Genealogy By the States – Week 5 – Connecticut

I have so many Connecticut ancestors, I don’t know where to start!  The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about colonial Connecticut is that I have at least two family members who served as governor for the Colony of Connecticut. 

First is my 11th great-grandfather, John Webster, who served as governor from 1656 to 1657.  He was also the deputy governor from 1655 to 1656.  Before and after these roles, he served as a magistrate from 1639 to 1655 and from 1657 to 1659.

Robert Treat, my 10th great-granduncle, served as governor from 1683 to 1698.  He served in other capacities as well, including deputy governor from 1676 to 1683 and again from 1699 to 1709.  The interesting thing about Robert’s term as governor was that in late 1687, the government of the colony seized to exist and was not reinstated until 9 May 1689.  It’s also interesting to note that Robert’s grandson, Robert Treat Paine, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence (I’ve written about that here).

Not only are John Webster and Robert Treat related to me, they are related to one another by marriage.  John’s son, Robert, married Susannah Treat, who is Robert Treat’s sister.

While I know these two men were governors of the Colony of Connecticut, I really haven’t done much research on either of them.  They are both covered extensively in their respective genealogies, History and Genealogy of the Gov. John Webster Family of Connecticut With Numerous Portraits and Illustrations (Webster and Webster, 1915) and The Treat Family: A Genealogy of Trott, Tratt, and Treat, for Fifteen Generations, and Four Hundred and Fifty Years in England and America (Treat, 1893).  And I have seen other references to each as governor in other sources.  So I thought I would compile a list of the sources I was already familiar with and see if I could find some others and share the ones available online in this post.

Before I get into the sources, I thought I’d share something really neat that I found today, while I was poking around.  I found this in The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut, Prior to the Union With New Haven Colony, May, 1665 (Trumbull, 1850), which is part of a collection of transcriptions of early public records of the colony and state of Connecticut.  I believe these signatures were obtained on 11 April 1639, when these gentlemen were elected to their respective positions.  It’s pretty neat to see the signature of my 11th great-grandfather!

Now for some resources.

The Connecticut State Library has a few pages dedicated to Connecticut governors, as well as biographies for each governor.

• Roster of Governors of Connecticut – List of governors from 1639 to present, with links to biographies, portraits, and guides to archival records.
• Governors of Connecticut: Resources and Publications – "This Connecticut State Library Pathfinder leads to online and print resources about Connecticut's Governors, past and present."
• John Webster – A biography of Governor John Webster, who served from 1656 to 1657.
• Robert Treat – A biography of Governor Robert Treat, who served from 1683-1698.

There are a set of books that are transcriptions of the public records of the colony and state of Connecticut.  They are digitized and available online.  The one’s below cover the period of time when each served as Governor (or other capacities).  It’s pretty neat to go through and see just what these men were involved with during their service to the colony.

• The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut Prior to the Union With New Haven Colony May 1665
• The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut 1665-1678
• The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut May 1678 to June 1689
• The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut August 1689 to May 1706

Information from Wikipedia:

• List of Colonial Governors of Connecticut
• John Webster (Governor)
• Robert Treat

Miscellaneous resources:

• The Governors of Connecticut (book)
• Robert Treat: Founder, Farmer, Soldier, Statesman, Governor – Paper read before the New Haven Colony Historical Society by General George Hare Ford in 1911.
• History and Genealogy of the Gov. John Webster Family of Connecticut With Numerous Portraits and Illustrations (book)
• The Treat Family: A Genealogy of Trott, Tratt, and Treat, for Fifteen Generations, and Four Hundred and Fifty Years in England and America (book)
• Genealogical and Family History of the State of Connecticut (book)

Genealogy By the States is a theme created by Jim Sanders over at the Hidden Genealogy Nuggets blog.

What’s My Lie?

A few days ago, I played along with Randy’s Saturday Night Genealogy Fun, Two Truths, One Lie.  Today, I reveal the answers…

TRUE - My 11th great-grandfather was a colonial governor.  Gov. John WEBSTER is my eleventh great-grandfather as was the governor of Connecticut (colony) from 1656-1657.

TRUE - My 5th great-grandfather has a cemetery named after him.  Aaron WEBSTER is my fifth great-grandfather and has a cemetery named for him in Oakland County, Michigan.

FALSE - My 7th great-grandfather was a signer of the Declaration of Independence.  I am related to signer, Robert Treat PAINE, but not directly.  He is my third cousin nine times removed.

See, there was a grain of truth in the lie :)

Family Events – August 23 to August 31

This post completes an entire year of the Family Events column, and is therefore the last post for this column.

