Little Known Fact: How Bernardsville Got Its Name

BERNARDSVILLE, NJ — It is a question that perhaps a lot of people have asked, but few know the answer to: How did Bernardsville get its name?

For this first installment of Patch's new "Little Known Fact" series, we look at exactly how Bernardsville's name came about.

Bernardsville, and Bernards Township, were named after Sir Francis Bernard. Bernard was the royal governor of colonial Massachusetts from 1760 to 1769.

Bernard was governor during the Stamp Act riots, and was accused of augmenting his income through customs violations, according to the book "The Papers of Francis Bernard."

The Massachusetts House of Representatives petitioned for Bernards recall towards the end of his time as governor, according to the book, and he helped create imperial policies that made the growing unrest and economic crisis in Massachusetts worse.

The Bernardsville Public Library has a local history room that is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Volunteers of the Bernardsville Local History Committee staff the room.

The committee maintains a collection of historical paraphernalia, including photographs, postcards, old medicine bottles, and other items people have found in their homes.

For more about Bernardsville's local history, visit the library's website.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com