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The First HERBERT - William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke

        The first HERBERT was the Welshman "Gwilym ap Gwilym" (English translation: "William, son of William") the son of "William ap Thomas." William ap Thomas was the chief steward of the Duke of York's estates in Wales, and for his devoted service he was knighted. William ap Thomas married two wealthy heiresses and eventually acquired Raglan Castle. William ap Thomas' first marriage was childless. His second marriage was to Gwladys Gam - daughter of Dafydd Gam, a famous Welsh knight "the star of Abergavenny." William ap Thomas' first son of this second marriage was our William ap William. In the year 1445, upon his father's death in London, William ap William - as eldest son - inherited the family estate - Raglan Castle. William ap William continued in his support and loyalty to the House of York in the War of the Roses which began in 1455. On February 21, 1461 William was in command of the left flank of (future) Edward IV's army at the battle of Mortimer's Cross, which defeated the Lancastrian army and resulted in Edward IV's ascention to the English throne. As a result, King Edward appointed William Chief Justice and Chamberlain of South Wales and made him a baron in July 1461. With this promotion in status to English peerage, William was encouraged to forego the Welsh patronymics and adopt an English surname. William took the name HERBERT. William rose in prominence as King Edward IV's cheif agent in Wales, charged with ensuring loyalty to the Yorkist Crown. The link between William Herbert and King Edward IV was strengthened by the marriage of William Herbert's oldest son and heir - William, to Mary Woodville who was sister to King Edward IV's wife Elizabeth Woodville. William's life ended with that of his brother, Sir Richard Herbert of Coldbrook, on July 27, 1469 by beheading at Northampton, England after being outnumbered at the battle of Edgecote Moor defending King Edward IV's title in an attempted coup by Edward's brother George. (2) While many extol the character and accomplishments of individuals without revealing their shortcomings, I wish to bring a little balance to the history of our ancestor William Herbert by saying he was apparently not well thought of by everybody. The following is quoted from:   "William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke... The remarkable William Herbert" (2)

        William was one of the most remarkable men of his age who succeeded in transforming himself from the son of a minor Welsh knight into one of the leading peers of the realm. The Welsh however called him 'Gwilym Ddu,' or 'Black William' on account of his long criminal career. The annalist of Gloucester Abbey called him "a cruel man prepared for every crime," and the Brief Latin Chronicle described him as "a very grave oppressor and despoiler of priests and many others for many years," which is to say that he lost no opportunity to enrich himself at the expense of others. He was an entirely self serving, two faced individual with no sense of morality whatsoever. He was the first native Welshman to gain an earldom (Neither of the Tudors count, they were half French and born in England) and is probably best remembered as the founder of a remarkably diverse and persistent family dynasty. To this day his descendants continue to be Earls of Pembroke, whilst other Herberts were to win recognition as Earls of Powis and Earls of Carnarvon. Indeed the subsequent history of Wales is full of damned Herberts, frequently popping up on opposite sides of whatever conflict was going on at the time. (2)

                Perhaps the best research on the worldwide web documenting this branch of the HERBERT family's early history in America is located at the website: Herbert Family of Middletown Township, Monmouth Co, New Jersey which documents the HERBERT family's residence first in Gravesend, Long Island, and then later in Middletown & Shrewsbury Townships of Monmouth County, New Jersey in the mid-1600's. According to the information on this site all Herbert descendants agree that: "the Monmouth Co NJ Herberts were founded by a widow, Bridgett Herbert-Harbert-Harbour of Gravesend, Long Island, New Amsterdam. (8) Bridgett Herbert had been a resident of Gravesend, Long Island, New Amsterdam (now New York), was widowed and later moved her family to Middletown, Monmouth County, New Jersey by 25th of March, 1671. (8)

GRAVESEND, Long Island - Founded as a Haven of Religious Freedom by Lady Deborah Moody

