emigrant
Dr. Thomas Wood Borland 1779 – bef Feb Ct 1832 | his parents
& 1805 Harriot Godwin 1787 – 1825/29 | her parents
of Hamilton, Scotland and Suffolk, Nansemond Co VA
and Murfreesboro, NC
This is my working hypothesis – the way I see it as of this moment!!
a joint project with William Boggess
thanks go to the Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, Va for the Sharples’ portraits
Dr Thomas Wood Borland and wife Harriott Godwin 1809
64.34.4 64.34.3
Attributed to Felix Sharples (American ca. 1786-after 1824)
Chalk/Paper 10 x 8 inches
Chrysler Museum of Art , Norfolk , VA
245 West Olney Road , Norfolk , VA 23510
His parents were Robert Borland and Margaret Jack of Hamilton, Scotland
1778 – 18 Jan – Robert Borland and Margaret Jack were married in Hamilton, Scotland
1779 – 9 Dec – Thomas Wood Borland was born in Hamilton, Scotland
e-mail from Robert Borland of Wimbleton — “You seem to have Thomas Wood Borland’s birth as 1770/1780. He was b c. 9 Dec 1779 Hamilton. His father Robert Borland m. Margaret Jack 18 Jan 1778. Thomas Borland of Goodsburn (near Strathaven not far from Hamilton) mentioned a Robert Borland who emigrated to America towards the end of the 18th century with his son Thomas but he didn’t say precisely which Robert it was. I had suspected that it was the Robert who m. Margaret Jack and I still think that. These Hamilton Borlands are related to the John Borland who emigrated to Boston in 1682. It is often difficult to link American Borlands with Borlands in Scotland or Ireland but in this case the link is quite clear.
1796 – Dr. Thomas Wood Borland emigrated from Scotland to Nansemond County, Virginia
1805 – Thomas Wood Borland, M.D., married Harriott Godwin of Nansemond Co VA.
1811 – he rented in Suffolk, VA a “Dwelling & Doctor’s Shop” from Mathias Jones [couple doors south of Castle Inn, modern day address 444 Main across the street from George and Fanny (Green) Godwin who had built their home on Dr. Robert H. Fisher’s lot well before the city’s 1837 fire and after its 1797 fire.]
1822 – rented a “dwelling, stable, and warehouse” from Jacob Keeling in Suffolk.
1823 – he settled in Murfreesboro, NC, from where he wrote to Joseph Prentis [Esq., from Williamsburg in 1805, (1785-1851)], January 6, 1825, about his wife’s illness.
1825 – “Appraised of La Fayette’s intended visit, a group of Murfreesboro citzens had a meeting, presided over by Dr. Thomas Wood Borland (formerly of Suffolk) [William Rea was Secretary]
and decided that a committee of five men:” Col. James Brickle, Dr.O’Bryon, Lewis M. Cowper and John Southall was appointed to meet the General at Somerton, VA, a village in Nansemond County, and escort him to town.
Accordingly, La Fayette, [after having shaken hands with all day long and after a copius “banquet” served him by Washington Smith in Suffolk reached Murfreesboro on [Saturday] February 26 1825.” He stopped at the Indian Queen Hotel (demolished in 1890’s), then owned by Henry Ramsey.” Winborne
“. . . Dr Thomas Wood Borland was one of the wealthy and aristocratic, justices of the county, and was often seen presiding over the court.”
1830 – Harriott Borland had died before the 1830 census.
He was the guardian of William Trader’s heirs.
Will of Thomas Borland 19 Nov 1831 – prob Feb Ct 1832 – abstract by Rebecca Dozier
I Thomas Borland now residing and being in the town of Murfreeborough, Hertford County North Carolina being in bad health but with Mind Capable of directing My own affairs and of disposing of all and every kind of property real and personal which I now hold and possess. And also such property as I have after May & will have right title and interest to and in. do desire and direct this paper writing entirely done and written with My own hand to be considered taken and received by all Men as my last will and Testament to wit 1st it is my desire and I direct Lucy a young woman aged about eighteen in appearance very nearly white to be immediately set free and from this moment I do emancipate her and declare then by this writing to be free and no longer the property of any person whatever.
