistant Magistrate between 1657-1665; he was on Governor Winthrop's Council in 1663-1664. He left a sizeable estate when he died, detailed in his will.
Richard wrote his will 13 Feb 1668/9 in Milford, New Haven, CT, and is said to have died a year later, on 3 Mar 1669/70 in Wethersfield. His wife, Alice died shortly afterwards. Although he is 'known' to have been buried in the Wethersfield Village Cemetery, there is no headstone left standing.
If you have information or corrections, please do not hesitate to contact me through calewis at telus dot net, or in the Comments below. Thanks for stopping by to read this very brief history.
10 comments:
Very nice!
Thanks for visiting, Peter. This year-long challenge is making me research ancestors I haven't looked at for several years! Cheers.
I am also a descendant of Richard and Robert Trott/Treat. Not long ago, I sent an email to the church of St. Andrew and St. Mary in Pitminster, where the Trott family worshipped, and received this reply explaining why the family left England:
"You may already know it was from here that Richard Trott (later Treat) emigrated with his wife and 9 children in 1637 and at the age of 53 to the New World. There is a plaque in the church which commemorates this.
You may also know that what precipitated this momentous decision was a row about a church tax which was levied on parishioners for the recasting of the bells. Richard objected to this, stating his fervent belief that “ we need no bells to worship God”.
England was of course riven by opposing religious beliefs, and having so recently adopted Protestantism following Henry 8's split with Rome in order to divorce Catherine of Aragon, there was anxiety that Charles 1, married to Henrietta Maria of Spain, might take England back towards Roman Catholicism."
My lineage to Richard Trott:
Richard Trott - Gov. Robert Treat - Rev. Samuel Treat - Joseph Treat - Capt. John Treat - Capt. Samuel Treat - Lucius Junius Brutus Treat - Amanda Treat - Lucy M. Lane - Walter Raymond Simpson - Walter Raymond Simpson Jr. - Milton Treat Simpson - Me.
Not sure if you're aware of this, but we count actor Treat Williams and signer of the Declaration Of Independence Robert Treat Paine among our extensive family.
Marshall - thank you so much for this wonderful detailed note about our TREAT/TROTT ancestors.
Wish I could find an email for you so I could thank you for this helpful note.
My lineage: Richard Trott - Gov. Robert Treat - Capt. Joseph Treat - Samuel Treat - Samuel Peet Treat - Anna Treat - Charles Giles Graves - Clara Augusta Graves - Marguerite Josephine Terwilliger - Mary Marguerite Kuhn - to me.
Cheers!
Like all of you, I'm a Treat descendant of Richard and his daughter Honour. Right now, I'm writing a family history that includes the Treat/Trott family. Is there a way to get a photograph of this church plaque that commemorates the family departure in 1637? Thank you.
Ann - I suspect that the only way to do so, would be to write to the Church itself, requesting a photograph of the plaque, and offering a donation to the church in payment.
All the best. - Celia Lewis
Very interesting write up - thank you for sharing! Do you know if your Treat/Trott ancestors were any relation to the TROTT family in Southern Maryland? Our Trott family is believed to be from Pitminster, England as well, though we have not completely officially connected the dots as I have hit a brick wall. I grew up in Southern MD but live in England now and will be visiting Pitminster soon and hopefully I will find some answers. Ann Fahl - if you see this message - I just sent you a Facebook message asking if you ever got your picture - if not I will see if I can get it while I am there!!! Feel free to email me at suzyollei@gmail.com if you want to exchange genealogy information.
Hi Suz and Joe - Thanks so much for your comments. I'm fairly sure that the TREAT lines in CT are related to the TROTT lines in MD, but I haven't tried to find the connections. I wonder if they came over to MD after 'my' group had already changed their surname to TREAT-?
If you are able to take a photo of the plaque at Pitminster, I'd love a copy as well! It's on my to-do request list. I've emailed you as well.
Cheers! - Celia
So happy I found this blog! I am a descendant of Richard Treat (my 10th GGF) and his daughter Susannah. I've just started researching this part of my family and am finding the information very interesting! Thanks!
Hi Pam, - There is a surprising amount of information available on the TREAT/TROTT family immigrants. I have to do almost all of my research online unfortunately, but between FindMyPast, Ancestry, and NEHGS [AmericanAncestors], I was able to find a wealth of documents and histories. Cheers!
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