5657.Richard Borden. Born ca 1626 in Headcorn, Kent. Richard was baptized in Headcorn, Kent, on 9 Jul 1626.1
5658.Thomas Borden. Born ca 1627 in Headcorn, Kent. Thomas was baptized in Headcorn, Kent, on 3 Oct 1627.1 Thomas died in Portsmouth, RI on 25 Nov 1676.105
Seabury’s narrative from Weld’s Record of the Borden family:201
Thomas Borden of Providence was the eldest son of Richard and Joan Borden of Portsmouth, R. I. He was born in England and came to this country with his parents, but the date of his birth is unknown. He was very young when he came to this country, and his boyhood and youth were spent in Portsmouth. In 1655 Richard, Thomas and Francis Borden were admitted freemen by the general court. About this time his father made several purchases of real estate in the western part of Providence upon and around Nucokonecut, now called Nutecognet Hill, about two and a half miles northwest of the town of Providence. The purchases of Richard, Thomas and Mercy Borden in this neighborhood comprised a large tract of land, much of which is still in the possession of the descendants of their daughters, the male line from them having become extinct. Thomas being the oldest was the first to occupy and enjoy this large estate. Soon after taking possession of it he was married to Mary Harris, the daughter of William Harris of Providence, who was one of Roger Williams' party that first settled in Providence, and who is reported to have been one of the four persons who accompanied him in his flight from Salem. This estate is now included within the lines of Jonson. Among the earliest purchases made by Richard Borden was one from Shadrach Manton of sixty acres of land, dated September 6, 1661. This deed was not recorded until December, 1773, having lain neglected one hundred and twelve years. Two other deeds for sixty acres each conveyed to him the farm of David Field dated November 7th and 8th, 1662. These dates give us the date of Thomas Borden's settlement in Providence.
There are but few notices of Thomas Borden in the Providence records. His occupation was that of a farmer, and to this he devoted his whole attention; but when called by his associates to the performance of other duties he yielded to their wishes. In 1666, 1670 and 1672 he appears to have been one of the deputies from Providence, and when the fears of all New England were aroused, and the Indian warwhoop filled all hearts with terror and dismay, Thomas Borden was selected May 5th, 1675, as one of the Assistants to the Governor of Rhode Island. He served in this capacity with so much satisfaction to his constituents that he was chosen again for the year 1676. But he was not permitted to see the final triumph of his friends; he died at his post before the conclusion of this bloody struggle. He had lived in this country about forty years, and was probably not more than six years old when he came here. This would make his age at his death forty-six years. He died November 25th, 1676. His wife died March 22, 1718. In the absence of other evidence of his character and standing we can judge of him only by the estimation in which he was held by his contemporaries. He appears to have enjoyed their confidence in times of peace as a legislator, and in the great struggle for national existence, he was selected by them to advise with and aid the Governor in the performance of the arduous duties imposed upon him by a bloody and exterminating Indian war. We may, therefore, conclude that he was the man for such a time, and a man in the right place, where his country most needed his services.
Thomas probably had but a short notice of his approaching dissolution, and his will was expressed in a few words. He gave one-third of his property to his wife during her life and the other two-thirds were to be divided equally between his three sons, and the widow's third, after her death, was to be divided equally between the three sons.
The registry of the births of Thomas' children has been preserved on the records of the Friends' Monthly Meeting at Newport. It is complete with one exception--that of Richard, the eldest son. But his identity is fully established by two deeds which he made which will be referred to under his own name more fully.
Further comments from Weld’s Record of the Borden family:201
1677, April 23--Thomas Borden's will was ratified by Town Council, on the testimony of Walter Newberry and Robert Malins as to the declaration of his mind and will. Exs. father-in-law, William Harris, and brother, John Borden. He divided his property between his wife and his sons. Being asked what he would give his doughters he said his father-in-law, William Harris, had promised to make his daughter's portions as good as he (Thomas) gave his sons. He desired that his “brother Joseph, might have his sons Joseph and Mercy, and that his daughter that was at John Borden's should remain there, until of age” His will was declared at Portsmouth, during a temporary stay there, occasioned by the Indian wars.
1718, April 28--Administration on Widow Mary's estate was granted to Thomas Harris, at the request of Mr. Richard Borden and Lieutenant Mercy Borden, sons of said Mary. Inventory of said estate being £95, 10s., 6d.
20 Jan 1663/4 Thomas married Mary Harris, daughter of William Harris & Susanna.1 Born say 1641. Mary died in Providence, RI on 22 Mar 1718.105
5659.Francis Borden. Born ca 1628 in Kent, England. Francis was baptized in Cranbrook, Kent, on 23 Dec 1628.105 Francis died in Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, New Jersey 19 Jan 1705/6.1
Francis moved to Shrewsbury about 1677. In his will, dated 4 May 1703, he bequeathed to his son Francis his land in the parish of Goudhurst, co. Kent, “as the same is conveyed to me by virtue of Francis Fowle of Cranbrook in said county of Kent” by his will dated 8 Oct 1632. He was the ancestor of the Pennsylvania Bordens. Four children.1
Seabury’s narrative from Weld’s Record of the Borden family:201
Francis was born in England, and was the youngest child of his parents when they arrived in America. His childhood and youth were spent in Rhode Island, where he early acquired a knowledge of land surveying, in which operation he acted as an assistant to his father until he was fully qualified to pursue this business as a profession.
