If you came to this page because you are a relative of the Borlands, perhaps exploring your genealogy, please help me develop this section of the book. I need pictures, letters from the past, documents, internet links, and I need your opinion and editing. You will also notice that I have sections with no comments or information associated- very often, for example, the Naturalization Records category has no comments- I have not gotten around to this area of research. If you can help with the research for these empty or incomplete sections, I would greatly appreciate your help. Join with me to make this tribute to the Borland family accurate and memorable. Thank you! Email me at baldwind@sisd.cc.

Robert Borland and his wife Jannett (Mair) Borland came to America in 1844 (1900 US census data). Jannet's sister Marian Mair (later married a Borland) also came with them.

John Borland came in 1852. It appears that his mother Elizabeth came at the same time. John and Thomas (above) were brothers. Robert may also have been a brother but this is unconfirmed.

The 1870 federal census shows Elizabeth Borland age 67 living with John and his family. The 1841 Scottish census shows only Elizabeth- Thomas died in 1841. Living with Elizabeth are two sons, Thomas, John, and a daughter Ann (born in the late 1830s). The address in Scotland is Low Hill House, Riccarton, Ayrshire. Laborers also living in the household are John, Andrew, and Jean Millar (Miller?), and Jean Welely (could this be Wiley?).

The 1840 federal census lists a James Borland living in Scipio Township in Genesee County. There are 6 total people in the household. It is possible then that James Borland might have been the earliest pioneer who drew the others to southeastern Michigan. This is just speculation.

Thomas and family were in Armada Township in Macomb County when they arrived in the settlement, but moved to Almont by 1870. They lived in Macomb County for the first eight years. Then to the Scottish Settlement in Almont, on Boardman Road.

Elizabeth (Morton) Borland was born October 14, 1801, in Craigie, Ayrshire, Scotland. She died at the age of 89 August 22, 1891. In the 1880 census she is shown living in Imlay City.

Elizabeth Borland, July 3,1829 to August 29, 1912 married James Crawford, 1827 to 1914, in Macomb County on June 28, 1856. They lived in Armada.

David Wilson Borland was born May 11, 1850 on a farm near Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, in Scotland. He died in 1932 in Michigan. David married Jane W. Braidwood (1849 to 1921). They had: Thomas Alex Borland (1884 to 1958), and Arthur.

Thomas and his family arrived in Macomb County May 9, 1853 in good health but with little means. The first couple years in Bruce Township, Thomas worked on the farm of John Taylor. He then purchased 40 acres of land in Armada Township which he kept for four years. He then sold the Armada land and moved near Almont for a year- working on a farm. He then bought 80 acres in Bruce Township, section 8, which he kept for five years and then sold for $2000. Next, he bought a 120 acre farm on the county line, in Lapeer County- afterwards adding an addition 230 acres.

David Wilson Borland was born on a farm near Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland, on May 11, 1850 (died 1932). He came to America in 1853 at the age of three with his parents Janet Wilson and Thomas Borland II. They settled first in Macomb County for eight years and then moved to the Scottish Settlement on Boardman Road near Almont.

The account in this document, written by James Arthur Borland, provides a different account of the first years of the Borland family in the settlement.

"The family first settled on an 80 acre farm in Macomb, where they farmed for about eight years. Having a need for a larger farm, they sold out and bought a 200 acre farm on Boardman Road in the Scotch Settlement area, where many other Scotch families had migrated between 1835 and 1850. By this time, two more sons had been born, Thomas (the third), and James.

"In 1879, at the time of my grandfather's (David W. Borland) marriage to Jane Braidwood at 207 Bordman Road, his parents helped him purchase the adjoining farm from John R. Robertson.

"Thomas II had a brother John who also migrated to America in the early 1850's. He operated a general store in Almont until 1871, when he moved to Imlay City, enticed by the construction there of the Grand Trunk Railroad. He again operated a store in Imlay City and later started a bank. He had four children, Jock, William, Alice, and Neil.

Scottish: habitational name from any of several places called Bor(e)land or Bordland; Old or Middle English bord ‘board’, ‘table’ + land’, i.e. land that supplied the lord’s table, in other words ‘home farm’.

Janet (Wilson) Borland and Elizabeth (Morton) Borland have the same date of death (August 22, 1891). Is this a historical error or did they realluy die the same day?

One document says John had four kids: Jock, William, Alice, and Neil. verify this. My records show Alice, John, Willie, and Nelly. Jock must be s misprint for John. Neil is Nelly probably, but is this a boy or girl? Willie is William.