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Page 6
The following data is extracted from Herbert Family Papers.
records quoted above may be found in Vol. II. pp. 154, 178. This chapter is a complete copy of the first Town Book of old Middletown.
We know that Thomas was Bridget’ a son from the above record and the supposition that Francis was also her son is based on the fact that he named a daughter Bridget. This was a most unusual name at that time, so the inference seems reasonable.
When Bridget rented Edward Smith’s house, her sons were probably minors, coming of age in 1676 and 1677, when they started taking up land under Grants and Concessions, the quit rents in both cases were to start from 1670. Thomas was probably the elder as he buys land first.
In the History of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, by Edwin Salter, page 28, “It will be seen that under the “Grants and Concessions” the men named in the Monmouth Patent were allowed 500 acres; then each man and wife 120 acres each: then allowances for children and also for servants.
“The names of most of the early settlers of Monmouth are given in Proprietors’ Records of the Perth Amboy, but in a majority of cases, the year, is not given when they came. Very many to whom warrants for land were issued in 1676 and subsequently had been settlers for a number of years previous.”
The Herberts were not patentees of Middletown but in 1676 among these claiming Rights of Land under Grants and Concessions, “Francis Herbert, 120 acres Thomas, (132 and 240) 372 acres. (Ibid. p. 30) This was the year in which the five year lease of Edward Smith’s house expired. Francis was evidently on his own and unmarried. Thomas, however, was claiming Rights of Land for several people. Probably for himself, his mother Bridget, sister Susanna, or he may have been taking up his father’s patent as eldest son and heir. I rather doubt his being married at that time because when he sells land at a later date he signs alone. Of course, the 1ady may have had a chance to die in the meantime.
After getting earmarks for her son Thomas’s cattle, Bridgett Hearbert, Herbert, or Harbert, disappears from the records. However, Dr. Stillwell is inclined to believe that she may have married William Bowne of Middletown (son of Gershom), as he and wife Bridget sign deeds in 1704, ‘05, ‘09. (Hist. & Gen. Misc. Vol. III p. 42.) The name was so unusual at that time and place, the supposition seems plausible and would account for the persistent belief in the
Source: Herbert Family Papers
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