About this time, 1665, great efforts were made by the agents of Sir George Carteret to induce emigration from the New England states to East Jersey, and similar efforts were also made by the agents of Lord Berkley to attract them to West Jersey. These two provinces had been taken from the Dutch and Swedes by Charles II, King of England, and conveyed to his brother, the Duke of York, March 20, 1664, and on the 23rd of June, 1664, the Duke of York conveyed them to the above-named gentlemen. The name to these provinces was taken from the Island of Jersey, lying in the British Channel near the coast of France, which was so bravely defended by Sir George Cartert against the combined attacks of Cromwell's fleet and army. For this noble daring he was rewarded with knighthood and a province which bore the name of the Island he had so gallantly defended. They adopted a very liberal constitution as the basis of the new government, and made the terms of settlement so favorable that many persons from New England accepted the invitation and hastened to remove their families to the new country. Indeed these proprietors, at the very commencement of their undertaking, adopted into their constitution, full liberty of conscience to all and an equality of privileges. These two propositions were posted up in all the principal towns in New England, and in connection with the low price of land drew the attention of many people. The Friends, who had suffered so much from persecutors, took a deep interest in this enterprise, and favored it to the extent of their ability, hoping soon to see their own society firmly established in this new land of freedom.
Among others, Richard Borden, of Portsmouth, purchased two shares in the East Jersey lands, which, at his death, he gave to his son Francis, who had settled at Shrewsbury, E. J., at the beginning of the settlement. He had set up his business here as surveyor and land operator, and probably found employment for all his time for many years.
The notices of Francis Borden are very meagre, but enough appears to show that he was a highly respected member of the Friends' Society, and that his associates were men of the highest rank. After settling in New Jersey he does not appear to have had any business operation in Portsmouth, R. I., as his name never occurs again upon the records of Portsmouth, after 1692, and then only as a resident of New Jersey.
But he soon formed the acquaintance of a very distinguished man which gave a new turn to his employments. The grant of Pennsylvania to William Penn, was made by Charles II, March 4, 1681. In the fall of 1682 William Penn, the Governor and proprietor of this new colony, came to America with a company of his friends and landed at New Castle on the Delaware, October 24. During his residence here he visited New York, New Jersey and Delaware. Previous to his arrival he had become interested in the East and West Jersey lands which had been bought by two Friends of Lord Berkley and the heirs of Sir George Carteret, and resold to two companies in England, consisting at first of twelve persons each, but afterwards increased to twenty-four each. This business caused Governor Penn to spend some time in New Jersey, and as he found Francis Borden fully posted in all things relating to that colony, and landed interests generally, he became very much attached to him and wished to avail himself of his superior knowledge relating to the management and disposition of wild lands. In short, Mr. Borden entered into the service of the Governor of Pennsylvania and continued in it until Penn's second visit to America. During the first visit his residence was at a place about half way between Trenton and Bordentown, on the east bank of the Delaware. Penn returned to England 1684. His rights being restored to him by William and Mary, 1694, he again visited his colony, bringing his family with him in 1699. He then resided in Philadelphia. He, however, soon found his enemies at work against him in England, and as it seemed necessary for him to remain there permanently, he returned in 1701 and arrived there in December.
It has been asserted in print that Francis Borden was a bachelor, and went to England with William Penn in 1701, and never returned to this country. This is entirely erroneous; he was married and had children, to whom he gave all his property,. dividing it equally between them; his wife died before him, and probably very early in life, which may have led others to suppose that he was never married at all. His will was dated at Shrewsbury, N. J., May 24, 1703, and proved February 18, 1705.
Francis married Jane Vicars. Jane died in Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, New Jersey on 15 Apr 1735.
5660.Mary Borden. Born ca 1633 in Kent, England. Mary was baptized in Cranbrook, Kent, on 13 Jan 1633.1 Mary died in Portsmouth, RI on 23 Dec 1690. Buried in Portsmouth, RI.
Ca 1652 Mary married John Cook (2619) , son of Thomas Cook (1179) (13 Apr 1600-6 Feb 1677) & Mary. Born on 13 Jan 1630 in England. John was baptized in St Mary, Netherbury, Dorset, on 30 Mar 1630. John died in Portsmouth, RI, on 16 May 1691; he was 61. Buried in Portsmouth, RI.
Will of John Cook of Portsmouth, aged, dated 15 May 1691, proved 25 May 1691, mentions sons John Cook, Joseph Cook, Thomas Cook, and Samuel Cook; daughters mary Manchester wife of William Manchester, Elizabeth wife of William Briggs, Sarah wife of Thomas Wait, Hannah wife of Daniel Wilcox, Martha wife of William Cory, Deborah wife of William Almy, Amy wife of David Clayton, and six other unnamed daughters; granddaughter Sarah Manchester. Overseers George Sisson and Issac Lawton.248
John and Mary are buried in the John Cook Jr. Lot, Rhode Island Historical Cemetery Portsmouth #44, on Glen Road, Portsmouth. Also buried there are their grandson Joseph Cook (b. 1695, d. 1726, son of Joseph and Susanna (Briggs) Cook), and his son Paul Cook (b. & d. 1726).
