Note: The following is a section of a family history compiled by Herbert Armstrong Poole between 1905 & 1960, transcribed by AAA Maitland 1998. Subject numbers are HAP's originals. HAP's page divisions are shown: after subject page numbers are complete document page numbers in brackets and issue dates. The original text had generations indented in turn: here, generation numbers are added to each individual: the children of the title subject are "1/--". Subject 1390. 24/4/51 P1 (418) RICHARD BORDEN. The following is from "The Pedigree of Richard Borden", by Thomas Allen Glenn, Philadelphia, 1901: from "Richard Borden and his wife Joan Fowler, by Hattie Borden Weld, Los Angeles, 1899: and from "Ten Generations of the Briggs Family", by Pearl Leone Heck. The first seems the more correct as the dates of birth and marriage in the last two, do not connect up properly with later descendants. The first one gives Joan's name as Fowle, and the last two as Fowler: the first clears up earlier ancestors by noting from English records, while the last two are hasy about them. He married Sep 28/1625 Joane Fowle, see subject 2780 & 2782. Richard Borden was baptized at Hedcorn, Kent, on February 22/1595-6, and died at Portsmouth, R.I., on May 25/l671. Both Richard and his wife were buried in Portsmouth in the burial grounds given to the Society of Friends by Robert Dennis, subject 344. Richard removed from Hedcorn to Cranbrook. He emigrated to New England in the ship "Elizabeth" in 1637-8, and settled at Portsmouth, where he was a surveyor and acquired large tracts of land in Rhode Island and in Monmouth County, East New Jersey. On May 20/1638 he was allotted 5 acres at Aquidneck, R.I. In 1640 he laid out land at Portsmouth and was made a freeman in 1641. In 1654 he was assistant treasurer and General Treasurer in 1655: Deputy in 1667-70. His noncupative will was probated May 31/1671, his son Matthew was the executor. He left to his widow Joan the old house and fire room with lean-to and buttery adjoining, and the little chamber in the new house with porch chamber adjoining it. Also half the use of the great hall and porch room below, collaring and garret of new house, for life. To her also, firewood yearly, use of 30 fruit trees in the orchard that she may choose: liberty to keep fowls about the house not to exceed 40 in all, and all household goods to be at her disposal. She was to have 30 ewe sheep kept for her and their profits, and to have paid her yearly, a well fed beeve, 3 well fed swine, 10 bushels wheat, 20 bushels Indian corn, 6 bushels barley malt and 4 barrels cider. To son Thomas all the estate in Providence, lands, goods and chattels, except horse kind, he paying his mother Joan yearly, a barrel of pork and a firkin of butter. To son Francis, the lands in New Jersey. To son John, all the lands about the new dwelling house of said John Borden. To son Joseph $40 within two years after the death of his mother. To son Samuel $40, half within six months after his father's death, and half within six months after his mother's death. To son Benjamin, œ40 four years after the death of his mother. To daughter Mary Cooke œ5. To daughter Sarah Holmes œ40 within six months of the death of her mother. To Amy Borden œ100 at the age of 21. To grand daughter Amy Cooke œ10 at age of 18. To son Matthew, the whole estate after paying debts and legacies, and if he die without issue, said estate is not to go to a brother older. Inventory of the estate was œ1572.8.9, and 200 sheep, 100 lambs, 4 oxen, 5 cows, &c., a very large estate for those days. Issue;- 1. Richard Borden. Baptized in England July 9/1626, probably died young. 