The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-01
where Robert Treat Built q Tow


Two and n half centuries ago the
members of thirty families from MIL
ford, Brnnford md Guilford, 10 give
body and substance tn their protest
against the consolidation OF the New
Haven and Connecticut colonies. emil
grated from the land of steady habits
under the leadership Of RORERT TREAT.
n man of ability and force. The sit"
Of their new home they had bought
from the Lords rroprietors. and It
consisted practically of what Is now
Essex county, New Jersey. To II they
took their way. only To- find That the
Indian occupants considered them
selves i'll used, and maintained that
the land was theirs. Let II he rc-
corded that the colonists recognized
the rights Of the ahorigines; they
paid to tho Indians. according to the
East Jersey records. fifty double
hands full of powder. n hundred
bars of lead. twenty axes twenty
coats. twenty pistols. ten kettles, ten
swords. four blankets. four barrels of
beer. ,en pnir of brooches, fifty knives.
twenty hoes. eight hundred and fifty
fnthoms Of wampum. twenty ankors Of
liquor and ton troopers coats" of tho
value of about 500. and thus fortified
their title. They set themselves up,
and RoRrEr TREAT sp"k" their pur'
pose in this fashion:
we all desire to he OF one heart and
consent 20 carry on our spiritual cor-
cernnents, our civil and town affairs. az
cordlng TO Cop. and a Cody Government
here by this river Passaik."
Thus was founded the settlement
that, following the immemorial Gus
tom Of the English. the cmicran,s
called Milford. in memory of the New
Haven town from which Il consider.
able number of them came. The com
munity they established was Ia on
durc. hut the name Milford was soon
abandoned It's first pastor WAS hon
orcd 10y the adoption of the It'll"
Newark. To commemorate the place of
his origin. Ncwark.on-Trent. RoRERT
TREAT remained In II six years, and
then returned to New England. to rise
in honor and establish II popular
fame that cndurcs To this day prin-
cipally because Of the atiribulion Ia
him Of the plan to preserve the Con
necticut charter In the stormy days OF
ANpRos by hiding It in Charter Oak.
How admirable the situation Of this
Puritan establishment was, the great
city that sprang from TREATS adven-
surveyor. Il politician; he recognized
the natural advantages of the lands
along the "Passaik": and where he
set his star in 1866 there stands to-
day n city great in numbers. industries
and accomplishments. Its history has
been one of uninterrupted progress
and development. and in it the old
flavor Of those gray" and serious men
who dealt fairly with the Indians has
been preserved. A~cccsSionS of populn'
tion have strengthened its spirit. hut
never altered il. The changes OF
methods and manners hay" moi de-
prived it of the individuality its EARL
est inhabitants impressed upon ii. nor
has tn" proper pride of It's people
diminished rs the place Of their domi'
QN)e attained 10 maturity.
II is not by accident that the plans
for tho six months celebration "f New
nrk's two hundred and tiftioth birth
day that begins to-day provide 70,
an enduring and permanently usefu'
memorial. The %pAgcnntS. the sports
the m%errymakings will be adequate
and serve their purpose, for New
arkprs know how 10 play. but while
they entertain themselves they will bt
building for tn" future. II future file,
with the promise of rich and deserved