Robert Webster ¹

  General Notes:

Robert Webster was a man of ability and served the community in many ways. He settled in Middletown and upon the organization of the town in September, 1651, was chosen Recorder. Coincident with this was his marriage in 1652 and his settlement in Middletown Upper Houses where four of his children were born. He represented Middletown in the General Court from September 1653 to May 1655; from May to October, 1656; in October 1657, and October 1658, at which time he returned to Hartford. Some of his activities will be seen in the following excerpts from various public records.

1654: "At a General Court of Elections held 18th May, 1654, Robert Webster was confirmed as a Lieutenant in Middletown for the ensuing year, according to the motion of the Town."

1654: "At a session of the General Court held in Hartford, Oct. 3, 1654, appeared among the Deputies, Robert Webster, who was appointed as one of the Committee for Middletown to press men and necessaries for the Narragansett expedition."

1656: "At a General Court called by the Governor and Magistraty, February 26, 1656, Robert Webster was present as a Deputy, and was appointed on a committee to give advice to the Indians, and was confirmed as Recorder of the Towne of Middletown, according to their desire."

During his Hartford residence his name appears in the following important relations.

1662-3: January 25, Robert Webster was one of a jury who tried and convicted Nathaniel and Rebecca Greensmith, and they were executed.

1669: February 12, the Second Church of Hartford was set off as a distinct organization from the original First Church, and in a list of fifteen brethren in full communion appears the name of Robert Webster.

1669: In a list of freemen "on ye South side of Hartford," dated October, 1669, appears the name of Mr. Robert Webster.

1672: May 9. The Court of Elections of Hartford granted to "Leiftenant" Robert Webster 300 acres of land, provided he took it up where it would not prejudice any former grant.

1673: In October the General Court sitting in Hartford ordered a survey of lands at Mattatock on the Mallatock (Naugatuck) River, and appointed as a committee, Lieut. Thomas Bull, Lieut. Robert Webster and Daniel Pratt.

1674: April 6, 7, 8, 9 was the date of a report from the above Committee on the result of their survey, and among other things stated that the place "may accommodate thirty families." The court afterwards appointed Maj. John Talcott, Lieut. Robert Webster, Lieut. Nicholas Olmstead, Ensign Samuel Steel, Ensign John Wadsworth, a Committee to regulate and order setting off a plantation at Mattatuck. "This Committee," says a local historian (Waterbury, by Bronson, 1858) "was composed of men of note, who bore honorable names well known in the history of the Colony." Of Lieut. Webster he says, "He was a respectable man though not distinguished like his father. His son Jonathan m. a sister of John Hopkins, an early settler of Mattatuck." (Waterbury.)

1675: October 11, at a meeting of the Council "Leiftenant" Robert Webster was appointed on a Committee to arrange certain defenses of the towne.

The last-named date suggests King Philip's war. June 20 of that year the Indians had attacked Swanzy; Aug. 2, Brookfield; Aug. 25, Hatfield; Sep. 1, Deerfield and Hadley; Sep. 2, Northfield; Sep. 4, Capt. Beers at Bloody Brook; Oct. 5, Springfield. Clearly the savages were drawing near to Hartford, and Oct. 11, as shown in the above paragraph, Lieut. Robert Webster and others were appointed a Committee of Safety.

How far he was drawn into the conflict is not easily determined now, but Savage says he was "on service in the war of 1675." This, is further shown by the fact that on the 22d of May, 1712, at a meeting of the Governor and Council at Hartford, the payment of certain sums to soldiers whose accounts had not previously been settled on account of uncertainty as to length of service, was ordered, and among them, "To Robert Webster of Hartford, 2 pounds, 13 shillings, and 6 pence."

Lieut. Robert Webster died about May 31, 1676. He was buried June 2, 1676. His Will, dated May 20, 1676, was made about 10 days before his death. His estate was valued at 670 pounds. The Will is as follows:

Whereas, I, Robert Webster of Hartford, am at present under the holy hand of God and brought very weake by sickness, yet not, through mercy, destitute of my understanding, doe see cause to sett my house in order, and doe declare this to be my will and testament as followeth -- first I commend my soule to God in Jesus Christ, hoping for the pardon of all my sins through the meritts of Jesus Christ my Saviour, and my Body to the earth, hoping for a glorious resurrection. And for that estate which God hath blessed me with all I give and bequeath it as followeth; after my just debts are honestly pay'd out of my estate. The remainder of my estate I give unto my dear and well beloved wife, Susannah Webster during her widowhood, not doubting but she will have a tender care of our children and will help them as she is able. But if my wife change her name then I give her but one third part of my aforesay'd estate. The remainder being to bee equally divided amongst my children excepting my eldest a double portion and if any of my children dye before they come at age, that is to say my sonns at the age of twenty-one years and my daughters eighteen years of age, my will is that it be equally divided amongst those that shall survive, also I desire my wife to be careful in bringing up our children in the knowledge and feare of the Lord and I do heare charge and command my children that they carry it dutiful to their mother, and that they labour to know and feare the God of their fathers, and that they serve him with willing heart and minde, that hemay bee with them and bless them, when I am gathered to my fathers. I do also appoynt my loving wife to be sole executrix to this my last will and that she may have some refuge to repayre unto for councill as any occasion may call for either about my estate or dispose of my children; I doe desire my loving Friend John Coale Sr. and Andrew Benton Sr. and John Blackleach of Hartford to be overseers of this my will and testament and for confirmation of the same I hereunto set my hand and Seale.

Robert Webster and a Seal
'This 20th day of May 1676
Testes Thomas Steadman, Phineas Wilson ³

Robert married Susannah Treat, daughter of Richard Treat and Alice Gaylard, in 1652. (Susannah Treat was born on 8 Oct 1629 in Weathersfield, Hartford, Conn, christened on 8 Oct 1629 in Pitminster, England,² died between 1705 and 1709 in Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut, USA ² and was buried in Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut, USA ².)