Genealogical Notes, by Nathaniel Goodwin, page 227.
Pedigree of Trott, Trate and Treat, page 16.
Sources: Cutter's New England; John Deming of Wethersfield; Our Canfield
Ancestors; Five Hundred First Families of America; DAR CT Family Records;
Topographical Dictionary; Genealogical Notes on New York and New England
Families; Genealogical Notes...1st Settlers of CT and MA; Founders of Early
American Families; The Great Migration Begins, v2, p743; v3, p2051,
Founders: Richard Treat. Wethersfield, CT, 1641. Died there by January
1669/70. Merchant. Deputy. Patentee of Royal Charter. Son Robert, Governor
of Connecticut.
DAR: Richard Treat (Cites Ancient Wethersfield by Stiles, v2, p711.)
Canfield calls him Trott, not Treat.
First mention in
Wethersfield, Conn., is as a juror in 1643. He was a grand juror, a deputy from
1644 to 1658, and a magistrate or assistant eight times from 1657 to 1665. He
was a selectman in 1669. In 1662 when King Charles II granted the Connecticut
Colony a charter, he was named in that document as one of the patentees. In
1663 and 1664 he was a member of Governor Winthrop's Council. He "was a large
land owner and a man of considerable wealth," one piece of land said to be
some 900 acres.
In the old church of South Trundle, Parish of Trull, Pitminster, Somerset,
England, a brass memorial states: "In memory of Richard Treat, alias Trott,
baptized in this church Aug. 28, 1584, who emigrated to New England with his
family in 1637 and was created one of the patentees of the Charter of the
Colony of Connecticut by King Charles II in 1662. His son Robert Treat was
baptized February 25, 1624, and was deputy governor and governor of the colony
for 30 years."
Five Hundred First Familes of America by DuBin says he came to Watertown,
Mass., in 1635, was in Wethersfield in 1637 and was a deputy to the General
Court from 1637-44, governor's assistant 1637-65 and member of Gov.John
Winthrop's Council 1663-65.
Additional sources: Nat'l Soc. of Daughters of Am. Colonists Lineage Books,
Vols. 2, 3, 8, ll, 12, 17, and N.E. Marriages Prior to 1700.
Colonial Families of the U.S. says he was dean of the Pitminster Church,
came to Watertown, Conn., in 1630, and Wethersfield in 1635.
Genealogical and Family History of the State of Connecticut says, "The
origin of the name Treat is not known, but it is probably a place name, and in
its present form dates back as early as 1572. The family was one of title and
had a coat-of-arms. The family is numerous in county Somerset, England, and was
found also in other parts of England. The spelling has varied, some of its
forms being Trat, Trate, Tret, Treet, Treete, Trot, Troot, Treat and others.
The name is rare in England today (1911), however."
He was one of four Wethersfield pioneers honored with the title of Mr.
His will was dated Feb. 13, 1668, and the inventory dated March 3, 1669/70..
Dictionary: Richard Treat, from Pitminster Parish, Somersetshire, to
Wethersfield, CT. (NEHGR 58/315).
Notes on NY and NE Families: Richard Treat Sr., married (1) Joanna ______ and
(2) Alice ________. Names nine children, children all probably by Joanna. This
doesn't agree with other sources. Richard's grandfather Richard Trott married
a Joanna, according to others.
Gen. Notes: Richard Treat, one of the first settlers of Wethersfield, died
1669. Cites his will, dated 13 Feb. 1668. He may have married a second time,
since the will names wife Alis Treat.
Migration: Richard Treat, married Alice Gaylord, daughter of Hugh
Gaylord of Pitminster; father of Elizabeth Treat.