2nd I direct that all My property of every kind real and personal May be sold on such credit as My sons who may be in North Carolina May direct. And my debts paid out of the proceeds of such sales My Executor Not to consider young woman Lucy as property in his hands she is being disposed of in 1st clause of this writing & will.
1832 – At the Court of Peas and Quarter sessions of Hertford County on the fourth Monday of February 1832, The Last Will and Testament of Thomas Borland is exhibited by its executor, Lewis M Cowper and proved by the oath of Morris Hatchell one of the subscribing witnesses.
Harriott Godwin was born 17 Sept 1787 daughter of Jeremiah Godwin Jr and his wife Sally Wilkinson.
a tale the boys of old Murfreesboro told re Dr Borland
Children of Dr. Thomas Wood Borland & wife Harriott Godwin:
1809 Euclid and Roscius Borland
64.34.7 64.34.2
Attributed to Felix Sharples (American ca. 1786-after 1824)
Chalk/Paper 10 x 8 inches
Chrysler Museum of Art , Norfolk , VA
245 West Olney Road , Norfolk , VA 23510
- Roscius Cicero Borland, Esq. 1807 Suffolk VA – 1845 [by Aug 1846] 4 children
a lawyer, 1835 succeeded James Sydney Jones III as county attorney when Jones removed to AL
at Aug Ct 1845 Deed from RC Borland to Euclid Borland proved by Oath of FM Capehart.
at Nov Ct 1845 William N H Smith succeeds R C Borland who has removed from the state.
Aug Ct 1846 Adm. on the estate of Roscius C Borland decd. granted to Fredrick M Capehart
married Northampton Co NC 25 April 1837 Temperance Ramsey ca 1814 – bef 1845
? daughter of David Ramsey and wife Charlotte Williams [m 1813] – if so Tempy has 3 brothers
2. Dr. Euclid Borland 27 Oct 1809 Suffolk VA – 28 April 1881 Norfolk VA
married NC ca 1838 Elizabeth Rebecca Moore 24 Dec 1818 NC – 15 Jan 1850 LA ts
married VA 2nd 1852 Lucy Wilkinson 23 April 1819 – 10 March 1888 Brooklyn NY
3. Dr. Solon Borland 8 Aug 1811 ts Suffolk VA -1 Jan 1864 Houston TX
in 1820 living with his Uncle George Godwin and Aunt Fanny
death date in Moore’s History of North Carolina
married VA 1831 Huldah G [Wright] 1809 VA – 25 Aug 1837 Memphis TN
married TN 1839 Eliza Buck Hart ca 1819 – 1840
married AR 1845 Mary Melbourne 1824 – 1862
Ref: Fillmore Norfleet “Suffolk in Virginia c1795 – 1840” published 1974
Winbourne “the Colonial and State History of Hertford County, North Carolina” pub. 1906
Moore “Historical Sketches of Hertford County” 1877 – reprint by David Powell 1998
David Powell’s abstract of the Hertford Co Court Minutes
“Renaissance in Carolina 1971-1976”
US Census
“That Man Named Solon” compiled by William S Boggess
NOTE: Dr. Thomas Wood Borland is NOT directly related to Borland family
that settled in western Pennsylvania migrating to Missouri, according to
extensive research records of David Owings.
Dr. Euclid Borland 1809 – 1881 | his parents
& 1836 Elizabeth Rebecca Moore 1818 – 1850 | her parents
& 1852 Lucy Wilkinson 1818 – 1888 | her parents
of Suffolk VA, Murfreesboro NC, MS, TN, LA, NY, and Norfolk VA
This is my working hypothesis – the way I see it as of this moment!!
Dr. Euclid Borland, a wealthy and courtly planter of Louisiana, long retained veneration for his native place and continued to revisit it.” J W Moore
1809 – Euclid was born 27 Oct 1809, Suffolk, Nansemond County, VA
1823 – removed to Murfreesboro, Hertford County, NC with parents
educated at Hertford Academy and became a physician,
1828 – April 19 -Recently enrolled at Wm & Mary. Euclid wrote letter to his Uncle George relating how his father had brought him to Wm & Mary shortly before, how he was very impressed by all the professors, students, and the school and that he was looking forward to spending July 4th with his uncle’s family.
