1.   Historical note

2.   Scope and content

3.   Provenance

4.   Processing note

5.   Inventory

6.   Subjects


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 Simeon Borden Accounts

 Miller of Freetown, Mass.

 Papers, 1758-1803

 Size: .5 ft.

 Catalog number: MSS 924

 Processed by: Elizabeth Delmage, January 2006


©Rhode Island Historical Society

Manuscripts Division

 


Historical note:


            In 1659, twenty six residents from the Plymouth Colony had purchased land that extended from the Quequechan River (its shore is in Tiverton, R.I. near Fall River, Mass.) on the south to the present northern border of Freeport, Mass. This purchase was known as the Freeman's Purchase and was incorporated in 1683 as Freetown, Mass. The town of Tiverton, R.I. was a part of the Pocasset Purchase, which included the land that was to the south of the Quequechan River, and in 1692 was incorporated into the Massachusetts Bay Colony. However, after a long boundary dispute between R.I. and Massachusetts, Tiverton was annexed by R.I. in 1746 following a royal decree. Later, in 1803 the township of Fall River, Mass. was formed from parts of Freetown and Tiverton. Simeon Borden (1759-1811) was born in Freetown, Mass. and later lived in Tiverton, R.I., but the land on which his mills stood became Fall River, Mass. His mills remained there well into the early nineteenth century under his son, Nathaniel Briggs Borden (c.1802-1865) who helped organize the Pocasset Mills in Fall River, Mass.

            Simeon Borden was born in Freetown, Mass. to Abraham Borden (1733-1769) and Ann Mumford (1734-) in 1759. He married Amey (Briggs) Borden (c.1761-1817) of Tiverton, R.I. in 1786 and had five children: Anna B. (1790-1852), Judith (1796-1884), Simeon (1798-1856), Nathaniel Briggs (c.1802-1865) and Sarah (1803-). Simeon Borden's ancestors, Richard Borden (1674-1732) of Tiverton, R.I. and Joseph Borden (1680-1715) of Freetown, Mass., purchased land from Colonel Benjamin Church (1639-1718) of Plymouth, Mass. in 1714. The land was in Freetown, Mass., which later became Fall River, and had a saw mill, grist-mill and a fulling mill already. It was through Joseph Borden's lineage that enabled Simeon to acquire his land and work as a miller. Simeon Borden lived and worked in Massachusetts until 1806 when he moved to Tiverton, R.I. and remained there until his death on November 27, 1811.

 

Bibliography:


Borden Family: Family and Continuity in Fall River, Massachusetts.

Earl, Henry H. A Centennial History of Fall River, Massachusetts. New York: Atlantic

            Publishing and Engraving Company, 1877.

Fenner, Henry M. History of Fall River. New York: F.T. Smiley Publishing Company, 1906.



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Scope and content:


            This collection contains account books from Simeon Borden (1759-1811) that record his business transactions from 1758-1803 in his mills in Freetown, Mass. Due to the dates covered within these account books, Simeon Borden most likely inherited the business from either his father, Abraham Borden (1733-1769) or one of his family members, after it had been passed down from Joseph Borden (1680-1715), who purchased the land originally.


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Provenance:


            Simeon Borden's account books (#1927. 34. 7. 1-2) were part of a larger donation from Mrs. Samuel Slater Durfee in 1927.


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Processing note:


            The collection was processed in January 2006, but needs to be rehoused into an archival box that best fits the account books.


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Inventory:

 

Book 1.                                   Account Book.                                    1758-1788

Book 2.                                   Account Book.                                    1788-1803


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Subjects:


Account books, 1758-1803.

Borden, Simeon, 1759-1811.

Freetown (Mass. : Town) - Commerce.

Merchants - Massachusetts - Freetown.

Mills and mill-work - Massachusetts.


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RIHS1822