Alyssa MILLER – Happy birthday to my cousin Alyssa on August 23rd.

Margaret Elizabeth MULLIGAN – Margaret is my second great-grandaunt, who was born on 24 August 1873 in Michigan.  She died on 6 February 1886 in Flint, Michigan at the age of 12.

Anna BASSETT – Anna is my tenth great-grandmother, who was born in 1618 in New Haven, Connecticut.  She died on 26 August 1667 in Northampton, Massachusetts.*

Aaron WEBSTER – Aaron is my fifth great-grandfather, who was born on 28 August 1775 in Connecticut.  He died on 17 August 1823 in Auburn, Michigan.

 Richard TREAT – Richard is my eleventh great-grandfather, who was born on 28 August 1584 in England.  He died on 14 February 1669 in Connecticut.*

Agnes SMITH – Agnes is my eleventh great-grandmother, who was born on 29 August 1585 in England.  She died on 15 July 1655 in Hartford, Connecticut.*

Amos Parks COFFINGER – Amos is my second great-granduncle, who was born on 30 August 1856 in Pontiac, Oakland, Michigan.  He died on 22 November 1922.*

Charles L STOFFEL – Charles is my great-granduncle, who was born on 30 August 1890 in Chicago, Illinois.  He died on April 1976 in Illinois.

Johanne BRIXTON – Johanne is my thirteenth great-grandmother, who was born about 1529 in England.  She died on 31 August 1572 in England.*

Nicholas GAYLORD – Nicholas is my fourteenth great-grandfather, who was born in 1500 in England.  He died on 31 August 1546 in England.*

Robert WRASKE – Robert is my thirteenth great-grandfather, who was born about 1518 in England.  He died on 31 August 1584 in England.*

*Based on information from several compiled source, of which I have not personally verified at this time.

Family Events – Week of August 9 to August 15

Mary BRAUN – Mary is my second great-grandmother, who was born on 19 November 1855 in Germany.  She died on 9 August 1936 in Chicago, Illinois.

Edward P MULLIGAN & Sarah RALPH – Edward is my second great-granduncle, who married Sarah on 9 August 1891 in Chicago, Illinois.

Gov. John WEBSTER – John is my eleventh great-grandfather, who was born on 9 August 1950 in England.  He died on 15 April 1661 in Massachusetts.*

Mary LEWIS – Mary is my ninth great-grandmother, who was born on 6 May 1645 in Connecticut.  She died on 10 August 1722 in Connecticut.*

Dorothy E TRAPP & George J MAZZUCA – Dorothy is my second cousin twice removed.  She and George married on 11 August 1939 in Chicago, Illinois.

Sarah NORTON – Sarah is my fifth great-grandmother.  She was born about 12 August 1780 in Vermont.  Sarah died on 18 August 1823 in Auburn, Michigan.

Richard TROTT (TREAT) & Joanna – Richard and Joanna are my thirteenth great-grandparents.  They both died on 14 August 1577 in England.*

*Based on information from several compiled source, of which I have not personally verified at this time.

Weekly Genealogy Blogging Prompt #22

Prompt:  Dish the dirt on your celebrity ancestors. Don’t have a movie star in the tree? Then talk about ancestors famous for other reasons. This is your chance to be an historical gossip columnist!

Who is Robert Treat PAINE?  First, he is my third cousin nine time removed; our common ancestors are Richard TREAT and Alice GAYLORD (my tenth great-grandparents, his second great-grandparents).  He was born on 11 March 1731 in Boston, Massachusetts, to Rev. Thomas PAINE and Eunice TREAT.  Robert died on 11 May 1814, likely in Boston.

Robert was a lawyer and heavily involved in politics.  To his credit:

• State convention delegate at Boston in 1768
• Member of the colonial house of representative in 1773
• Member of Massachusetts Provincial Congress from 1774 to 1775
• Massachusetts delegate to Continental Congress from 1774 to 1778
• Massachusetts attorney general from 1777-1790
• Constitutional convention delegate in 1779
• Massachusetts supreme court judge from 1790-1804

But I think most importantly, Robert was a signer of the Declaration of Independence on 4 July 1776.

His signature is located in the right-most column, in the fifth position, just under John Adams.