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1831, 24 March – Euclid became a physician trained at University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia according to their records.
1831, 1 April – Dr. Euclid Borland became an Assistant United States Navy Surgeon.
Amongst his September 1831 duties he seemingly served aboard ship, United States, under command of Captain Voorhees, assisting Dr G R B Horner when some 69 seamen became ill, 40 with Asiatic cholera. They were removed to island of Vouria [western end of Gulf of Smyria] treated, losing only 11.
Euclid’s father died in Murfreesboro between Nov 1831 and Feb 1832
1834 – Assistant Surgeon Euclid Borland, late of St Louis was tried upon a charge of disrespectful and contemptuous conduct towards his commander and was casheried 22 October 1834 following a trial.
1836, May – Dr. Euclid Borland married Elizabeth Rebecca Moore of Hertford Co NC by Dr. James Wells
He operated his father-in-law Augustus Moore’s plantations in North Marshall County, Mississippi (Holly Springs)
1839 – son Phocion A Borland born at Holly Springs, Marshall County, Mississippi
1843 – father-in-law Augustus Moore died in LA
1844 – 1848 – he is recorded in Shelby County, TN’s Probate Court with $2,200 bond,
concerning Moore’s affairs
1845 – Aug Ct- Hertford Co – Euclid Borland was security for Mary Ann Griffith’s bond [guardianship]
1847 – Euclid moved to Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana
1850 – wife Elizabeth dies in Louisiana 15 Jan. 1850
1851 – following Elizabeth’s death, married, Lucy Wilkinson 1818 VA-1888 NY, daughter of U. S. Navy Commodore Wilkinson,
1852 – Euclid has family bodies, including Augustus Moore and wife Martha re-interred from Marshall County, MS, and from Louisiana to Ramsey Cemetery, Hertford County, NC.
[Augustus’ body reportedly was found to be petrified when retrieved for re-internment.]
1860 – living on Louisiana sugar plantation with his wife Lucy 40, Phocion 21, Euclid 16, Harriett 22, Solon 16.
1863 – Phocion dies in VA on 15 Aug.
1870 – living Flushing, Queens, NY – Euclid 60, retired planter VA, Lucy 50.
1880 – living in the Atlantic Hotel, Norfolk VA, E. Borland 71, physician, Mrs. E. Borland 60
1881 – Euclid dies 28 April in Norfolk VA. ts Buried in the Ramsey Cemetery
1888 – 10 March Lucy Borland dies in Brooklyn – “The remains of Mrs. [Lucy] Dr. Borland, of Brooklyn, of which mention was made last week, were not interred until Monday of this week, owing to the delay in transportation caused by the blizzard. “Murfreesboro Index”, John W. Hicks, ed., Murfreesboro, [Hertford County], N.C. Friday, March 23, 1888 [Vol. III, No. 31]
Children of Euclid Borland and wife Elizabeth Rebecca Moore:
1. Phocion A. Borland 8 Jan 1839 MS – 15 Aug 1863 VA
2. Lucien Borland 23 Feb 1842 MS – 4 Aug 1845 Murfreesboro NC
3. Gen Euclid Borland 7 Feb 1844 Marshall Co MS – 26 Sept 1896 Norfolk VA ts
died while on a visit to his 1st cousin Thomas Borland’s home
lived many years in Louisiana
married Charlotte Willcocks [Wilcox] McCall 7 June 1852 – 1 Feb 1885
a. Olyve [Olive] Borland 28 Aug 1875 New Orleans LA – March 1937 New Orleans
married 30 Mar 1897 Henry Miller Gill Oct 1872 – 12 July 1965 Gulfport MS
son of Thomas Maynard Gill and Martha Jane Miller
He was the Head Librarian (the second ever) of the City of New Orleans Library for many years, and a lawyer. He lived with E. B. Gill after his wife’s death, and afterwards with my father and his siblings. – e-mail from Sam Cahill
i. Henry Borland Gill 10 Feb 1898 – bef 1900 census
ii. Olyve Borland Gill April 1899 – dy
iii. Dr. Euclid Borland Gill 1 April 1900 – May 1961 Broward Co
raised 5 children none of his bloodline He was an active Doctor until his death. moved from Lousiana to Cutler, Florida (near South Beach) right after my grandmother’s death in 1943 due to his [Dr. Gill’s] health.
