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Special Collections Research Center
William & Mary Special Collections Research CenterEarl Gregg Swem Library
400 Landrum Dr
Williamsburg, Virginia
Business Number: 757-221-3090
spcoll@wm.edu
URL: https://libraries.wm.edu/libraries-spaces/special-collections
Special Collections Staff.
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use:
Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.
Conditions Governing Access:
Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
Preferred Citation:
Borland Family Papers, Robert Blackwell Papers
Acquisition Information:
Gift: 521 items, 1944.
Family History:
Information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: .
Scope and Contents
The Borland, Green, and Godwin families are related in the following manner. George Godwin, son of Jeremiah Godwin, married Fanny Green (whose mother was Mary (Giles) Green) in 1805. Dr. Thomas Wood Borland (d. 1830 or 1831), father of Roscius Cicero Borland, married Harriott Godwin, daughter of Jeremiah Godwin and Sarah (Wilkinson) Godwin.
Family correspondence, chiefly 1830-1854, of Mary (Giles) Green and George Godwin of Nansemond County 
, Virginia; Roscius C. Borland of Murfreesboro, North Carolina; Thomas Roscius Borland of Norfolk, Virginia; and of other
family members in Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas. This collection includes business correspondence
and receipts, 1788-1867; a manuscript by Armistead Borland about his father Thomas R. Borland (who was involved with William
Mahone and the Readjuster Party) which contains a genealogy of the Borland and Godwin families; and family photographs. And
it also contains a letter, 1828 April 18, from Euclid Borland to George Godwin giving impressions of life at College of William
and Mary.
Arrangement of Materials:
Organization: This collection is organized into 3 Series. Series 1 contains personal papers and correspondence, Series 2 contains tax statements and receipts, and Series 3 contains typed material. Arrangement: The collection is arranged chronologically by date with those items lacking dates found at the end of each series.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Borland, Roscius Cicero, d. 1847
- Borland, Thomas Roscius, 1844-1900
- College of William and Mary--History--19th century
- Correspondence
- Financial records
- Goodwin family
- Green, Mary Giles, 1762-1819
- Mahone, William, 1826-1895
- Readjuster Party of Virginia
- Receipts (financial records)
- Typescripts
- United States--Economic history
- United States--Politics and Government
General
Other Information:
Additional information may be found at http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaead/published/wm/viw00044.frame
Container List
- id164579
Subseries 1: Personal Papers and Correspondence1771-1811
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1 id164566 1771 August 30
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1 id164570
1787 October 15
Scope and Contents
OS.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1 id164572
Promissory note from James Garrett to John Giles1787 October 27
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1 id164573
Legal document between James Garrett and John Giles1787 [?] 27
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1 id164574
Bill of sale for a schooner from Uriah Clarke, Suffolk, Virginia to Peter Giles1793 September 24
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1 id164575
Note from Mr. and Mrs. Barber to Mrs. Green1805 May 23
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1 id164576 1805 October 10
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1 id164577
Deed of gift from Peter Green, Nansemond1805 October 10
County , Virginia, to his niece Fanny Godwin, wife of George Godwin
Scope and ContentsOS.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1 id164578
1811 December 16
Scope and Contents
Copy.
- id164580
Subseries 2: Personal Papers and Correspondence1824-1837
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 2 id164583
Memo for the will of James Scarborough1824 February 18Scope and Contents
Autograph document. Item no. 4 concerns the leaving of three slaves to Temperance Ramsay.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 2 id164587
Euclid Borland, College of William and Mary, to his uncle George Godwin1828 April 18Scope and Contents
Euclid gives his first impressions of the college where he had just matriculated and mentions family members and refers to the Jeremiah Godwin plantation "Castle Hill" (later known as "Buntings").