2. Thomas Borden. Baptized in England, October 3/1627, died at Ports- mouth, R.I., November 25/1676. He was made freeman at Providence in 1655, and was a farmer. He was granted Lot 44 in 1665: Deputy l666/72: Assistant May 5/1675: Member of the General Court 1676. He was a member of a Court Martial at Newport, R.I., for the trial of certain Indians, charged with being engaged in King Philip's war; sentence of death was served by the Board. He married Mary Harris, who died March Subject 1390. P2. (419) 22/1718, daughter of William and Susannah Harris of Providence, R.I. His will, probated April 23/1677, appointed his father in law William Harris, and brother John Borden as executors. He left his wife one third of the land for life, and two thirds to the three sons equally, they having their mother's part at her death. Being asked what he would give his daughters, he said his father in law William Harris had promised to make his daughters' portions as good as he, Thomas, had given his sons. Said Thomas Borden gave to each daughter, œ10 at 18 or marriage. To his wife Mary, the rest of his now estate to bring up his children, He desired his brother Joseph might have his sons Joseph and Mercy and have his daughter that was at John Bordens, remain with him until of age. His widow paid a tax of œ2.8.5 on his estate. His widow Mary's estate was inventoried on April 23/1718 at œ95.10.6. Issue:- 2/1. Mary Borden, born 1664, died 1691. 2/2. Richard Borden, born December 1663, died September 27/1724. He married Sarah Holmes, 2/3. Dinah Borden, born 1665. 2/4. William Borden, born January 10/1667, died young. 2/5. Joseph Borden, born November 25/1669, died December 30/1715; he was evidently drowned as his body was found in the Nanasquatucket river, 2/6. Mercy Borden, born November 3/1672, died April 12/1753. He married in 1717, Meribah --, a widow who died in September 1723. He was a very active man and bought much real estate. He was a Lieutenant in the Colonial Army of Rhode Island, and left an estate valued at œ5210.0.0. They had four children. The reason he had a girl's name was as follows:- The name was bestowed on him by his mother when she was in an advanced state of pregnancy: she was sitting in her chair as usual, her cat asleep on the floor under her chair. There was a heavy thunderstorm and lightning: one flash struck the house, entered the room, killed the cat under her chair, but left her unharmed. She got up quickly and looking on the destruction around her exclaimed - "the mercy of God has spared my life and that of my child and for this great mercy my child shall be called Mercy when born". In an hour the child was born and proved to be a son, but true to her vow, she immediately bestowed the name of Mercy upon him, which he bore honorably through a long, prosperous and useful life. 2/7. Experience Borden, born June 5/1675. 2/8. Meribah Borden, born December 19/1677, died October 13/1760. She married on February 12/1717, Phoenix Crawford. 3 Francis Borden. Baptized at Cranbrook, England, December 23/1628, died at Monmouth, N.J., January 19/1705-6. He inherited from his father considerable tracts of land near Shrewsbury where he settled in 1657. He married on April 12/1677, Jane Vickers (or Vicars) of Yorkshire, England. They had four children. 4. Mary Borden, Baptized in England, January 13/l632. She married John Cooke, born in England in 1631, died at Portsmouth, R.I., in 1691, son of Thomas and Mary (---) Cooke, subject 1388. See subject 694 for issue and further particulars. 5. Elizabeth Borden. Baptized in England, May 25/1634. 6. Matthew Borden, Born at Portsmouth, R.I. May 16/1638, died there July 5/1708. He is said to have been the first white child born there. He married on March 4/1670 or 4, Sarah Clayton, who died April 15/1735. They had ten children. He was overseer of the poor. subject 1590. P3 (420) 7. John Borden. Born September 1640, died June 4/1714 or 6. He married on December 25/1670, Mary Earle, born 1655, daughter of William and Mary (Walker) Earle, subject 666. They had eight children. 8. Joseph Borden. Born July 3/1643. He married Hope --- and lived in Portsmouth, R.I. He then removed to the Barbadoes, West Indies. They had three children and many of their descendants live there now, 9. Sarah Borden, Born May 1644, died 1705. She married Jonathan Holmes, son of Obadiah and Katherine Holmes. They had nine children. 10. Samuel Borden, Born July 1645, died 1716 at Monmouth, N.J. He went to New Jersey with his brother Francis. He married in 1679, Elizabeth Crosse. 11. Benjamin Borden. Born May 1649, died 1718 in Burlington County, N.J. He married on September 22/1670, Abigail Grover and had ten children. 12. Amy Borden. Born February 1654, died February 5/1684. She married on March 27/1678, William Richardson of Flushing, L,I., and had three sons.