Will: John Cooke's will dated 15 May 1691, proved 25 May 1691 (Portsmouth TC 2:266).
Although of sound memory and understanding, yet being aged and calling to mind the brevity and uncertainty of this life not knowing how soon the Lord may call me from hence especially considering the sore visitation of the smallpox wherewith many are now visited and many have been taken away.
To my son John Cook I leave the land at Puncatest Neck, it being about 150 acres, together with the housing thereon, 4 acres of saltmarsh meadow at Sapowet in Little Compton, together with one-half of the upland, 8 head of neat cattle, the feather bed and bedding in the house John, Jr. now lives in at Puncatest, and 20 sheep. From this bequest 15 head of cattle at Puncatest reserved for Joseph Cook during his lifetime to keep and to harvest hay there for the wintering of those cattle.
To my son Joseph Cook the housing where John now lives in Portsmouth, together with all the land and outbuildings, 4 acres of saltmarsh meadow at Sapowet and one-half of the upland there. If Joseph should die without male heirs this property then goes to son Thomas and his male heirs. Within a half year of my decease, Joseph is to pay his sister Mary, wife of William Manchester, £10 and to deliver to her 10 sheep. To his sisters, Elizabeth, wife of William Briggs, Sarah, wife of Thomas Wait, Hannah, wife of Daniel Wilcox, and Martha, wife of William Cory, Joseph is to pay £10 apiece. Sister Deborah, wife of William Almy, is to have only one shilling. Sister Amy, wife of David Clayton, is to be paid £10 in money, and to each of his other sisters being six of them he shall deliver to each of them a cow. Elizabeth Briggs also to receive a feather bed, bedding and furniture. To Joseph I leave my Negro man called Jack who is of service for time of his Life and my Indian woman Maria to be his servant for ten years and then to be freed, and my Indian boy Goan Francisco to serve with him until he be twenty-four years old, at which time Joseph is to put him in good apparel and give him corn and a horse. Joseph also to receive feather bed and bedding.
To son Thomas Cook I leave the 16th lot in Pocasset Purchase, divided or undivided, and 4 acres of salt marsh.
To son Samuel Cook I leave the 19th lot in Pocasset Purchase, but Samuel is to have the disposal of this without the advice and consent of the executor and overseers of the will. To son John Cook I bequeath my Negro woman Betty and to son Thomas 20 sheep, 3 cows and a mare.
Joseph Cook was named whole and sole executor of the will and Request and Intreat my Loving friends and neighbours George Sisson and Isaac Lawton to be my overseers to do their utmost that all Things may be managed aright according as I do hereby dispose. Moreover I will and bequeath to my Granddaughter Sarah Manchester a cow to be delivered her at the day of her marriage....
5662.Matthew Borden. Born in May 1638 in Portsmouth, RI.1 Matthew died in Boston, MA on 5 Jul 1708.105
Matthew was ‘the first English child born on Rhode Island’ as Friends’ records declare.105
Will of Matthew Borden of Portsmouth, dated 20 Mar 1704/5, proved 21 may 1708, mentions wife Sarah Borden; sons Joseph Borden, Thomas Borden, Richard Borden, Abraham Borden, John Borden, and Benjamin Borden; daughters Sarah Hodgson and Ann Slocum; granddaughters Sarah Stodder and Ann Stodder.248
Seabury’s narrative from Weld’s Record of the Borden family:201
Matthew was born in Portsmouth, May, 1638, soon after the arrival of the first company of settlers upon the island, and it is written of him in the record of the Friends' Monthly Meeting at Newport that he was the first child born of English parents after the settlement It is to this record that I am indebted for nearly all my early dates of Richard Borden's family, and immediate descendants. Matthew must have been born at the place where the first location was made by the settlers, as they remained there only a year, and his birth occurred soon after their first arrival. In the course of time his father changed his location for a farm, which has since been owned by Andrew MacCorrie, near the east shore. Here Matthew grew up, and, at the death of his father, inherited the homestead, with all its privileges. He appears to have had the care of the place and devoted himself to the support of his parents in their declining years. After the death of his father he married Sarah Clayton, March 4, 1674. Matthew seems to have been a man of good understanding, and to have pursued the even tenor of his way through life. He was from time to time appointed to minor offices in the town, but never held any position under the colonial government. Still he seems to have possessed the most unbounded confidence of the citizens generally, as well as of the Society of Friends. If he possessed the ambition to be popular or to be wealthy and influential in the community that most men do, he must have put a strong curb upon his natural inclinations. I have met with but one instance where he engaged in the purchase of real estate in the neighborhood, and that was half a share of the Pocasset purchase of the Indians, bought of William Manchester; and as he conveyed this away before the division of the town lands occurred, I suppose that he took it as security for money loaned, and not as a purchase for use or profit. In fact he did not possess the strong desire to acquire landed property like his brother John, but seems to have pursued an entirely different course from him through life. But still Mr. Borden was an active and energetic member of the Society of Friends, and was generally known as such among all the societies of this order of people throughout this country.
