Robert Traill arrived at Philadelphia in October, 1763, after a stormy voyage of ten weeks. He came to Easton where he taught school and studied law. He was admitted to the Northampton County Bar in 1777, and was the third lawyer to locate in Easton. He was the clerk of the Committee of Safety and was commissioned a Major during the Revolution

In 1764 Robert Traill arrived in Easton. He very soon became an active citizen, and in the Revolution which later broke upon the people he took a conspicuous part. On the 21st of December 1777, he was elected a member of the committee of observation of Northampton County, and was immediately chosen one of the standing committee of correspondence and clerk of the same. May 21, 1777, he was elected major of the Fifth Battalion of Northampton County. In 1779 he was assistant deputy quartermaster general. He was a member of the assembly, sherif in in 1782, and clerk of the court. He was a member of the supreme executive council of Pennsylvania, and was appointed associate judge by Governor Mifflin in 1796.

Was a personal friend of George Taylor. Was the executor of his will and received as a bequest a pair of Taylor’s silver mounted dueling pistols which ended up with the Traill descendants in Easton. These were displayed one time at Lafayette College where someone stole them.

Robert Traill was the second or third resident lawyer in Easton. Of Mr. Traill it can be said that, in every respect, he for many years was everything to everybody. Any inhabitant getting into difficulty, was told to go to Mr. Traill ; he will tell you what to do! If any writings were to be drawn correctly - go to Mr. TrailI. If any secretary or clerk was wanting at any public meeting, Mr. Traill was called upon to officiate. In 1776-7-8, he was secretary to the committee of safety; at another time member of assembly; in 1782 sheriff clerk of courts, &c. Mr. Traill was highly esteemed by all who knew him.

(In Easton) the first church and school-house (were) finished in 1755. This structure was built of logs. There were three rooms in the building, one larger and two smaller, intended to be used as a church and school-house. The building was erected by subscription. Robert Trail taught school in this building while preparing to be admitted to the Bar. He was the grandfather of our venerable Dr. Green. He was Secretary of the Committee of Safety, leader of the Northampton Bar, leader in the Presbyterian Church, leader in morals, leader in Easton's social life. He was a son of a Scotch Presbyterian minister. His mother was a daughter of a Presbyterian minister. He was thus born with the blue stockings on and wore them clean to the grave. He never desired the Catechism nor creed revised. He wrote out the Assembly's Catechism in his own language when he was nine years old, and here is the old document. He could have swallowed John Calvin whole without deranging the digestive powers or disturbing the operations of his theological stomach.