Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

unquestionably a man of exceptional in-
tellectual endowment and superior training,
and of the highest character, for he
held the full confidence of his fellow-
citizens. He was chosen representative
for more terms than any other man of his
time, serving almost continuously from
1641 to 1653. In 1658 he was exempted
from military training. He served on
many town committees, among which was
the committee chosen to settle for the
purchase of Saybrook and its dependencies.
Samuel Smith sided with Rev. John
Russell in the "Hartford Controversy,"
and was one of the leaders among those
who removed from Connecticut and
founded the town of Hadley, Massachusetts,
in 1659. He represented that town
in the General Court from 1661 to 1673
served as lieutenant in command of the
militia from 1663 to 1667
trate of the town. He died in 1680, and
was survived by his widow, Elizabeth,
who was aged ninety when she died;
March 16, 1685.
(II) John Smith, fourth son of Sam-
;
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
; also as magis-
uel and Elizabeth Smith, was born in
England, about 1636. On November 12,
1663, he married Mary Patridge, of Had-
ley. She was probably the daughter of
William Partridge, one of the founders of
Hartford. John Smith was killed in the
Falls fight with the Indians, May 30,
1676. In his "History of Hadley," Mather
says : "And though encompassed by
numerous swarms of Indians, who lay in
ambush behind almost every tree and
place of advantage, yet the English lost
not one man, until within one hundred
rods of the town when five of ours were
slain, among whom was a precious young
man, whose name was Smith, that place
having lost many in losing that one man."
His widow married Peter Montague, and
survived until 1680.
(III) Benjamin Smith, youngest son of
322
John and Mary (Partridge) Smith, was
born in Hadley, Massachusetts, January
10, 1673. About 1700, he removed to
Wethersfield, where he had land set off to
him by the courts of Northampton as his
share of his father's estate. On March
14, 1700, he married Ruth, daughter of
Henry Buck, of Wethersfield, and their
youngest son was Josiah, of whom fur-
ther.
(IV) Captain Josiah Smith, son of Benjamin
Smith, was born January 31, 1707
(according to Stiles, 1708-09), died Octo-
ber 17, 1773. His title as captain of the
train band, conferred by the General
Court, was the highest in any town. It
entitled him to the best seat in the church,
and he necessarily became a leader of the
social element ; he married into one of
the most famous families in the colony.
His wife, to whom he was married September
4, 1740, was Mary Treat, born
March 7, 171 5, daughter of Joseph Treat,
nephew of Governor Robert Treat, and
son of Lieutenant James Treat.
(The Treat Line).
Lieutenant Joseph Treat was born in Weth-
ersfield, about 1680, and died September 15, 1776.
He married, July 16. 1716, Mary Robbins, born
July 10, 1692, died September 7, 1760, daughter
of Captain Joshua and Elizabeth Robbins, of
Wethersfield. He was appointed ensign of the
South Company in May, 1714; lieutenant in 1716.
In 1705, he served as hayward; selectman in
1716; his will was dated April 8, 1754
Lieutenant James Treat, his father, was born in
Pittminster, England, in 1634, baptized July 20 of
that year, and died February 12, 1708. He married,
January 26, 1665, Rebecca Lattimer, daugh-
ter of John Lattimer, one of the first settlers of
Connecticut. She died April 2, 1734. The epitaph
on her tombstone, now almost illegible, reads
"That Godly Woman, Rebecca Treat." Lieutenant
Treat was listed as a trooper in 1658, and
was elected lieutenant of the Wethersfield train
band in 1679. He served in the Indian wars, and
was one of the most active citizens in town
affairs. He was constable in 1682; deputy to the
General Court, 1672-1707; justice of the peace,
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