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Archiver > TAYLOR > 1998-08 > 0903280140


From: Edgar Taylor <>
Subject: Re: [TAYLOR-L] Taylor research on Borden tract
Date: Sun, 16 Aug 1998 15:09:00 +0000


Hi Earl -Re BORDEN MANOR - GRANT SETTLEMENT

I did not find a straight-forward that is condensed listing of all the
settlers in the Borden Grant in my transcriptions from various VA
histories. I am almost sure I have seen a listing somewhere.and I will
keep looking. I have some possible other sources to look. First though
a few other asides.

< From Log Cabins to the White House> Mary Taylor Brewer
{Benjamin ] Borden {SR} inherited 5000 acres of land in New Jersey from
where he migrated to VA in 1732. -----
On 8 Nov 1732 Borden was granted 100,000 acres of land along the James
River and in Frederick County VA where he established his home <Borden
Manor> . He planned to settle 100 Irish families on his land.

But the <Annals of Augusta Co from 1726 to 1871> by Joseph a. Waddell
, and <A Hornbook of Virginia History>, Virginia State Library
Publication No. 25, have a some what different version. Paraphrasing
from these sources:

In the early 1700s Benjamin Borden <a native of New Jersey, acting as
the agent for Lord Halifax> and others obtained large land grants in
western Virginia. Borden brought a number of families into the lower
Shenandoah Valley. These settlers were different from those who had
occupied the eastern parts of Virginia; that is the Tidewater and
Piedmont ares. Some of these were Germans also from New Jersey, and a
number of Scots-Irish came from Pennsylvania. However, the Indian
uprisings drove many of the families away, at least or a time.

The <Hornbook> also points out that there were other land speculators
for the Valley besides Borden, among which were Tidewater Virginians
Robert Carter and William Beverly, and Jacob Stover of PA . According
to a map in an article mostly about settlement of the northwestern
corner of NC by William Dobb Bennett in the NC Gen Soc Journal of Feb
1984, the Beverly Manor was just north of the Borden Grant. The James
River and Roanoke Grant were south of the Borden Grant. Thus, the
Grant was not as large as I first imagined it to be.This article
suggests for Virginia one look at <Early Adventures on the Western
Waters: the New River of Virginia in Pioneer Days> by Fred and Mary
Kegley, 1980.since the author was only dealing with NC. I have never
seen this book.

Although not directly tied to the Borden grant, the <Annals> mentions
a number of names including Joist Hite, Morgan Morgan, a native of
Wales who immigrated from PA to VA about 1726, the Campbells, and
others. From a review of the <Annals> perhaps others who probably
purchased land from Borden might be determined.

Mrs. Brewer states that Isaac Taylor, son of Nathaniel, was one of the
first settlers to take up land in the Borden Grant about 1740. He had
first immigrated from Ireland to Dauphin Co, PA with his brothers.
{Among these Taylors Robert apparently remained In Dauphin Co, PA.:
Matthew went to Maryland as I recall,but other brothers are unaccounted
for, according to my info. I suspect that some of the Taylors in what
became western PA and the Panhandle of WVA were of this family of
Taylors. Henry Taylor of Washington CO PA was certainly of this family,
a son of Matthew. Jemima Taylor Duval said to be a daughter of Isaac
Taylor was also of the MD Taylors according to some reports.
Mary Brewer also lists Lyman Chalkey¹s <Scotch-Irish Settlements in
VA.> but my notes from this book of 2 volumes does not list directly
those only in the Borden Grant. Lewis P Summers <Annals of Southwestern
VA> is also a place to look if you are looking beyond the Borden Grant.
There are alot of references to Isaac Taylor and the Campbells in this
last.
I hope this info will be somewhat useful to you and to others.
Ed T of PG

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