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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
A
DESCRIPTIVE AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF
BRISTOL COUNTY
MASSACHUSETTS
PREPARED AND PUBLISHED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF
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THE
FALL RIVER NEWS
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AND
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THE
TAUNTON GAZETTE
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WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF
HON. ALANSON BORDEN
OF NEW BEDFORD
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THE BOSTON HISTORY COMPANY, PUBLISHERS
1899
PART II
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Simeon Borden
SIMEON BORDEN, for thirty-two years the clerk of the courts of Bristol county, was
born March 29, 1829, in Fall River, Mass., where he spent his entire life. His first English ancestor went over
to England from Bourdonnay, Norway, as a soldier under William the Conqueror, and after the battle of Hastings
(in A. D. 1066) was assigned lands in County Kent, where the family afterward became wealthy and influential, the
village where they resided being named Borden. Early in the seventeenth century John Borden moved to Wales, where
his sons Richard and John were married. These Sons returned to Borden, in England, and in May, 1635, embarked for
America. Richard (1) settled in Portsmouth, R. I., in 1638. The line of descent front him is (2) John, (3) Richard,
(4) Joseph, (5) Abraham, (6) Simeon, and (7) Nathaniel B., who was the father of the subject of this memoir. Nathaniel
Briggs Borden was born in Freetown (afterward Fall River), Mass., April 15, 1801. The house in which his birth
occurred stood on the west side of South Main street, nearly opposite the south end of the Pocasset Mill, and was
celebrated in local annals from the fact that two British soldiers were shot and killed at its eastern door when
the English attacked the village in the Revolutionary war. Simeon Borden (6), father of Nathaniel B., was born
in Freetown in 1759, removed to Tiverton, R. L, in 1806, and died there November 27, 1811. His wife, Amey Briggs,
a woman of superior business ability and sterling character, of the Commonwealth, the highest conception of professional
honor and the noblest type of professional character.
"Always glad to welcome to the practice of the profession the young men at the opening of their careers, it
was a delight to him to contribute from the abundance of his knowledge and wisdom in order to make the pathway
for them easier and pleasanter, asking for and thinking of no return for the help and assistance rendered other
than the satisfaction which he derived in gratifying his own sympathetic nature."
He was a public spirited citizen, taking a deep interest in all worthy movements, and liberally supporting every
charitable enterprise. In politics he was a strong anti-slavery advocate and a Republican. He was the first president
of the Harvard Club in Fall River. Upon his death he was succeeded as clerk of the courts by his son, Simeon Borden,
jr.
Simeon Borden, only son of Simeon and Irene (Hathaway) Borden, was born in Fall River, June 27, 1860. He attended
the public schools of his native city ani prepared for college in the high school, from which he was graduated
in the class of 1878. The same year he entered Brown University and in 1882 was graduated with the degree, A. B.
Shortly after graduation he became a clerk in his father's office, and continued in that capacity until 1888 when
he was appointed assistant clerk of courts. He held this position at the time of Simeon Borden's death and was
appointed to fill the vacancy until the next election. At this time he was nominated on the Republican ticket for
the office of clerk of courts and was elected by a large majority. He has many of the personal characteristics
which endeared his father to all who enjoyed his sterling friendship, and is held in high esteem by all of those
with whom, by virtue of his public position, he comes in contact.
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