Sir Francis Bernard’s Legacy Carries On as Towns Honor the Royal Governor of New Jersey and Massachusetts
In 1758, Francis Bernard, originally from Lincolnshire, England, was appointed Governor of the province of Nova Caesarea (New Jersey). He packed up his belongings, four of his six children, and his wife Amelia and took the voyage to Perth Amboy. After two years and great success in New Jersey, in 1760 Bernard was offered the position of Governor of Massachusetts Bay. Feeling this was a greater responsibility with greater fortunes, he took that job that lasted another decade. For his 12 years of service under King George II and later to King George III, a number of towns took the name of the loyal servant in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Maine. Let’s take a dive into these beautiful suburban and rural gems.
New Jersey
Bernards Township an area in the northern precinct of Nova Caesarea (New Jersey), King George II recognized Bernardston in the Province of New Jersey on May 24, 1760. At the time, Bernardston included the current areas of Basking Ridge, Lyons, Liberty Corner, Bernardsville, and Far Hills. The area would later be renamed Bernards Township. It was incorporated as Bernards Township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, as one of New Jersey’s initial group of 104 townships. The township has a total area of 24.33 square miles.
Vealtown, New Jersey, a town first settled around 1715 and located in Bernards Township, was renamed Bernardsville in 1840. Bernardsville was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 6, 1924, from portions of Bernards Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 29, 1924. The borough has a total area of 12.91 square miles. In 2020, the census reported 7,893 people residing in Bernardsville.
New England
Bernardston, Massachusetts was incorporated during his Massachusetts administration and is named in Bernard’s honor. Bernardston, Massachusetts was incorporated during his Massachusetts administration and is named for him. Bernard also named Berkshire County, Massachusetts (after his county of birth). Bernardston was originally part of the town of Colrain. Bernardston separated from Colrain and was officially incorporated in 1762, with the town of Leyden being separated from it in 1784. The population was 2,102 at the 2020 census. The town has a total area of 23.4 square miles.
On July 17, 1761, the town of “Barnard, Vermont” was chartered by a New Hampshire grant. It was named after Sir Francis Bernard, the 1st Baronet and Governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. At the time, Vermont was actually part of Massachusetts Bay. The name came just one year after Francis Bernard became the region’s Governor.
Bernard, (Tremont) Maine was settled in 1762, it was incorporated on June 3, 1848, as Mansel, the name given to the island by John Winthrop’s company of emigrants to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630. in early October 1762, when — the General Court of Massachusetts having earlier made him a grant of one-half of Mount Desert Island — Bernard sailed Down East to inspect his property, including the Cranberry Islands, and to see about claiming the province for Massachusetts. Two months later, on August 8 it was renamed Tremont, which means “three mountains” in French. One of the most beautiful and active fishing communities on the East Coast, the village of Bernard (formerly called Tremont) is located on the west side of a harbor, which looks across to the more well-known village of Bass Harbor.
What is a Charter?
A charter is a document that gives colonies legal rights to exist. Charters can bestow certain rights on a town, city, university, or other institution. Colonial charters were approved when the king granted exclusive powers for the governance of land to proprietors or a settlement company. The charters defined the colony’s relationship to the mother country as free from Crown involvement.
For example, the Charter of Bernardston, New Jersey which was approved May 24, 1760, is Bernard’s greatest gift to Bernards Township recognizing alongside Bridgewater and Bedminster’s royal charters recognizing formal boundaries, representation, and designation from King George II to the citizens of these areas. Today two days represent this event: Charter Day Street Festival and Bernards Township Day – A Day of Community Service and Pride.
- Bernards Township, New Jersey
- Bernardsville, New Jersey
- Bernardston, Massachusetts
- Barnard, Vermont
- Bernard, (Tremont) Maine
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