Family and Education

2nd s. of Sir Walter Herbert^† of St. Julian’s by Mary, da. of Sir William Morgan of Pencoed. unm., at least 1ch.

Offices Held

J.p. Glam. 1561, q. 1564.

Biography

Herbert inherited lands near Tintern from his father in 1551, but he lived mainly at Newport, where he was a merchant, trading in vessels called the Green Dragon and the Steven. In September 1578 he was one of the ‘gentlemen, soldiers and mariners’ who, under Miles Morgan of Tredegar, joined Sir Humphrey Gilbert in an expedition to America whose departure was delayed by charges of piracy brought against Gilbert. This led to energetic measures against piracy in the western ports, in the course of which Herbert was examined. Nothing serious being proved against him, he duly set sail. Miles Morgan was lost at sea, but Herbert returned to carry on a brisk trade with Bordeaux, Rochelle, and Lisbon, importing salt and iron, and exporting lead, wax, cloth, hides and flax.

Herbert made his nephew, Sir William Herbert of St. Julian’s, his principal heir, not only to his lands in Monmouthshire, but to the Green Dragon. The Steven he left to his brother Miles, together with the goods in his warehouses at Newport and Caerleon. He also bequeathed money towards building a bridge at Newport. His chief properties lay in Caerleon and Newport, and in Penmark, Glamorganshire. His sister, Barbara Herbert, was executrix of the will, proved 26 Sept. 1580.

Bradney, Mon. iv. 300-1; D. Quinn, Gilbert Voyages (Hak. Soc. lxxxiii), 41, 44, 212; J. W. Dawson, Commerce and Customs of Newport, 6-10; APC, xi. 109, 132-3, 146, 151, 186, 314, 319; Arch. Camb. (ser. 4), iii. 47-50; SP12/125/66; PCC 37 Arundel.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: A.H.D.

Notes