The traveling Friends were generally preachers, and they always found in him a kind host to welcome them, and freely to provide for all their necessities, and his house was to them a pleasant home. In those early days, and for many years afterwards, these traveling Friends supplied the place of newspapers and private correspondence by letters; and their visits, annually, were anticipated with eagerness by the people, as they expected to receive intelligence from their friends who were settled in various remote states and territories. On their arrival at any principal town or settlement, the people flocked together to hear the news from their distant friends. And some of these preachers are said to have used great diligence in collecting information for the benefit and satisfaction of those living all along the line of their travel. Among these visiting Friends were two who traveled in company who were familiarly called the "two Dicks.' These were Richard Gove and Richard Townsend from North Carolina. They used to visit Portsmouth and when going away applied for a certificate to present to their own meeting, which was granted by the monthly men and women's meeting at Newport, September, 1703.
For many years the house of Mr. Borden became the meeting place of the Friends. A note to this effect was passed at a regular meeting March 5, 1677: “Resolved, that hereafter the meetings be held at Matthew Borden's house.” This resolution was passed just three years after Matthew and Sarah were married, and thus a permanent location of the Friends' meeting in Portsmouth was obtained through their liberality, which probably continued until the erection of the present house in 1706, less than two years previous to the death of Matthew Borden. On the 7th of January, 1706, the meeting at Portsmouth chose a committee of four to act in conjunction with a similar committee chosen by the Friends at Newport, to procure subscriptions, and to sell the small house and lot which John Staunton donated to the Freinds, and reimburse the same in building a meeting house at each town for the public service of truth. The committee from Portsmouth were Matthew and John Borden, Gideon Freeman and Abraham Anthony. Those of Newport were Walter Clark, John Easton, William Barker and Samuel Thurston. This committee consisted of eight of the most influential and active business men on the island. They commenced their work in earnest and before the close of the year each society was provided with comfortable accommodations for the worship of God. Both of these houses have been enlarged, and still remain as a sterling memorial to the pious zeal and labor of these early Friends, and may with proper care, stand to witness another centennial period.
Mr. Borden continued to live less than two years after the close of this year. Indeed he had already made his will, and seemed to be waiting for the signal for his departure.
Of his ten children only six are mentioned in his will, which was dated March 23, 1705. The date of his death was March 5, 1708, aged 70 years. He was on a visit to Boston when he was attacked by a malignant fever, which terminated his life in a few days. He was interred in the burial grounds of the Friends, at Lynn. His widow survived him twenty-seven years, and died April 15, 1735, aged 82 years.
And of the six sons named only three have left any male descendants. These are Joseph, Richard and Abraham. To Richard Matthew gave his land at Cooper's Neck, New Jersey, who emigrated thither, and has left male descendants there. These are now the only male descendants of Matthew living. Richard located in the township of Chester, Burlington county, New Jersey, and his heirs are known as “the Chester Bordens.” The female line through the three is continued to the present time.
Further comments from Weld’s Record of the Borden family:201
1705, March 23, will proved, Exx wife Sarah. To son Joseph, all my dwelling house and lands belonging to it in Portsmouth, he paying my wife Sarah £20 yearly for life. To wife, the use of little chamber with chimney in it, porch chamber, half of great hall, half of cellar, the garret, half of porch, liberty to keep twenty fowls, and use of ten apple trees; and son Joseph to keep a horse for her, and supply firewood. To son Joseph, two oxen, two cows, ten sheep, mare, carts, etc. To son Thomas, half a share in Tiverton, £30, silver tankard, mare, ten sheep, two cows, silver spoons, and feather bed. To son Richard land at Cooper's Creek, West Jersey, £40, a mare, ten sheep, cow and silver spoons. To son John £140 and silver spoons. To son Benjamin £140 and silver spoons. To daughter Sarah Hodson, £30. To daughter Ann Slocum, £30. To granddaughters Sarah and Ann Stodder each £10. To men’s meeting of Friends on Rhode Island, £5. To wife Sarah, rest of movables.
On 4 Mar 1674 Matthew married Sarah Clayton.105 Born in 1654.105 Sarah died on 19 Apr 1735.105
5663.John Borden. Born in Sep 1640 in Portsmouth, RI.1 John died in Portsmouth, RI on 4 Jun 1716.105
Seabury’s narrative from Weld’s Record of the Borden family:201
John Borden was born in Portsmouth, September, 1640, and married Mary Earl, the daughter of William, of the same place, December 25, 1670, less than a year prior to the death of his father. John Borden was frequently associated with his brother, Matthew, in the performance of various duties assigned by the town and religious community, of which they constituted two of the main pillars. Some of which have already been noticed in the account concerning Matthew, and I feel happy in saying that they uniformly conducted themselves and their business affairs in such a manner as to secure the entire confidence and respect of their neighbors and Friends at home, and gained for themselves among the Friends throughout every state in the union a good reputation. In fact, the name of John Borden of Quaker Hill, on Rhode Island, has been so universally spread over the country as to completely cast into the shade those of his father and brothers; so that for many years even their names had passed out of the recollection of the Borden descendants on Rhode Island; and John was supposed to have been the original emigrant from England, and the father of all that now bear this name in the country. So generally received and firmly established was this conviction that twenty-five years ago, when the Rev. Orrin Fowler published his lectures on the history of Fall River, he appended a genealogical chart of the Borden and Durfee families, in which he places John Borden at the head of the Borden family, as the original emigrant; and in a note he says: “John Borden, the first of the name in this region, and, as is believed, the father of all of the name in the United States, lived and died in Portsmouth.” Nor was this impression peculiar to Mr. Fowler or the people of this vicinity. Go wherever you might, whenever you met a person of the name of Borden or inquired about the origin of his ancestors, he was sure to refer to John Borden of Rhode Island as the original emigrant. And they will invariably say “our family has been long separated from the parent stock, but we are sure we are not mistaken, for we have never heard of any other person named as our ancestor but this John Borden.”