How cool is that?  ;)

---

Images

1. Portrait of Robert Treat Paine, (permission granted under the GNU Free Documentation License).

2. Facsimile of the Declaration of Independence, public domain.

3. Robert Treat Paine’s signature from the Declaration of Independence, public domain.

Sources

1. Robert Treat Paine biography, Biographical Directory of the United State Congress, accessed 2 June 2009.

Family Events - Week of April 26 to May 2

Sarah Jane MULLIGAN - Sara "Jeanie" is my second great-grandmother, who was born on 16 April 1870 in Flint, Genesee, Michigan.  She died on 26 April 1947 in Cook County, Illinois.

Richard TREAT & Alice GAYLORD - Richard and Alice are my eleventh great-grandparents.  They were married on 27 April 1615 in Pitminster, Somerset, England.*

Agnes H WRASKE - Agnes is my twelfth great-grandmother, who was born about 1564 in Cossington, Leicestershire, England.  She died on 28 April 1612 in Cossington, Leicestershire, England.*

Marie Ethel ROTTMAN - My beloved grandmother would be celebrating her 89th birthday on April 29th.

*Based on information from several compiled source, of which I have not personally verified at this time.

Family Events - Week of February 15 to February 21

Margaret "Maggie" MURANE & William E KING - Maggie is my second great-grandaunt.  She and William married on 16 February 1898 in Cook County, Illinois.

Robert TROTT - Robert is my twelfth great-grandfather.  He died on 16 February 1599 in England.*

Agnes TROTT - Agnes is my eleventh great-grandaunt, daughter of Robert TROTT (above).  She was born on 18 February 1577 in England.*

Samuel PRICE - Samuel is my eighth great-grandfather.  He died on 18 February 1768 in Connecticut.*

George ROTTMAN - George is my great-grandfather, who was born on 19 June 1882 in Mount Vernon, Linn, Iowa.  He died on 19 February 1946 in Chicago due to injuries sustained in a trolley car accident.

Jerimiah "Jerry" William McMAHON - Jerry is my second great-granduncle, who was born on 8 August 1883.  He died on 20 February 1928 in Cook County, Illinois.

*Based on information from several compiled source, of which I have not personally verified at this time.

Family Events - Week of February 8 to February 14

Raymond J CAHILL - Ray is my granduncle, who was born on 8 February 1918 in Aurora, Kane, Illinois.  He died on 21 June 1987 in Aurora.

Emil Charles MILLER - Emil is my great-grandfather.  He was born on 9 February 1889 in Chicago.  He died on 21 February 1938 at the age of 49.

James Christopher TARR - Happy birthday to my husband on February 10.

Calvin Price WEBSTER - Calvin is my fourth great-grandfather.  He was born on 10 February 1802 in Sacketts Harbor, Livingston, New York.*

Charles Henry ROTTMAN - Charles is my great-granduncle, who was born on 11 August 1877 in Ivanhoe, Linn, Iowa.*  He died on 11 February 1927 in Wilton, Muscatine, Iowa.*

George ROTTMAN & Anna E STOFFEL - George and Anna are my great-grandparents.  They were married on 12 February 1914 in Chicago.

Richard TREAT - Richard is my eleventh great-grandfather.  He was born on 28 August 1584 in England and died on 14 February 1669 in Connecticut.*

*Based on information from several compiled source, of which I have not personally verified at this time.

Family Events - Week of December 21 to December 27

Mary HOPKINS - Mary is my 10th great-grandmother.  She was likely born in Connecticut about 1620.  Mary died on 22 December 1671 in Connecticut.

Esther JUDD - Ester is my 8th great-grandmother, who was born on 8 February 1686 in Connecticut.  She died on 22 December 1782 in Massachusetts, at the age of 96.

Richard MILLER - Happy birthday to my uncle, on 24 December.

Ethen Allen WARREN - Ethen is my first cousin six times removed.  He was born on 6 March 1786 in New York.  Ethen died in New York on Christmas Eve 1855.

Governor Robert TREAT & Jane TAPP - Robert is my 10th great-granduncle.  He and Jane married on Christmas Day 1647 in Connecticut.

James Manly GARRISON - James is my 2nd great-grandfather. He was born on 26 December 1861 in Ontario, Canada.  He died at the age of 47 in Chicago, on 23 May 1909.

My Three GeneaWishes

Dear GeanaSanta,

This year I am asking for some unusual items that relate to my family's history.

1. An original, first-run edition of the Webster's dictionary that my distant cousin Noah Webster produced.
   
2. The desk that my 10th great-granduncle, Robert Treat, used during his time as governor of Connecticut in the late 1600s.
   
3. The medals that were awarded to my grandfather, John Cahill, for serving in WWII.

Yours truly,

Posted for the 62nd edition of the Carnival of Genealogy.

