The name Monmouth was officially given to the county March 7th, 1683, as will be seen by the following extracts:

"Att a Councill held the 7th day of the mo-1 called March 1682-3

"A bill sent downe from the Deputyes for devideing the p'vince into Countyes read and agreed vtno."- Journal of proceedings of Gov. & Council, 1682-1703.

The following is an extract from the bill referred to:

"At a General Assembly begun and holden at Elizabethtown in this Province of East New Jersey, the first day of the Month called March Anno Domini 1682 and in the Five and Thirtieth year of the reign of King Charles the Second, over England, &c. and there continued by several adjournments thereof until the twenty-eight day of the said Month of March, for the public Weale of this Province was Enacted as follows:

"IV. An Act to divide the Province into Four Counties.- Having taken into consideration the necessity of dividing the Province into respective Counties for the better governing and settling Courts in the same:-

"Be it Enacted, by this General Assembly, and the Authority thereof, that this Province be divided, into four counties as followeth: (Here follows the bounds of Bergen, Essex, and Middlesex, after which the bounds of Monmouth are given as follows:)

"Monmouth County to begin at the Westward Bounds of Middlesex county, containing Middletown and Shrewsbury and so extend Westward, Southward, and Northward to the extream Bounds of the Province. Provided this distinction of the Province into Counties, do not extend to the infringement of any Liberty in any Charter already granted."

The name Monmouth was given to the county through the influence of Col. Lewis Morris who at the beginning of this session (March 1st,) was said to have been "Elected for Shrewsbury" as a Deputy, but his place declared vacant, probably because he had been selected by the Governor as a member of the council at that time.

Colonel Morris had purchased a large tract of land, in what was afterwards known as Monmouth County, October 25th, 1676, said to Contain 3,540 acres, whereupon he located, as described in 1680, "his iron mills, his Manors, and divers other buildings for his servants and dependants; together with 60 or 70 negroes about the Mill and Husbandry. To this plantation he gave the name of Tintern (corrupted afterwards to Tinton) after an estate which had belonged to the family in Monmouthshire, England, and from him Monmouth county received its name."

Who first discovered this section of our country? Who first entered Barnegat Bay, and explored its shores? Who were the first whites who located here? Have any accounts of the Indians once living here been preserved? These are among the first questions which naturally present themselves in making inquires into the early history of this section of our State. While the records of the past, meagre indeed as regards this locality, do not furnish as full answers as desirable, yet much has been preserved which is of interest to all desirous of obtaining information on these and kindred points.

The discovery of that part of New Jersey now known as Ocean County, was by Sir Henry Hudson, on the 2d day of September, 1609, while cruising along our coast in the celebrated Dutch ship, the Half Moon. This ship was quite small, being of only eighty tons burthen, and of a build that would now be considered quite novel, reminding one of the curious-looking Dutch galliots, which occasionally were seen in the harbor of New York a generation or so ago, which used to attract the attention of, and are well remembered by old seafaring men of Ocean County.

This ship, two or three days previously, had tried to enter Delaware Bay, but finding the navigation dangerous, no attempt was made to land, and she again stood out to sea. After getting fairly out, Hudson headed north-eastwardly, and after a while hauled in and made land, Sept. 2d, near Egg Harbor. A very complete log of the ship was kept by the mate, Alfred Juet, and the part relating to Monmouth and Ocean counties is published elsewhere in these pages. [Random History Bytes 004: Juet Log].

Samuel H. Shreve, Esq., who in past years has furnished many valuable historical items to the New Jersey Courier, says in a communication dated January, 1868: "Ferrago Forge was erected by Gen. Lacey in 1809, and the same year Dover Forge was built by W. L. Smith, the son-in-law Lacey."

It has been stated that Lacey expended ten thousand dollars at Ferrago in building the dam alone, and the construction of the forge and other buildings and of the road to Forked River must have required a very considerable outlay of money.