Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

Hartford county, [698-1708; member oi the
mor'a Council, [69
selectman, auditor, and in ether of)
Richard Trr.it, father of Lieutenant James
Ti at, and founder of the family in Connecticut,
was born in Pittminster, County Somer
land, August 24, 1584, and died in .
Wethersfield. He first apj* I
ENCYCL0PED1 \ I »F BK »GRAPHY
in
in
this
country at Wethersfield in 1641, but it has been
std that he came to Connecticut with Sir
Richard Saltonstall'a o impany in 163a 1 [e was one
of the founders of Wethersfield, of which he was
one of the most influential citizens, being ac-
corded the title of "Mr." Ill [644 he was chosen
deputy to the General Court, and was elected to
that office annually t>>r fourteen years. ll> was
•ant magistrate eight times from
March. [647-48, to 1655. In 1663 he served a> .1
member of Governor Winthrop's council. Rich-
ard Treat was chosen corporal of the train band
Id, the fir
1' cavalry in Connecticut.
He married. April 27, 1015. Alice Gay-
lord, daughter of Hugh Gaylord, another noted
founder of the Col
1
( V
James Smith, son of Captain Josiah
and Mary (Treat) Smith, was born
in Wethersfield, January jo, 1756, and
died February 20. [832. He probably
served in the Revolution, but the records
show so many of the same name that it
has been impossible thus far to identify
him. His first wife, whom he married on
March 14, 1780, was Sarah Hanmer,
daughter of John Hanmer; she died April
21, 1800. Their son, John, is of further
mention.
(VI) Rev. John Smith, son of James
Smith, was born in Wethersfield, September
2, 1796, and died in Stamford, February
20, 1874. He was graduated at Yale
in 1 72 1. and at Andover Theological Sem-
inary. His first regular pastorate was at
Trenton, New Jersey, where he served
the Presbyterian church for three years,
until 1828. The following year he ac-
cepted a call from the Congregational
church at Exeter. New Hampshire ; his
services there were followed by pastor-
ates at Wilton, Connecticut, Kingston,
323
New Hampshire, and York, Maine He
was a man of greal intellectual abil-
ity, splendid learning, profound thought,
deep piety, and was a forceful, inspiring
aker. Wherever he labored he was
recognized as a powerful influence for
good, not only in a religious sense, but in
matter- relating to the general civic wel-
fare. While at Wilton, he conducted a
notable revival which left a permanent
impression upon the community. He
married Esther Mary Woodruff, daugh-
ter of Hon. Aaron Dickinson Woodruff.
Rev. John and Esther Mary I Woodruff)
Smith had the following children : Susan
Woodruff; James Dickinson, of whom
further; Esther Mary; Walter Mitchell
Maria Lowery.
(The Woodruff Line).
The Woodruff family is an ancient one in
America and had early attained prominence in
England. It is a compound name formed from
Wood, meaning in this sense a hunting ground
or game preserve, and ruff, also spelled roffe,
ruffe, rough, roff, meaning an officer of legal
capacity. In the sense it is used here it means
bailiff, or keeper of the King's preserves or hunting
ground. In 1579 Sir Nicholas Woodroffe was
Lord Mayor of London. The Woodruff (Wood-
roffe) coat-of-arms is as follows:
Arms—Azure on a chevron engrailed argent
three bucks' heads couped gules; a chief per
fesse, ermines and erm.
Crest—A dexter arm embowed, habited ermines,
the cuff, argent, holding in the hand proper a like
buck's head.
John Woodruff, the founder of the family in
America, came from Wooley, near Wakefield, in
West Riding, Yorkshire, England. He was a
resident of the Massachusetts Bay Colony pre-
vious to 1637, and settled first at Lynn. He left
there with the little colony that founded Southampton,
Long Island, among whom was John
Gosmer, whose daughter Anna he married.
John Woodruff, their eldest son, was adopted
by his maternal grandfather, from whom he in-
herited large tracts of land. He removed with
his wife Mary to Elizabethtown, New Jersey, and
is named in the list of Associates. He acquired
;