Borland, Rosicus, Euclid & Soln 1807 - 1881

File contributed by: Bill Boggess william-boggess@webtv.net March 18, 2006, 11:00 am

Author: Bill Boggess (revised, 03/18/06)

Inventory of the Borland Family Papers 1771-1940

Collection Number Mss. 65 B66

These Borland papers at the College of William & Mary, had to come from Thomas R Borland's (1844NC-1900VA) files, possibly via son Arimstead (1875-1949), most likely Charles Barney Borland (1886-1972), lastly of Virginia Beach, VA who provided nine 1809, Felix Sharples, chalk/paper portraits of Borlands and Godwins, which his father Thomas R Borland once had, to Auslow Gallery, Norfolk, puchased by Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk in 1964.

U S Senator Solon Borland (1811VA-1864TX) was living in Hot Springs, Arkansas with his family and third wife when 1850 census was taken. His wife Mary (1824LA-1862AR) and children, remained there and in Princeton for several years, except son Harold (1834NC-1921AR) entering United States Military Academy July 1854.

When Solon's sister-in-law, Elizabeth Ramsey (Moore) Borland (1818NC-1850LA) passd away 15 Jan 1850 at Pointe a la Hache Plantation, in Plaquemines Parish, LA (New Orleans), Dr Euclid Borland (1809VA-1881VA), reportedly, sent Solon at least Euclid jr (1844MS-1896VA), youngest of three surviving of five children, other two; Phocnion A,(1839MS-1865NC), Fanny, (1846MS-1850LA), each born on his father-in-law's, Augustus Moore (1781NC-1843MS), plantations which Dr Euclid managed since ca 1837, outside of Holly Springs, in Marshall county, Mississippi.

Dr Euclid visited Solon Oct 1851. Of the two sons at least Euclid was placed with George & Fanny (Green) Godwin's in Suffolk, where Thomas R Borland, same age as Euclid, jr, and surviving son of Rosicus C Borland (1807VA-1845MS) was being raised, while his sister Harriott Godwin Borland (1838-1890) was in Robert Cushman's Female Seminary at Washington City (D C). 1860 census had all home (lists "Solon" 16, who must be Thomas R), with Dr Eucid and 2nd wife Lucy in Pointe a La Hache plantation, near New Orleans. Family must have traveled and visited a lot.

Poetess Fannie (Dead Confederacy, written 1865 at Princeton, published 21 Dec 1871 in London's Cosmopolitan), Belle of Little Rock and Memphis, Fannie, --- Fanny Green Borland, (1848AR- 1879TN), (named for her aunt, with brother George Godwin Borland, 1846AR-1862TX, for his uncle) wrote a letter from Little Rock, 29 April 1866 to Euclid jr, then, a year later, her sister, Mollie, named Mary Melbourne Borland (1850AR-1938MO) after her mother when born 28 June 1850, wrote Euclid jr from Princeton, 20 May and 1 Nov 1867 while Euclid, jr was attending University of Virginia, with his cousin Thomas R, in whose Norfolk, VA home he died 26 Sep 1896. Gen Euclid Borland returned to and remained in New Orleans, making quite a name for himself in those 30 odd years as is recorded in history books. He is buried in Ramsey cemetery, Hertford county, North Carolina with father and most of his family. Thomas, likewise, did well but at Norfolk, VA, once United States Attorney for Eastern Virginia, twice married, buried with family lot 38 Elmwood cemetery

These Borland papers also provide some incite into the military lives of Euclid jr and Thomas R and include Memorandum of the birth of the Giles (Gills??) children and a letter from Elgin B Gill to Armistead Borland, 27 June1914.

The Borland papers appear to answer the century and half old question --- where did Rosicus C Borland die and is buried, plus much more in depth and personal look into the life of the Borlands. They reveal the closeness that George and Fanny (Green) Godwin played in the Borlands lives. They may also provide at least a key into the mystery of the note on back of R C Borlands portrait about "Small Hopes Farm", the apparent home of Miss Betsy King which may well have been Mary (Giles) Green's place and it just may be where Felix Sharples was staying in 1809 when he did the Godwin and Borland Portraits(??). Thomas R wrote a letter to ---"grandma, uncle and Miss Betsy,", 23 Feb 1858 from Bolmar's School, West Chester, PA and many others to her over fifteen years until Dr Euclid's letter 31 Dec1873. Miss Betsy was a very import person in the lives of the Borlands, my guess, without documentation is --- she was Thomas' nannie while being raised by his aunt, uncle and grandmother Mary (Giles) Green.

These Borland papers at The College of William & Mary may hold many untold secrets begging to be released to the public's eyes.

Bill Boggess, author, "That Man Named Solon"