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 2 id164589
William Wynn to George Godwin telling about a brown colt1829 September 1
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 2 id164591
License to practice law in North Carolina issued to Roscius C. Borland1830 July 6Scope and Contents
OS.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 2 id164592
Ann T.R. Green to George Godwin asking him to be guardian of Mary Frances Green1831 November 11
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 2 id164593
Thomas J. Finney, Murfreesboro, North Carolina, to George Godwin mentioning Dr. Solon Borland, John Waddille, and Mrs. Borland1836 January 24
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 2 id164594
John P. Boyd, Richmond, Virginia, to George Godwin about family matters1837 March 7
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 2 id164595
Euclid Borland to his uncle George Godwin1837 May 30Scope and Contents
Autograph letter signed. Euclid gives a description of his trip to Holly Springs, Mississippi and the new country, and mentions Roscius and Solon Borland.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 2 id164596
J. Busch, La Grange, Tennessee, to George Godwin, mentioning Dr. Euclid Borland and his father-in-law Mr. Moore1837 July 4
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 2 id164583
- id164597
Subseries 3: Personal Papers and Correspondence1838-1842
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3 id164600
Euclid Borland, Holly Springs, Mississippi, to his uncle George Godwin1838 May 11
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3 id164601
Kenneth Rayner, Raleigh, North Carolina, to Roscius C. Borland, Murfreesboro, North Carolina about politics in the state legislature1838 November 19
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3 id164602
Kenneth Rayner, Washington, D.C., to Roscius C. Borland1840 April 2Scope and Contents
Autograph letter signed. Enclosed is an appointment for Mr. Winborn and comments on the Sub-Treasury bill before the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3 id164603
An address delivered to the Masonic Lodge by R.C. Borland beginning "The philosophy of the mind . . . .,"1840 June 24
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3 id164604
B.T. Spiers, Raleigh, North Carolina, to R.C. Borland1840 December 11Scope and Contents
Item concerns politics in Raleigh and mentions Cherry, McQueen, Iredell, Sheppard, and Clingman
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3 id164605
Memo in the handwriting of R.C. Borland recording the birth date of Fanny Green Borland, daughter of Roscius C. Borland and Temperance Borland1842 February 3
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3 id164607 1842 March 2
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3 id164611
R.C. Borland to his aunt Mrs. Fanny Godwin1842 May 11
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3 id164614
James D. McCabe, Richmond, Virginia, to R.C. Borland1842 June 4
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3 id164617
B.T. Spiers to R.C. Borland, Murfreesboro, North Carolina1842 June 27
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3 id164620
John P. Boyd, New Kent, to his uncle George Godwin about family matters1842 August 3
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3 id164622
Leml. C. Holland, Suffolk, Virginia, to George Godwin1842 November 6
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3 id164600
- id164625
Subseries 4: Personal Papers and Correspondence1843-1845
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4 id164631
Jno. R. Purdie to R.C. Borland1843 February 4
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4 id164634
A.G. Godwin, Albany, Georgia, to his brother George Godwin1843 May 28
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4 id164637
T.S. Shepperd to George Godwin1843 June 9
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4 id164639
Sampson Rea, Portsmouth, to R.C. Borland, Murfreesboro, North Carolina1843 September 20
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4 id164641
Kenneth Rayner, Washington City, to R.C. Borland about politics in Washington1843 December 9
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4 id164643
Prayer beginning "Almighty God,...,"1844 January 1
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4 id164646
A.G. Godwin to his brother George Godwin1844 March 14
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4 id164649
Mary Godwin Hrickery to George Godwin1844 June 9
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4 id164651
R.C. Borland to Mrs. R.C. (Temperance) Borland1844 September 10
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4 id164654
Benjamin F. Godwin, Warm Springs, Georgia, to George Godwin1844 November 18
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4 id164656
R.C. Borland to Mrs. R.C. Borland1844 November 25
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4 id164657
Mrs. Fanny Godwin to her nephew Roscius C. Borland1845 April 20
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4 id164659
Alonzo D.W. Godwin to George Godwin1845 April 28
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4 id164661
Algernon George Alexander Godwin to his uncle George Godwin1845 May 29
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4 id164662
Effie Murray to her uncle George Godwin1845 August 16
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4 id164631
- id164664
Subseries 4: Personal Papers and Correspondence1846-1849
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 5 id164668 1846 February 27
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 5 id164669
Dr. Euclid Borland, Holly Springs, Mississippi, to his uncle George Godwin1846 November 8
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 5 id164670
F.M. Capehart to George Godwin1846 December 8Scope and Contents
Capehart announces that he is about to leave Murfreesboro for Suffolk with the remains of the family of R.C. Borland.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 5 id164671