married 1st Mrs. Mary Boobiea? Swartz
1. Dorothy Borland Gill
I am the Grandson of Dr. Euclid Borland Gill, and the Great Grand Son of Henry M. Gill. My Mother was Dorthy Borland Gill the Daughter of Mary Swartz and Dr. E.B. Gill. After the death of Dr. E. B. Gill in Plantation, Fla. Broward County. Henry M. Gill lived with our family in Ft. Lauderdale Fla. I find the information about Dr. E. B. Gill not having any natural children not accurate. I have his Daughter’s and my Mothers birth certificate which lists her Farther as Dr. Euclid Borland Gill. – Richard Borland Foote
married ca 1942 Lavinia Barton Sims [Cahill] d. 1943
Lavinia had 2 daughters and 2 sons by 1st husband Harry Lloyd Cahill d 1942.
married 3rd wife
b. Elizabeth Borland 15 Jan 1877 – 14 Nov 1938
married 3 May 1902 St Clair Adams 26 Oct 1878 New Orleans – 24 March 1945
i. Charlotte Adams 1903 – 1986
married Mr. Thomas
ii. Beatrice Adams
iii. Elizabeth Adams
iv. St Clair Adams Jr. 1906 – 1963
4. Fanny Borland 10 Oct 1846 MS – 22 Nov 1850 Hot Springs Ark?
5. Eliz. Borland 14 Feb 18?? LA – 15 Nov 1848 LA
e-mail from Bill Boggess
2C-b. Elizabeth Borland, born 15 January 1877, died 14 November 1938, 3
May 1902 married St Clair Adams, born 26 October 1978, New Orleans,
committed suicide 24 March 1945, both buried Metairie cemetery, Orleans
Parish, Louisiana, with his mother, Augusta (Pugh) Adams (1850-1923),
their daughter and son; Charlotte (Adams) Thomas, (1903-1986), and St
Clair Adams, Jr (1906-1963), St Clair’s sister Margaret Adams, who died
23 December1974. Elizabeth, while living with sister Olive after their
father’s death, for second time, May 1899, was selected as one of
Louisiana’s maids of honor to the coming ninth annual reunion at
Charleston, SC of The Confederate Veterans.(The Daily Picayune, p 4, c D, Issue 103).
e-mail from Sam Cahill, Naples, Florida – Grandson of Dr. Euclid Borland Gill 1/24/06
My step-grandfather was Euclid Borland Gill, who married my grandmother Lavinia Barton Sims, after my grandfather Harry Lloyd Cahill’s death in 1942. She died the following year in surgery while Dr. Gill was on hand. Dr. Gill then raised my father and his three siblings (including two teenage daughters!) and one daughter of his first wife. So in 1943 Dr. E.B. Gill had five children, none of which were his bloodline. He never had any of his “own” children, but did marry again for the third time some years later. His parents were Henry Miller Gill and Olyve (or Olive) Borland, daughter of General Euclid Borland, Jr. – which you have online, but are misspelled.
Olyve Borland was born on 28 August 1875 in New Orleans, Louisiana, and died in March 1937 in New Orleans. She married Henry Miller Gill, son of Thomas Maynard Gill and Martha Jane Miller, on 30 March 1897 in New Orleans. Olyve and Henry Gill had three children: Henry Borland Gill, born 10 February 1898; Olyve Borland Gill, born in April 1899; and my Euclid Borland Gill, born 01 April 1900 – all born in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Dr. Euclid Borland Gill died in May 1961 in Broward County.
Mr. Henry Miller Gill died on 12 July 1965 in Gulfport, Mississippi. He was the Head Librarian (the second ever) of the City of New Orleans Library for many years, and a lawyer. He lived with E. B. Gill after his wife’s death, and afterwards with my father and his siblings. They moved from Lousiana to Cutler, Florida (near South Beach) right after my grandmother’s death in 1943 due to Dr. Gill’s health. He was an active Doctor until his death.