                Gravesend, Long Island was founded by an English woman - Lady Deborah Moody of Wiltshire, England. Moody was a convert to the Anabaptist sect which held the regligious belief that water baptism should be witheld from infants and only administered to adults who understood it's significance. About 10 years after her husband's death (1639), Lady Deborah left the intolerant religious climate of England and sailed for the Massachusetts Bay Colony. She was met there with similar resistance and intolerance of her religious beliefs.   Governor John Winthrop of Massachusetts Bay Colony wrote of Lady Moody in his diary in July 1643...
        "The lady Moodye, a wise and anciently religious woman, being taken with the error of denying baptism to infants, was dealt withal by many of the elders and others, and admonished by the Church of Salem (whereof she was a member), but persisting still, and to avoid further trouble, etc., she removed to the Dutch against the advice of her friends. Many others, infected with anabaptism, removed thither also. She was after excommunicated."
        Although we tend to romanticize the "religious freedoms" afforded the pilgrims in America, it was often little different from the persecution experienced in England for "non-conformist" groups such as the Baptists or Quakers. Infant baptism was required in Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1662 and one could be fined 2000 pounds of tobacco for breaking it. Quakers were often put to death; Catholic priests - banned - threatened by penalty of death; Denying the scriptures also held a penalty of death; Law in Virginia for missing a Sunday Service might range from losing one's allowance to harsher punishments such as whipping and even death! (9)
        It was in this environment and context that Lady Moody founded the town of Gravesend, Long Island. After being labeled a "dangerous woman" and excommunicated by the Church of Salem, she left Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1642 and after a short time in Providence, Rhode Island (a Baptist safe haven where a man named Roger Williams had founded a community of like-minded dissenters) eventually moved to Gravesend, Long Island - having received permission from the Dutch to settle there about 1644. (10) In their patent, the Dutch West Indian Company granted Lady Moody the unusual right of Gravesend citizens to worship any faith in their own homes. Lady Moody's intent for the founding of Gravesend was clear as evidenced in the content of its Charter signed December 19, 1645 by governor William Kjeft. It stated: "There shall be complete social, political, and religious freedom. In agricultural and cultural development, we shall open the door to wayfarers of whatever creed." This development was unprecedented, as it was illegal in the remainder of the Dutch territory of New Netherlands to practice any faith other than the Dutch Reformed! Gravesend became a magnet for those fleeing religious persecution in the colonies. In 1652 war erupted between the Dutch and English which had a direct effect on this English settlement governed by its Dutch governors. The relationship was tenuous at best. Lady Moody didn't make things any better when the first Quakers arrived on Long Island and she invited them to Gravesend. The first Quaker meeting in the colonies was held in her home! (11) The persecuted dissident settlers of Gravesend didn't remain there long. In an ongoing search for a place of religious refuge, several families from Gravesend later moved to and settled the town of Middletown, New Jersey.

The MONMOUTH PATENT - "Free Liberty of Conscience without Molestation or Disturbance... in the way of Worship"

        According to historian Edwin Salter in his "A History of Monmouth and Ocean Counties" ...
                "The Principal reasons that caused the founding of the settlements of Monmouth may be summed up in the following extracts:
                        'This is a very good land to fall in with and a pleasant land to see.' - Sir Henry Hudson's Log-Book, 1609
                                'Free liberty of conscience without any molestation or disturbance whatsoever in the way of worship.' - Monmouth Patent, 1665." (12)

Thus it is clear the founders of the Monmouth Patent were religious individuals seeking freedom of worship. The town of Middletown, Monmouth County, New Jersey had its beginnings on January 25, 1664 when: "Richard Stout, John Bowne, John Tilton Jr., James Hubbard, William Goulding and Samuel Spicer, all of Gravesend, made the first purchase of land in what is now Monmouth County, New Jersey, from the Indians." (13) Formal records for Middletown began in 1667 with "The First Town Book in Middletown." The Baptist Church in New Jersey was founded in Middletown in 1688. According to its church records, Christ Church (Episcopal) began as a joint congregation in 1702. The church later evolved into two separate congregations in 1754 after two new churches were constructed in Shrewsbury in 1732 and in Middletown in 1746. (14) As Bridget Herbert and her family were residents of both Gravesend and Middletown, it is probable they were of like religious persuation and emigrated to this country for religious reasons.

Inventory of estate of Capt. RICHARD HARBERT, lately dec'd, August 25, 1664,
taken before Capt GEORGE HUBBARD, Councillor of Devonshire Tribe.

        In the Grounds: 1 black cow & calf, 2 cows & 1 black bull. 1 young bull calf 1 young heifer, 5 hoggs.

        In outward room: 1 ½ h. . . . bedstead with the furniture. 1 old box with clothes 1 great chest, a beame & scales with leaden weights.
                Several pieces of earthen ware. 1 trundle bedstead & furniture, several pieces of pewter, old 7 new 1 chest in her chamber. 3
                trays, 2 platters, 1 case of bottles & 2 lamps. 3 prs sheets, 2 small boxes, 1 Bible, 2 chests, 1 chair & 2 small stools, 1 table &
                forme, 1 tablecloth & napkins, "His wearing clothes & Hat"

        In another room: 2 old chests & bedstead. 1 square box. 1 copper, 1 stool

        In Kitchen: All the iron ware, 2 brass skillets. Old brass kettles. Old cross Sawes & 2 hand sawes. Hoes, Axes, Tubs, pails & piggins. 6 jars.
                Last year's Tobacco.

        Total Appraisement £82.17.0.

        Appraisers: JOHN HARRIOTT, JONOTHAN TURNER.

        Against the estate: To Mr. THOS CLARKE for rent of MARTIN POTTER'S land £6 To legacies out of old Oneday's estate not pd £1

        To ROBERT BURTON & R. HUNT £4.9.0

        MRS BRIDGETT HARBERT hath averred upon oath that this is a just inventory of all goods, chattels & debts belonging to her late decd.
        Husband, Capt RICHARD HARBERT, Sept. 1664. HENRY TUCKER, Sect.