This impression has originated from the fact that for the last century his descendants have greatly outnumbered those of all his brothers. Theirs have been diminishing, while his have been increasing, until they may be found in almost every state of the union. This fact must excite the surprise of all concerned. But to account for this anomaly is beyond the power of man. Neither Thomas Borden, who settled in Providence, nor Matthew, who settled in Portsmouth, near his brother John, have now any living person bearing the Borden name to represent them here. But descendants they both have through their granddaughters, who are highly respectable and do honor to the memories of their ancestors.
The descendants of John, finding themselves thus alone in the race of life, had very naturally concluded that they had never had any competitors or companions of the Borden name, and that they had all derived their existence from John Borden. And this was in effect true, but their conclusion was too broad as this investigation has shown. John settled two of his sons near the Fall River stream; Richard and Joseph. This was the nucleus around which their descendants have rallied until Fall River has become the great Borden center in this section of the country, and no other place is known in the United States which contains so large a number. And yet, previous to the establishment of cotton factories here it was very fashionable for the young people to remove westward to seek their fortunes among the fertile lands of New York, and subsequently of the far, far west. But time has wrought great changes in society and in the pursuits and employments of men. The introduction of manufactures in the present century has given a new impulse and a new direction to human energy. The people have concentrated, forming factory villages, towns and cities, and the country towns have been depleted of their redundant population. Even Portsmouth, the center of the early Bordens, cannot show more than four or five families of the name, but in Fall River they are very numerous, as the directory will testify, and are on the increase.
John Borden was left by his father with a good substantial estate, which gave him a fair start in the world. In addition to this he possessed, by nature, a shrewd business tact and an excellent judgment, which, with his activity of mind and untiring energy of character, insured success in whatever scheme he engaged. Accordingly, in a few years he became the owner of large tracts of land in the colonies of Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, near Cape Henlopen, Lewees, and it was said by the old people that he was so eager to acquire landed property that he publicly proclaimed: “If any man has land to sell at a fair price I am ready to buy, and have the money ready at my house to pay for it.” He also bought Hog Island and lands at Bristol Ferry, Swansea, Tiverton and Freetown. He was associated with John Tripp, and after his death, with his son, Bikill Tripp, in leasing and managing Bristol Ferry. He first commenced this connection with the ferry in 1660, when he was but twenty years of age. At that time the ferry was in the hands of Portsmouth, which established it in 1640, and the Pocasset Ferry, was established the same year, and placed in care of Thomas Gorton. Just previous to the Indian war, the general court of Plymouth, knowing that there was an intimate acquaintance existing between King Philip and John Borden, for they had several times requested John Borden to use his influence with Philip to restrain and quiet him; so now that an Indian war was imminent and the fears of the people were highly excited on account of it, they sent to him again to ask his intercession. To this request he gave heed at once, for he saw clearly that a dark cloud hung over the white settlement, still in their infancy, and poorly prepared to withstand the horrors of an Indian war. He also felt that the danger and distress which such a war would entail upon the Indians themselves would be disastrous in the extreme, and wishing to save the lives of both races, he hastened to Philip and faithfully portrayed to him the horrors and vicissitudes of such a bloody and exterminating war, the final termination of which could not be estimated or foreseen; and contrasting these with the blessings which would certainly flow from continued peace. This coming from one in whom he had implicit confidence, must have made a deep impression on the mind of Philip; he had said that John Borden was the only honest white man he had ever seen; he could not, even now, doubt the honesty of his intentions, nor the truth which he had spoken. But the memory of his wrongs stung him to the soul, and steeled his heart and nerved his arm for the dreadful strife; and thus he answered one whom he knew and recognized as the best friend he had on earth: “The English who first came to this country were but a handful of people, forlorn, poor and distressed. My father was then Sachem. He received them and relieved their distress in the most kind and hospitable manner. He gave them land to build and plant upon. He did all in his power to serve them. Others of their companions came and joined them. Their numbers rapidly increased. My father's counsellors became uneasy and alarmed lest, as they were provided with firearms, which was not the case with the Indians, they should finally undertake to give law to the Indian and take from them their country. They therefore advised him to destroy them before they became too strong and it would be too late. My father was also the father of the English. He represented to his counsellors and warriors that the English knew many things which the Indians did not; that they improved and cultivated the land and raised cattle and fruits, and that there was sufficient room in the country for the English and the Indians. His advice prevailed. It was concluded to give victuals to the English. They flourished and increased. Experience has taught that the advice of my father's counsellors was right. By various means they got possession of a great part of his territory. But he still remained their friend until he died. My older brother became Sachem. They pretended to suspect him of evil designs against them. He was seized and confined and thrown into sickness and died. Soon after I became Sachem, they disarmed my people. They tried my people by their own laws, assessed damages against them which they could not pay. Their land was taken. At length a line of division was agreed upon between the English and my people, and I myself was to be responsible. Sometimes the cattle of the English would come into the cornfields of my people, for they did not make fences like the English. I must then be seized and confined till I sold another tract of my country for satisfaction of all damages and costs. Thus tract after tract has gone. But a small part of the domain of my ancestors remains. I am determined I will not live till I have no country.” (Arnold's History of Rhode Island, p. 394, vol. 1).
