FREEHOLD, a borough of New Jersey, U.S.A., near the centre of the State; county seat of Monmouth county. It is served by the Central of New Jersey and the Pennsylvania railways. The population was 4,768 in 1920, and was 6,894 in 1930 by the Federal census. It is the trade centre of a large and productive agricul tural area, and has pea and bean canneries, an iron foundry, and large factories making rugs and carpets. The town was founded in 1715. It was long known as Monmouth Court-House, but later took the name of Freehold (from the township) and was incor porated as a town in 1869. In 1919 it was incorporated as a borough. An important engagement of the Revolution (the Battle of Monmouth) was fought near the court-house on June 28, 1778. It was in this battle that Molly Pitcher took the place of her husband, John C. Hays, an artillerist, when he was injured, and served his gun, preventing its capture by the British.