I have much more information on Dr. Euclid Borland Gill and his father….told from my father and aunt’s and uncle. They were characters. If there is anything you would want from me in detail just ask. You are free to place any of the information I’ve given you on-line if you like. I think that General Euclid Borland was such a historically relevant figure makes it interesting to know what happened to his children, as he only had two surviving daughters, but I believe there may have been two Elizabeths (one born in 1876 – which you have, and which I believe died by the end of 1883), and another born in January 1884. The Census’ revealed this to me.
If you need anything else just give me a e-mail. Sincerely, Sam Cahill,
P.S. I included a photo of my grandmother Lavinia Barton Sims (Cahill) Gill – who is buried in the Metarie Cemetery in New Orleans, Louisiana in a private plot bought by Henry Miller Gill. In the plot are four people: my grandmother, my great-grandmother (Henry’s wife) Olyve Borland (Gill), and Henry and Olyve’s two young children Henry Borland Gill and Olyve Borland Gill.
From Memoirs of Louisiana [1892] pub. The Goodspeed Publishing Company, Chicago
General Euclid Borland by D N Barrow of Baton Rouge
“Hon. Euclid Borland, brigadier-general of the Louisiana State National Guard, is a native of Mississippi, born in Marshall county, February 7, 1844. He is the son of Dr. Euclid Borland, a native of Suffolk, VA, and his wife Elizabeth Rebecca Moore, a native of Hertford county, NC. The paternal great-grandparents of our subject were Robert Borland and Margaret Jack of Scotland, and his grandparents, Dr. Thomas Wood Borland, born in Scotland, and Harriott Godwin, his wife, a native of Nansemond county VA. His maternal grandparents, Augustus Moore and Martha M. Ramsay, were from Hertford county, NC. Euclid Borland, our subject, was taken from Mississippi to Plaquemines parish, LA, in 1847, and in 1850 his mother died, when he was taken to his uncle Solon Borland, at Hot Springs, Ark., and in 1851 to his great-uncle George Godwin at Suffolk, VA. In 1852 his father married a cousin, Lucy Wilkinson, of Norfolk VA, daughter of Commodore Wilkinson, and Euclid returned to Louisiana. He attended school in Suffok and Norfolk in 1853 and 1854, and entered Bolmar’s school at West Chester, PA in 1855. In 1858 he went to Webster’s Military academy at Portsmouth VA and in 1859 to Bloomfield academy, Albemarle county VA, but left there early in 1861 and went to a special session at the Virginia Military institute at Lexington VA prior to going into the confederate service. In July 1861, he joined the Old Dominion guards of Portsmouth VA and August 6 1861 was elected sergeant of what was afterward Company E, Sixth Virginia veteran volunteers, Mahone’s brigade. In 1862 he was made color-corporal, and as such was severely wounded at Malvern Hill, and Second Manassas. Subsequently he became color-bearer of the regiment, and in 1863 was promoted to second lieutenant of his company. On June 22, 1864, Lieut. Borland in the charge on Grant’s works in front of Petersburg, captured a stand of colors, and his captain being killed in the action he was promoted to captain of his company, not yet being twenty-one years of age. During the war he was in twelve of Lee’s pitched battles and was struck altogether six times, five times by balls and once by a fragment of a shell. In the fall of 1865 he went to the University of Virginia and studied a mixed course of academics and law, and in the summer of 1867 visited the exposition in Paris, and made a tour of the Rhine and part of Switzerland. In the spring of 1868 he left the University of Virginia and went to Europe for an extended tour, taking in the British Isles, the Continent, Egypt, Arabia to Mount Sinai, traveling through the Holy Land on horseback, Greece, Turkey, Austria, Poland, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, around the North Cape, visited Tangiers,, Africa, and was in Rome during the sitting of the Ecumenical council. Upon first going to Europe he studied some time in Paris, and returning there was driven out by the German investment of 1870. Mr. Borland returned home and planted cane one year, and in 1872 went into business in New Orleans.
He assisted in raising a company in 1873, which he commanded on September 14, 1874 when the Kellogg government was deposed. As major of his regiment he helped to install Nicholls as governor in 1876 and was made colonel of his regiment, resigning when order was restored and the reconstruction era a thing of the past. In 1878 he went into the cotton business and in 1879 became a partner in the firm of Frankenbush & Borland, cotton factors and commission merchants, still doing business.