Such was the answer of Philip to the urgent appeal of his friend, John Borden, for the preservation of peace. It is a plain statement of historic facts as they had occurred from the first landing of the English at Plymouth. His sentiments were expressed with much coolness and deliberation; the deep anguish of his soul on account of the wrongs inflicted upon him and his people by those whom they had received as friends, sheltered and nourished when in a desperate and forlorn condition, nay, almost starving--shines forth in every sentence which he uttered, and he concludes by announcing to his friend the fixed determination of his mind that he would sooner perish than survive the loss of his country. How could he longer listen to proposals of peace from those whose sole object was to rob him of his country and drive him and his people far back into the wilderness to procure a precarious living among wild beasts and under their more savage Indian enemies? This he would not do, but he would die in the defence of his country. Philip was an untutored Indian, but he seems to rise to the full stature of a true patriot when he exclaimed: “I am determined not to live till I have no country.” He possessed indeed strong powers of mind and a high moral sense which raised him far above the level of his treacherous neighbors and persecutors, whose miserable pettyfogging schemes to filch from him under the shadow of law, every foot of his territory, deserves universal execration.
There can be no doubt that John Borden did all in his power to dissuade Philip from engaging in a war with the English at this time. At an earlier period the chances of success would have been entirely on the side of the Indians, but now, the English had become too strong for them, and the inevitable result would be great destruction of life and property to the English, and the utter ruin of Philip and his people. And such it proved to be, and detailed accounts of this horrid tragedy had very little influence over the provincial government. Here self-manner as to exculpate the guilty party and charge the blame to those who were comparatively innocent. There was some genuine piety among the first settlers at Plymouth without doubt, but it seems to have have very little influence over the provincial government. Here self-interests and the baser passions seems to have predominated. Philip being disposed of, his Indians scattered to the four winds of heaven, the Plymouth government next attacked John Borden. It would have been supposed that this man who had hitherto been regarded by them as “the peacemaker” between them and Philip, and had served them faithfully in this capacity on several important occasions, would have been at least secure from any disturbance from them. But it seems that gratitude for any service he could render could not be reasonably expected from such men. But a few years after the conclusion of the Indian war, Mr. Borden was arrested in Bristol, in the matter of Hog Island, which the Plymouth government claimed as a part of their territory, although it had been always considered as a part of Portsmouth, and paid taxes as such. The island belonged to John Borden, who refused to pay any tax to Bristol or Plymouth. After his treacherous arrest at Bristol, Mr. Borden entered a complaint to the Legislature of Rhode Island, in 1684. In this complaint he states, as the cause of his arrest “his maintaining the true right of His Majesty's colony of Rhode Island against the intrusions of the Plymouth government.”
This difficulty arose from an attempt to extend the jurisdiction of the Plymouth government over all the islands of Narragansett Bay. It does not appear whether they made their claim as a part of King Philip's territory or not; but no doubt that insatiable thirst for more land which they had manifested from an early day, had much to do with it. They arrested Mr. Borden's tenant first for the same purpose; but to arrest him they had to resort to strategy to get him within their jurisdiction. He was invited to come over to Bristol to receive compensation for the many services he had rendered the Plymouth government, and the ruse succeeded. The equity of their courts in such cases may be duly estimated by that of King Philip some years before. The Englishmen's cattle destroyed the Indian's cornfields, and complaint being entered, Philip was forced to sell more land to pay the damages and costs of court to the Plymouth government.
But Mr. Borden did not appear before the Plymouth court--his case took a different direction. His complaint was received by the general assembly of the colony, and his cause was adopted as their own. They immediately addressed the following communication to the Plymouth government, which states the case more circumstantially: “General Assembly of Colony of Rhode Island: To the Governor and Council of Colony of New Plymouth:
COMPLAINT OF RHODE ISLAND.
1. For a warrant granted by James Brown, Esq., against Morris Freelove, for possession of Hog Island.
2. We also have information that Nathaniel Byfield, in an unmanlike and deceitful manner, invited John Borden over to Bristol, pretending to requite him for former kindnesses received, and immediately caused the constable to arrest him to your court, to the intent that he might answer by virtue of a warrant granted by Daniel Smith of Rehoboth for detaining lands at Hog Island which he presumes to assert is in your colony, as by the warrant, a copy of which we have seen, is more largely demonstrated.
