Borland, Jerathmel Bowers (1760-1816) Papers, 1808-1816

Held by The Filson Historical Society

Creator:  Borland, Jerathmel Bowers, 1760-1816

Title:  Papers, 1808-1816

Rights: For information regarding literary and copyright interest for these papers, contact the Curator of Collections.

Size of Collection:  4 volumes

Location Number:  Mss. A B735 1-4

Scope and Content Note

Collection consists of two letterbooks (1812-1815), containing copies of letters written by Jerathmel B. Borland, a Boston, Massachusetts merchant, to various relatives and business associates and two account books (1808-1816) of daily income and expenditures pertaining to his retail and wholesale business. The letters frequently refer to the effects of the War of 1812 on business in the eastern states and stress the importance of quality in the production and sale of various goods. The letters describe numerous business arrangements that he formed with family relatives, including shipping various goods via the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to New Orleans with stops in Louisville and Lexington, Ky. where he sold and purchased goods. He also helped develop a sheep-raising business with a cousin in Kentucky.

Biographical Note

Jerathmel B. Borland was born in Somerset, Massachusetts in 1860, son of Dr. Francis and Hannah Bowers Borland. His siblings included Joseph, John and William. Jerathmel eventually moved to Boston where he established a thriving business as a wholesale/retail merchant dealing with an extensive variety of goods, including farm produce (wheat, corn, tobacco etc.), military and ship supplies (gunpowder and ship anchors) and distilled liquors (especially gin). He would generally purchase items from manufacturers or other suppliers and either sell them to customers in his store, ship items to other retailers or sell them to military purchasing agents. Not content to conduct business in New England, he also assisted business associates, particularly in Virginia and North Carolina to expand their businesses. During the time period of this collection he also began new marketing ventures with his brothers and a cousin to ship goods to and from New Orleans and sell and buy items in Louisville and Lexington, Ky. In conjunction with a cousin, he helped to purchase land in Kentucky for the purpose of establishing a sheep raising/breeding business. In 1816, Borland moved to Kentucky and died in Lexington Dec. 13, 1816.

Folder List

Volume 1: Account book, 1808-1811
Volume 2: Letterbook, 1812-1814
Volume 3: Letterbook, 1814-1815
Volume 4: Account book, 1813-1816

Subject Headings

Account books – United States
Barges – United States
Collecting of accounts – United States
Commerce – United States
Constitution (Frigate)
Distilling industries – United States
Gin industry – United States
Gunpowder industry – United States – 19th century
Merchants – Kentucky
Merchants – Louisiana – New Orleans
Merchants – Massachusetts – Boston
Merino sheep – Kentucky
New Orleans, Battle of, New Orleans, La., 1815.
Retail trade – United States
Retail trade – Massachusetts – Boston
Presidents – United States – Election – 1812
Sheep –Breeding – United States
Sheep farming – Kentucky
Shipping – Mississippi River
Shipping – Ohio River
Slavery – United States
United States – History – War of 1812
United States –History –War of 1812 –Blockades
United States – History – War of 1812 – Economic Aspects
United States – History – War of 1812 – Naval operations
United States – History – War of 1812 – Peace
United States – History – War of 1812 – Surrenders – American
United States – History – War of 1812 – Treaties
Waterways – United States
Wholesale trade – United States