In 1874 Mr. Borland married Miss Charlotte Willcocks McCall, daughter of Richard McCall of Ascension parish LA. His wife died in 1885, leaving him two daughters, Olive and Elizabeth. He always took a lively interest in politics, but never was a candidate for office until 1888, when he was elected to the legislature from the Tenth district. That same year he was elected as the democratic presidential elector for his district. He was during two sessions chairman of the committee on ways and means of the Louisiana house of representatives. In 1889 he was appointed colonel and aide-de-camp on the staff of Governor Nicholls, and in 1891 was promoted to brigadier-general of the Louisiana state national guards, to command the first brigade, that is the New Orleans brigade. General Borland resides at 260 Philip street, in what is known as the garden district of New Orleans. He still owns his father’s old sugar plantation in Plaquemines parish and ancestral acres in and near Memphis TN. He also owns a farm in Nansemond county VA, that belonged to his father, and has been in the family for over 100 years. He recently restored the old mansion on it. He owns property in Hertford county NC heired through his mother from his great-grandfather, Mr. Hal. Ramsey. General Borland’s father died in 1881. The General is a member of the following clubs and organizations: The Pickwick, Military, Variete, French Opera, Southern Athletic, Southern Yacht, Benevolent association of the Army of Northern Virginia, Louisiana Historical society, Cotton exchange, vice-president of the Louisiana Land and Fishery company, and a director of the Home Insurance company. A man of profound erudition, he impresses one as a man of great strength, depth and grasp of mind, and his leading characteristics are extreme frankness, honesty of purpose, indomitable will and integrity.”
Martha M Ramsey 16 Jan 1788 NC – 20 Oct 1826 MS | her parents
& Samuel Bell Jr ca 1780 NC – 27 Dec 1812 NC | his parents
& 1813/18 Augustus Moore 1784 NC – 1843 MS | his parents
of Hertford Co NC and Marshall Co MS
This is my working hypothesis – the way I see it as of this moment!!
Martha M Ramsey was the daughter of Henry Ramsey [d 1827] Murfreesboro NC
Martha M Ramsey first married Samuel Bell Jr ca 1780 – 27 Dec 1812 son of Samuel Bell and Sarah? Cotten of Hertford Co NC. [Samuel Bell is on the list of The Third Division of the Militia Draughted in the Regiment of Hertford County (1778-1780) 1790 Census NH co Samuel Bell 2 1 2 0 5
Sept Ct 1801 Div. of Samuel Bell’s estate among the children of the dec’d]
I think Sam Bell Jr died in Hertford Co and was buried in the Ramsey Cemetary at that time.
1810 Census Hertford Co Sam Bell 0 1 1 0 – 0 1 2 0 0
Was Henry W Bell their son?
Martha M Ramsey Bell married 2nd Augustus Moore 1784 – 1843 MS ts
“he was born near Murfree’s Landing in Hertford County and died in Mississippi in 1843 where he was buried. Some years thereafter his body was exhumed to bring to the burying-ground near Murfreesboro.” Winborne
Child of Augustus Moore and Martha M Ramsey:
1. Elizabeth Rebecca/Ramsey Moore 24 Dec 1818 NC – 15 Jan 1850 LA ts
married ca 1838 Dr. Euclid Borland 27 Oct 1809 Suffolk VA – 28 Apr 1881 Norfolk VA ts
Ramsey Cemetery near Murfreesboro
Notes re Ramsey:
Henry Ramsey, the owner of the Indian and Queen Hotel, died in 1827, and devised his property to Henry W Bell, and granddaughter Elizabeth R Moore, and her[his?] daughter Elizabeth Hare. B B Winborne – History of Hertford County.
O’Dwyer tells us of the annual dance at the Indian Queen Hotel on the night of 4 July 1824 – he went down to the dance and was surprised to see only about 50 couples on the floor dancing when at the last annual dance there were about 100.
Indian Queen Hotel, Murfreesboro NC
where Lafayette sat down to a grand dinner at eleven pm Saturday, 26 Feb 1725
and finally got to go to bed about one am on Sunday.
from “Renaissance in Carolina 1971-1976”