“Honored Gentlemen:
“We did expect that there would have been a cessation of these interruptions; forasmuch as the Honored Gov. Hinckly, Esq., and his accociates did declare at the meeting in Bristol, that, although they were not come to a final decision, yet they would live as loving neighbors until another meeting, and did hope that we should meet nearer them next time. But forasmuch as, notwithstanding we have used all fair means for a peaceable and neighborly compliance, you still persist to violate said agreement, we will, by all lawfull ways, uphold our patent right to the extent thereof. We have ordered John Borden not to give answer in your court to the matter he arrested in concerning Hog Island, forasmuch as said island has been possessed by the town of Portmouth, in our jurisdiction, more than forty years, and none is mentioned in yours. wherein you serve His Majesty; and remain your loving neighbors.
“Signed by order of His Majesty's General Assembly, held for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations June 24, 1684.
“JOHN SANFORD, Recorder” About this time the little state of Rhode Island was assailed on the west by Connecticut, and on the east by Plymouth--each endeavoring to appropriate to themselves all they could wrest from her. Connecticut claimed the jurisdiction over the western part of the state of Rhode Island, the waters of Narragansett Bay, and, of course, to all the islands those waters contained; but Plymouth claimed on the east side to tide water, and had they got possession of Hog Island, would have claimed all the remainder. There is no stopping in such a race until the object is won or lost. But the attempts on both sides failed, and the evils intended for Rhode Island recoiled upon her enemies. Capt. Christopher Almy was sent to England to lay the situation of affairs here before their Majesties, and, in 1688, four years after the arrest of John Borden, the boundaries of Rhode Island were permanently established as claimed by her citizens, though Massachusetts held on to several towns until 1746, before they relinquished their hold upon them. Capt. Almy, the agent of Rhode Island, was permitted to enter the royal palace and deliver the petition of his fellow-citizens to the Queen herself, which was regarded at the time as an act of especial favor, highly honorable to the petitioners and their little state. But their troubles did not cease. Although by an act of William and Mary the line of Rhode Island on the east was extended so as to include the five towns of Little Comptom, Tiverton, Bristol, Warren, and Barrington within the jurisdiction of Rhode Island; Massachusetts claimed them as a part of the province of New Plymouth, which was quietly annexed to that state. This created a new difficulty and fresh bickerings betweer the new government and the people of those towns, which lasted more than half a century, very much to the annoyance of the people, and no benefit to any one interest. But in 1746, Massachusetts relinquished her claim upon the five towns, and they passed under the jurisdiction of Rhode Island. This was one of the most impudent claims that was ever set up to rob a people of their rights, for the same authority, a statute of William and Mary in 1688, that gave the province of New Plymouth to Massachusetts, had also ordered the five towns enumerated above to be annexed to Rhode Island.
So far as the documents presented for our inspection testify concerning John Borden, he was in no way concerned in raising this difficulty unless it was a sin in him to own Hog Island, which Nat Byfield wished to wrest from him for his own purposes and benefit. He was basely decoyed and betrayed within the Plymouth lines, ostensibly for state purposes, if we can credit tradition, by the meanest man that could have been found in Bristol, where he lived. In so far as he was the agent of the Plymouth government in this affair, it shows that they had sunk so low that they were no longer capable of performing the duties of civil magistrates, and fully justifies the decision of William and Mary to place a guardian over them. No descendant of John Borden will find in this or any other act of his life anything to lessen the respect and esteem in which his memory has always been held. For his character was always above reproach; his standing in society fully equal to that of the most elevated of his associates, and his influence over those who knew him best, was paramount to that of all others. Mr. Borden was much before the public, though not strictly speaking a public man; that is, he did not depend on the public for business nor for salary, which are now the necessary attendants upon public life. Early in life he appears as a ferryman at Bristol Ferry. From 1680 to 1708 he frequently represented the town in the general assembly. In 1706 he was associated with seven other persons in the erection of two meeting houses for the Friends, one each for the towns of Newport and Portsmouth, and often times he was engaged in minor affairs assigned him by the town or religious society to which he belonged.
Mr. Borden became very extensively known throughout the country as a Friend. To account for this we must suppose that there was something peculiarly attractive in his manner or conversation which arrested the attention of those that came in contact with him, and fixed him and his sayings in their memories. For we hear more of the sayings and doings of John Borden than of all the family of his father beside.
Further comments from Weld’s Record of the Borden family:201
1716. February 24, will probated. Exx. wife Mary. Overseers, son Richard and Friend William Anthony. To eldest son, Richard, land in Tiverton. To son John, farm at Touisset Neck, Swanzey, half at my decease and half at death or marriage of wife, he paying my daughters Hope and Mary Borden £50 each, and to children of daughter Amey Chase deceased (late wife to Benjamin Chase of Tiverton) £15. To grandson Stephen Borden, eldest son of Joseph, my son, deceased, land in Freetown, where son Joseph built a sawmill; said Stephen paying his three brothers, William, George and Joseph, £100 each as they come of age. To grandson Joseph Borden, a half share at head of Freetown in Tiverton. To son Thomas Borden all housings and land in Portsmouth, he keeping for his mother a horse and two cows, giving her two fat swine yearly, allowing her sufficient houseroom while widow, and the keep of half a doz. fowls. To son Thomas also, rights at Hog Island. To son William, one-half of 1000 acres of land in Pennsylvania. To son Benjamin, the other half. To daughters Hope and Mary Borden all lands in Shrewsbury, N. J., and certain lands in Pennsylvania. To wife, Mary, all movables and wearing apparel, spectacles, feather bed, 2 Bibles and several other books, silver, pewter, five spinning wheels, three and a quarter years service of Indian girl, £130, cider £1, four cows, 2 two-years, 2 yearlings, calf, 40 sheep, 20 lambs, 3 swine, some pigs, etc.
