John Biddle Herbert Papers

John Biddle Herbert' s papers consist of four distinct series: BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS, CORRESPONDENCE, LEGAL DOCUMENTS and CASE FILES.

The majority of the BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS are records of J.B. Herbert's activities as a United States Gauger for the Internal Revenue Service. These records include individual distillery accounts (1896-1899), monthly bills and travel expense records (1896, 1899), and an account book (1891).

J.B. Herbert was also the Treasurer of the East Brunswick and New Brunswick Turnpike Company, which appears to have been a family business operation. There is a small collection of receipts, two account books and two toll record books.

There are other assorted BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS, including: bank books; checks, check stubs and bank notes; receipt books; insurance and tax documents. The various checks and check stubs reflect the business and personal transactions of J.B. Herbert and other family members, including his two brothers, Charles and Robert, and his sister, Matilda. There are several checks endorsed by "Kearny and Herbert" and "Hoffmann and Herbert" in the collection, no other records of these businesses were included with these papers. There are also checks belonging to Celeste Chasmer, perhaps a family member or friend. (The checks may be discarded at a later date, after the all Herbert family papers have been arranged and described.)

The CORRESPONDENCE dates from 1855-1902. There are many letters from the Treasury Department Representative in Newark to J.B. Herbert concerning his duties a U.S. Gauger (1885-1899). There are also a few personal and general letters and some correspondence related to the East Brunswick and New Brunswick Turnpike Company (1889-1894).

The LEGAL DOCUMENTS (1825-1898) in the collection of papers include: bonds; deeds; indentures; a subpoena; a record book of bail and warrants in Old Bridge, NJ.

The CASE FILES include records of cases where J.B. Herbert acted as an attorney or witness. There are also several wills and a few depositions. Three of the cases are very interesting. The "Tax Warrant" case (1878-1879) involves several prominent members of the New Brunswick area community. They have brought suit to determine what was done with their tax monies. The "Citizen's Gas Light Company of New Brunswick" case file has information about its incorporation in 1874. A copy of the private law which allowed its formation is included in the file. The "Cephise Slawson" case (1893) deals with the competence and sanity of a deceased woman. J.B. Herbert was present at the hearing of the case. The other cases mostly involve bad debt suits.