The Borden Dairy logo, image courtesy Borden Dairy.
One of the early founders of Portsmouth was Richard Borden (1595-1671) from Headcorn, Kent, England. He held many public offices and was an early member of the Society of Friends. His son Matthew was the first white child born on Rhode Island in May 1638 and other children were instrumental in the settlement of Monmouth and Burlington Counties, New Jersey (Bordentown).
Gail Borden III (1801-1874) of New York State and Texas perfected the manufacturing of evaporated and condensed milk in 1856 which led to the Borden Dairy Company. Bordens were also instrumental in developing the great Fall River iron and textile industry. All of the prominent manufacturers shared Borden kinship including Andrew Jackson Borden, whose daughter Lizzie needed to address certain anger management issues after a hot summer day in 1892.