♂Edmund Borden

Edmund Borden (about 1480 – 1539) was a man of Headcorn, in Kent, England, and the great-great-grandfather of Richard Borden (1595–1671), who left Headcorn for New England and settled at Portsmouth, Rhode Island; he is the earliest proved ancestor of that Borden line. Edmund was the thirteenth great-grandfather of Frederic Roger Curtis (1928–2007) by two separate lines of descent, both through his son William Borden (1510–1557).

Life

Edmund was probably born about 1480. He married a woman named Margaret, whose surname is not known. They had eight children, born between about 1505 and 1527: Edward, John, William, Joan, Marion, Margaret, Alice and Julian, a daughter. Their daughter Joan married Ralph Champ shortly before 13 April 1539, and Marion was betrothed to John Little.

Edmund made his will on 13 April 1539 as a man of Headcorn, and died soon afterwards; the will is said to have been proved on 18 June 1539.

Lines of descent

Both lines run through his son William Borden (1510–1557), William’s son Thomas Borden (1533–1592), Thomas’s son Matthew Borden (1563–1620), Matthew’s son Richard Borden (1595–1671) and Richard’s daughter Mary Borden. They divide in later generations and meet again in Salena Sherman (1806–1842), whose parents Waite Allen (1766–1850) and Batchelder Sherman (1761–1828) both descend from Edmund.

Notes

Sources

Edmund’s family rests on the article “Genealogical Research in England: Borden”, in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register 84 (1930). On page 226 it begins the pedigree that “shows all that has been proved in regard to the paternal ancestry of Richard Borden of Portsmouth, R. I.”, and Edmund stands first in it. The article gives his will of 13 April 1539, made as a man of Headcorn, and his death between that day and 18 June 1539, when the will was proved. His birth about 1480 and his children’s birth years are estimates. His marriage came before English parishes began keeping registers in 1538, so no marriage entry survives to fix its date.

Parentage

Edmund’s parents are not known. Just before the pedigree, the same article prints an earlier Chancery suit over a house and land in Headcorn, Frittenden and Staplehurst brought by Henry, one of the sons and heirs of Thomas Burden of Headcorn, whose other sons were John and Thomas. The article does not place Edmund in that family.