A Brief Borden Family History

Fenwick C. Byrd

 

Borden Oaks

 

Mary Esther, “Mittie” Borden Campbell was born at Borden Oaks, a plantation about three miles southwest of Greensboro, Alabama, on 23 Jan 1849, the daughter of Richard Benjamin Borden and Martha Thompson Cocke Gray.

Benjamin Borden emigrated from Cartaret County, North Carolina, about 1833 to join his brothers, who lived in Newbern, Alabama. At that time he was married to his first wife, Margaret Hill, who also came from North Carolina. Margaret’s brother, Tom Hill, also came with them. Benjamin and Margaret were married until her death in 1843. She is buried in the Newbern Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Newbern, Alabama.

Benjamin's brothers, Thomas and David, lived in Newbern, Alabama. His brother, Isaac Pennington Borden, had a plantation near Jefferson, in Marengo County.

Benjamin married Martha Thompson Cocke Gray, a widow with children, in November of 1845; and moved to her home, Locust Lawn, which he renamed Borden Oaks. They had several children, one of whom was Mary Esther Borden. Their son, Joseph, later had his own plantation, Buena Vista, in the German Creek area of Greene County. Joseph served with the Greensboro Cavalry, and later, with the 5th Alabama Infantry Regiment in the War Between the States. After the war, Joseph and his wife, Frances Scott Gray (his step sister) removed to Madera County, California. Benjamin's and Martha's son, James Pennington Borden, was a physician in Greensboro, and lived at Borden Oaks his entire life. Jim Penn, as he was known to the family, had a daughter, also named Mary Esther. She married Bestor Wynne Coleman, Jr. and lived in Greensboro her entire life. Several of the Bordens, Grays, and Cockes are buried in the Cocke Cemetery about 3 miles southwest of Greensboro, Al.

Mary Esther Borden married William Thomas Cheney in November of 1870. Not much is known of him. He died shortly before the birth of his daughter whom his widow named William Thomas Cheney, Jr., for reasons unknown. She was known as Tommie. Tommie later married James McGiffert, in Eutaw. Mr. Cheney was apparently very well thought of as several of the Bordens and Grays named children after him.

At some point in the 1870’s, about 1878, Mary Esther married Edward Fenwick Campbell, a widower living in Eutaw, Alabama. He was originally from Augusta, Georgia, and had been married to Anna C. Pierce, the daughter of Judge Franklin Pierce of Eutaw.

Mary Esther spent the rest of her life in the Campbell home on Wilson Avenue in Eutaw. She had three more children: Edward F. Campbell, III; Borden Montgomery Campbell; and Martha Thompson Campbell. Mr. Campbell had a daughter by Anna C. Pierce, Mary Frances, “Madie” Campbell who lived with them. Madie eventually married Dr. William H. Harrison of Augusta, Ga. She and her siblings spent considerable time in Augusta with the Campbell relatives. Mr. Campbell died in 1886. He is buried in Summerville Cemetery, Augusta, Georgia. Young Edward died at the young age of 18 years as the result of being struck in the head with a baseball. Borden M. Campbell died young of “melancholia”. Martha Thompson Campbell wed John Blocker Byrd of Eutaw, Alabama, on January 18, 1911.

Mary Esther was the organist for St. Stephens Episcopal Church for forty years. In the church is a stained glass window in memory of her, her husband, and two of her children. It is interesting to note that her sister, Harriet Miranda, “Aunt Rinnie” Borden Clark, lived across the street from her for many years, in what was later known as the Clark-Malone house. Her brother, William Alfred Borden, also lived in Eutaw for several years. Mary Esther made frequent trips back to Borden Oaks, where her brother, Dr. James Pennington Borden lived all of his life.

Mary Esther Borden Campbell died in September of 1927. She is buried in Mesopotamia Cemetery in Eutaw, Alabama.