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Page 18
The following data is extracted from Herbert Family Papers.
47. (4) Samuel.”
An examination of the records gives rather unsatisfactory results. The office of the Register of Kings Co, reveals the fact that on June 1, 1796, comfort, Joshua, and Ann sands give a bargain & sale deed to Richard Herbert. No address of any of the parties given; and I understand that this was done before 1910. Thus we have no idea where any of the parties were living at the time. The makers of the deed, of course, were living in King’s Co., but that is slightly indefinite. Two years later Richard Herbert signing alone gives a bargain & sale deed to David King: and that is the last of Richard, that has yet appeared. Who appropriated the family Bible?
In an old Brooklyn Directory for l796, appears the name, “ Herbert, James, shoemaker, New Ferry Street.” Stiles Hist. of Brooklyn, Vol. 1, p. 450. This is a later edition of Stiles’ Hist, in three volumes and well indexed. It fairly bristles with references to Joseph Herbert. He had an adv. in the Long Island Star, June 17, 1809, “Joseph Herbert, boot and shoemaker in Sands Street, bet, Main and & the Bridge.” The shoemaker in those days was among the most important and respected members of the community. His trade required skill and intelligence.
His shop was a sort of male salon, where a great fund of knowledge of current events was acquired. Joseph was a “live wire” and seemed to be interested in every worthy project. In 1798 he was a member of the Sands St. Baptist Church; so it is not to be supposed that the fumes of alcohol were permitted to mingle, with the pleasant odors of leather and smoke!
In the war of 1812 he organized a company of Fusileers of which he was Captain. Their uniforms included short green coats and Roman leather caps; which latter were probably worn at a rakish angle. One can just imagine that they were a rather swank looking bunch!
He also worked strenuously to get Fort Greene in condition for the defense of Brooklyn. On p. 396 is the following, ‘Riflemen of Capt. Stryker and the Fusileers of Capt. Herbert are respectable in numbers and discipline.” Assuming that a fusileer was one who carried a fusil, and hoping there might be someone else as ignorant of the nature of the thing as myself, I consulted the omniscient Webster and found that a Fusil is, “1. A fire steel for tinderbox. obs.
2. A light f1intlock musket. Obs. Or Hist.”
Source: Herbert Family Papers
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