Dr. Euclid Borland, New Orleans, Louisiana, to George Godwin1847 November 2Scope and Contents
Item mentions Uncle Solon's escape from prison in MexiCounty
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 5 id164672
Dr. Euclid Borland, Pointe a la Hache Plantation, Parishe of Plaquimines, Louisiana, to George Godwin1848 May 30Scope and Contents
Item concerns family matters and mentions Uncle Solon's appointment to the U.S. Senate and some remarks on his personality.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 5 id164673
Thomas Borland, son of Solon Borland, at Alexandria Boarding School, Virginia, to his uncle George Godwin1849 May 26
- id164674
Subseries 6: Personal Papers and Correspondence1850-1854
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 6 id164677
Dr. Euclid Borland, Hot Springs, Arkansas, to George Godwin1851 October 12Scope and Contents
Borland mentions his probable return to Virginia permanently and other family news.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 6 id164678
Dr. Euclid Borland, New Orleans, Louisiana, to George Godwin1851 October 30
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 6 id164679
David Jeremiah Godwin, Baliston Spa, New York, to George Godwin1852 July 30
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 6 id164680
Dr. Euclid Borland, White Sulphur Springs, Virginia, to George Godwin1852 September 27
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 6 id164681
T. Upshaw, Norfolk, to George Godwin, Suffolk1853 August 30Scope and Contents
Item mentions the hiring of slaves and Mr. Mahone.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 6 id164677
- id164687
Subseries 7: Personal Papers and Correspondence1855-1867
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 7 id164693 1855 July 4
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 7 id164696
Thomas R. Borland, A. Bolmar's School, West Chester, Pennsylvania, to his "grandma, uncle, and Miss Betsy,"1858 February 23
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 7 id164699
D.J. Godwin, Headquarters, Hicksford, Virginia, to his uncle about the cost of Negroes and restrictions on Negroes1863 November 24
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 7 id164702
Euclid Borland, Petersburg, Virginia, to his uncle about the removal of the family burial ground in Murfreesboro, North Carolina1863 December 17
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 7 id164707
Euclid Borland to George Godwin1863 December 26
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 7 id164710 1864 January 1
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 7 id164713
Thomas R. Borland, Company K, 9th Virginia Infantry, Barton's Brigade, Pickett's Division, to "My Dear old Uncle,"1864 April 1
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 7 id164714
J.S. Reese, Belfield, North Carolina, to Euclid Borland, Jr.1865 August 16Scope and Contents
Announces the death of his brother Phocian Borland of typhoid fever.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 7 id164716
Fannie Borland, Little Rock, Ark., daughter of Solon Borland, to her cousin Euclid Borland, Jr.1866 April 29
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 7 id164717
Fannie Browne, Portsmouth, to George Godwin announcing her coming marriage on 29 July 18661866 July 29
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 7 id164718
Fannie Browne (Mrs. James Buford) to George Godwin1866 September 1
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 7 id164719
Euclid Borland to George Godwin1866 October 30
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 7 id164720
V.R. Borland at the University of Virginia to his uncle1866 November 26
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 7 id164722
Euclid Borland to George Godwin1867 January 5
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 7 id164723
Euclid Borland, Sr. to Thomas R. Borland, University of Virginia1867 March 11
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 7 id164724
Mollie Borland, Princeton, Arkansas, to her cousin Euclid Borland, Jr.1867 May 20
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 7 id164725
Euclid Borland to his son Euclid Borland at the University of Virginia1867 May 24
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 7 id164726
T.R. Borland to Miss Betsy1867 October 17
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 7 id164727
Mollie Borland to her cousin Euclid Borland, Jr.1867 November 1
- id164728
Subseries 8: Personal Papers and Correspondence1868-1875
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 8 id164731
Thomas Borland to Miss Betsy1872 December 6
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 8 id164732
Euclid Borland to Miss Betsy King1872 December 7
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 8 id164733
Thomas Borland to Miss Betsy1872 December 26
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 8 id164734
Thomas R. Borland to Miss Betsy1873 July 29
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 8 id164735
Thomas R. Borland to Miss Betsy1873 December 26
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 8 id164736 1873 December 31
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 8 id164737
Thomas Borland to Miss Betsy1874 February 9
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 8 id164731
- id164738
Subseries 9: Personal Papers and Correspondence1876-1914
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 9 id164741
T.R. Borland to Robert Searls1877 September 3
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 9 id164742
Thomas R. Borland, Norfolk, to "My Darling Boy,"1885 August 17
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 9 id164743
Printed eulogy (poem) of "Little Roscius Borland" written by George W. Sheffield1885 December 15
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 9 id164746
T.R. Borland to his son1886 July 30
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 9 id164749
T.R. Borland to his son1887 April 26Scope and Contents
In German.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 9 id164752
T.R. Borland to his son1891 September 24