1721. August, his widow Mary, declared herself to be aged sixty-six having been married at sixteen years of age.
On 25 Dec 1670 John married Mary Earle (10646) , daughter of William Earle (3525) (ca 1634-15 Jan 1715) & Mary Walker (say 1634-), in Portsmouth, RI.39 Born ca 1655 in Portsmouth, RI.1 Mary died in Newport, RI in Jun 1734.105
5664.Joseph Borden. Born on 3 Jul 1643 in Portsmouth, RI.1
Seabury’s narrative from Weld’s Record of the Borden family:201
Joseph was born in Portsmouth January 3, 1643, and was 28 years old at the death of his father. His legacy from his father was to him a mere trifle, and one-half of that was not payable until after the death of his mother. He was married and had two children at the death of his father, and another soon after, which died in 1676. The christian name of his wife was Hope, but her surname is lost. The record of the births and deaths in his family was kept by the Friends at Newport, and he was styled John Borden of Barmadoes. From this circumstance I conclude that he emigrated to that island at an early period, and had established himself in business there some time prior to his father's death, and probably received from him some pecuniary assistance; his family residing for a time at Newport until he became permanently settled in business at Barbadoes, when they joined him. And from this period they seem to have been lost to the family circle here, as the death of his daughter, Hope, March 25, 1676, is the last reference I have been able to find of him or his family. He had a son William, who may have left some descendants in Barbadoes.
Hope Borden (Died young) (26 Dec 1673-25 Mar 1676)
5665.Sarah Borden. Born in May 1644 in Portsmouth, RI.1 Sarah died aft 1705.
Sarah married Jonathan Holmes (7428) , son of Obadiah Holmes (2705) (ca 1609/10-15 Oct 1682) & Catherine Hyde (ca 1608-15 Oct 1682). Born ca 1633 in Stockport, Lancashire. Jonathan died in Newport, RI on 22 Nov 1713.
5666.Samuel Borden. Born in Jul 1645 in Portsmouth, RI.25 Samuel died in Burlington County, New Jersey in 1716.
Seabury’s narrative from Weld’s Record of the Borden family:201
Samuel was born July, 1645, and was 26 years old at the death of his father. The attention of the family having been drawn to the Jerseys at an early period as a place for settlement, it seems most probable that Samuel went there in company of his brother Francis as an assistant, and completed his education in the field. But however this may have been, it is certain that either before or after the death of his father, he emigrated from Rhode Island and located himself in Burlington county, near the Delaware River, where he spent the remainder of his days. This statement is strongly confirmed by the following: “When Samuel Jennings was sent over to England by the purchasers of West Jersey of Lord Berkly to organize a government for the province, Gov. Billings remaining in England, he called upon the eight counties to elect each three delegates to meet him in a general assembly to assist him in the performance of this duty. This call was made late in the fall of 1681, and the assembly convened and was dissolved, and another one assembled in 1682, of which Samuel Borden was a member.” I have found in a note to Proud's early history of Pennsylvania a list of these delegates by name, and among them I notice that of Samuel Borden. This fact establishes his residence in West Jersey.
On 1 Jun 1679 Samuel married Elizabeth Crosse in Westchester County, New York.105
5667.Benjamin Borden. Born in May 1649 in Portsmouth, RI.25 Benjamin died in Burlington County, New Jersey aft 1718.1
Seabury’s narrative from Weld’s Record of the Borden family:201
Benjamin was the youngest son of Richard, and at the death of his father was 21 years of age. He likewise received a legacy of only £40 on the same conditions as Joseph and Samuel did; it would, therefore, seem that his only reliance for support was in his own efforts. The will of Richard furnishes the latest date I have found concerning Benjamin. As he does not appear in the Portsmouth records I have concluded to add his name to the emigrants to New Jersey, where his two brothers, Francis and Samuel, had preceded him. The practice of surveying land in former times was a constant employment of many of the old stock of Bordens, and as they found it advantageous to themselves, they taught it to their sons as a source of revenue, for the purchase of land and all the necessaries of life. Especially was this true in the time of Samuel and Benjamin, when New Jersey and Pennsylvania first came into the market.
Further comments from Weld’s Record of the Borden family:201
Benjamin settled in Middletown, N. J., in 1672, and married Abigail, the daughter to James Grover, surveyor and secretary of the Gravesend Land Co. The family of Benjamin drifted toward West Jersey.
On 22 Sep 1670 Benjamin married Abigail Grover, daughter of James Grover (-Dec 1685) & Rebecca.105 Born ca 1653 in Gravesend, Kings County, New York.