Family Events - Week of November 17 to November 23

Ethel Mary ROTTMAN - Ethel is my first cousin twice removed.  She was born in Mount Vernon, Linn, Iowa on 29 May 1892.  She died on 17 November 1986 in Iowa at the age of 94.

Mary Anna BRAUN/BROWN - Mary is my second great-grandmother.  She was born in Germany on 19 November 1856.  She died on 9 August 1936 in Chicago at the age of 79.

Honour TREAT - Honour is my tenth great-grandaunt.  She was born on 19 March 1615 in England.  She died on 21 November 1705 in Connecticut at the age of 90.

Robert WRASKE & Anne HULCOCK - Robert and Anne are my 13th great-grandparents.  Both were born and died in England.  They married on 23 November 1557 in England.

Found: Cousins

Through a blog post at All My Branches Genealogy, I discovered that Wendy, Becky, and I are cousins through Richard TREAT.  Since Wendy posted her line, I figured I'd post mine as well.

1 Me

2 My parents

3 John Francis CAHILL & Joan Garrison McMAHON

4 John Ward McMAHON & Emma Jane GARRISON

5 James Manly GARRISON & Sarah Jane MULLIGAN

6 James MULLIGAN & Sarah Norton WEBSTER

7 Calvin Price WEBSTER & Betsey PARKS

8 Aaron WEBSTER & Sarah NORTON

9 Ashbel WEBSTER & Rachel PRICE

10 Jonathan WEBSTER & Mabel RISLEY

11 Jonathan WEBSTER & Esther JUDD

12 Deacon Jonathan WEBSTER & Dorcas HOPKINS

13 Robert WEBSTER & Susannah TREAT

14 Richard TREAT & Alice GAYLORD

--or, yes there's an or--

1 Me

2 My parents

3 John Francis CAHILL & Joan Garrison McMAHON

4 John Ward McMAHON & Emma Jane GARRISON

5 James Manly GARRISON & Sarah Jane MULLIGAN

6 James MULLIGAN & Sarah Norton WEBSTER

7 Calvin Price WEBSTER & Betsey PARKS

8 Aaron WEBSTER & Sarah NORTON

9 Solomon NORTON & Sarah REXFORD

10 James NAUGHTON & Mary BARNES

11 James NAUHTON & Susannah HENDERSON

12 James HENDERSON & Mechitabel GRAVES

13 John GRAVES & Susannah WEBSTER

14 Robert WEBSTER & Susannah TREAT

15 Richard TREAT & Alice GAYLORD

Okay, so I have a tangled web...who doesn't?  Robert WEBSTER and Susannah TREAT had Deacon Jonathan WEBSTER and Sarah WEBSTER who went on to have their own families, which then met up again when Aaron WEBSTER and Sara NORTON married.  Jonathan is my 9th great-grandfather, and Susannah is my 10th great-grandmother; brother and sister who were born about a year or so about...pretty weird, huh.

But there you have it, my lines back to Richard Treat, thus making Wendy and I are 10th cousins twice removed (or three times removed, depending on how you look at it *wink*)!

Note:  The Norton side comes from several compiled sources that I have not yet verified on my own.

Family Pioneers

The theme for the 59th edition of the Carnival of Genealogy is Politic & Our Ancestors.

Politics has never been really big in my immediate family--we do our duty and vote, but that's about it. Having said that, I knew there was a governor somewhere in my tree. In search of more information, I found that I have at least three relatives who were considered pioneers in their time with regard to politics.

Initially, I knew that Robert TREAT (my tenth-great-granduncle) was the Governor of Connecticut (then a colony). I found that he served as governor for 15 years, from 1683 to 1698. Prior to and after, he also served as deputy governor for a total of 17 years.

Digging around a little more, I found that I had another relative who served as governor of Connecticut (then colony) even before Gov. Robert TREAT. John WEBSTER, my eleventh-great-grandfather served from 1656 to 1657. He was also the deputy governor at some point. Although Robert and John are both related to me, they are not related to one another.

In my search of Robert TREAT, I kept coming across Robert Treat PAINE, who signed the Declaration of Independence. A little more digging revealed that Robert Treat PAINE is the great-grandson of Gov. Robert TREAT. Although Robert Treat PAINE is my third cousin nine-times-removed, it's neat knowing that someone I'm related to had huge part in out country's independence.

Robert Treat PAINE (permission granted under the GNU Free Documentation License)

Robert Treat PAINE's Signature (public domain)

This is just the tip of the iceberg. I am curious to learn more about these men who took part in making our country what it is today.

Julie