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 9 id164755
T.R. Borland to his son1892 November 25
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 9 id164758
T.H. Willcox, Charlottesville, to Mr. Borland1894 September 3
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 9 id164760
Receipt from the University of Virginia of Armistead Borland1894 September 17
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 9 id164763
T.R. Borland to Miss Sallie1899 January 27
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 9 id164766
T.R. Borland to his son1899 November 8
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 9 id164769
T.R. Borland to Mr. A.P. Thom.1899 December 15
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 9 id164771
Elgin B. Gill to Armistead Borland1914 June 27
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 9 id164741
- id164774
Subseries 10: Personal Papers and Correspondenceundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 10 id164781
Memorandum of the birth of the Giles children and Negroes1755-1762, undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 10 id164782
Several family letters by T.R. Borland and miscellaneous papersundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 10 id164784
Memorandum by R.C. Borland beginning "The United States ...,"undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 10 id164785
Memorandum in the handwriting of R.C. Borland beginning "No one ever possessed...,"undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 10 id164786
Memorandum in the handwriting of R.C. Borland beginning "By heaps of doubt and gloom...,"undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 10 id164787
Memorandum in the handwriting of R.C. Borland beginning "In peace there's nothing...,"undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 10 id164781
- id164791
Subseries 1: Tax Statements and Receipts1788-1817
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 11 id164794
Receipt signed by Edmund Blount, sheriff, of taxes paid by John Giles1788 December 3
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 11 id164795
Bill of sale for C. Whitlock from Messrs. Demsey, Elisha Copeland, and Mrs. Green1793 July 15
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 11 id164796
Bill of sale to David Bell1800 September 15
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 11 id164797
Account of Abel Cross with Mary Green1804 August 8
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 11 id164798
Promissory note of George Godwin and James G. Green to Margaret Kelly, administratorix, of estate of Hugh Kelly1817 December 22
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 11 id164799
Tax bills of Mary Green and George Godwin1807-1817
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 11 id164794
- id164800
Subseries 2: Tax Statements and Receipts1718-1829
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 12 id164803
Receipt of Mrs. Mary Green1818-1819
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 12 id164805
Promissory notes of George Godwin1818-1829
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 12 id164808
Receipt for schooling of Solon Borland by Bennett M. Deford, paid by George Godwin1821
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 13 id164811
Folder 13
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 14 id164813
Folder 14
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 15 id164815
Folder 15
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 12 id164803
- id164842
Subseries 2: Tax Statements and Receipts1830-1835Scope and Contents
Receipts of George Godwin.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 13 id164851
Folder 13
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 13 id164851
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 14 id164855
Subseries 3: Tax Statements and Receipts1836-1837Scope and Contents
Receipts of George Godwin, guardian of Miss Catherine O. Green.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 15 id164859
Subseries 4: Tax Statements and Receipts1838-1842Scope and Contents
Receipts of George Godwin.
- id164830
Subseries 5: Tax Statements and Receipts1843-1845
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 16 id164824
Receipt of George Godwin, late guardian of Catherine O. Green, deceased, signed by Josiah Pinner1843 January 1
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 16 id164826
Receipts of George Godwin1843-1845
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 16 id164827
Business papers of Roscius C. Borland1843-1845
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 16 id164824
- id164832
Subseries 6: Tax Statements and Receipts1846-1849
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 17 id164822
Bills for schooling of Thomas, son of Solon Borland1846
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 17 id164823
Receipts of George Godwin1846-1847
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 17 id164822
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 18 id164868
Subseries 7: Tax Statements and Receipts1850-1854Scope and Contents
Business papers of George Godwin
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 19 id164870
Subseries 8: Tax Statements and Receipts1855-1867Scope and Contents
Receipts of George Godwin.
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 id164820
undated
Scope and Contents
Pages 157-182. Section 1 is entitled "Doctor Thomas Wood Borland" (d. 1830 or 1831). He married Harriott Godwin and their sons were Roscius Cicero, Euclid (d. 1881), and Solon. Included is a section, pages 168-176, on "Political Principles and Affiliations," including accounts of Thomas R. Borland's (1844-1900) political activities, 1865-1890, and his part in the William Mahone Readjuster Party.
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 id164821
Typed sketch of Thomas R. Borland (1844-1900) by his son Armistead BorlandundatedScope and Contents
304 pages with index. Original letters and receipts formerly part of this sketch have been re-filed with family correspondence and receipts.