In the early stages of researching my
BORDER lineage, I was confused as to how Thomas and Ann had a child born in Murton, a second child born in Pennsylvania, and a third born back in Murton.

  Quite by accident, I was reading The
Molly Maguire Riots by Coleman and came across the following which relates an episode in which five Irishmen, reported to be members of the Molly Maguires, launched an attack upon the residence of John C. Northall, a coal operator of Tuscarora, Schuylkill
County, Pennsylvania. The attacking party fired several shots into the room
Where Northall usually slept, but he was away at the time. The shots attracted the attention of several neighbors who killed one of the assailants and put the rest to flight.

      "… According to a widely
       prevalent rumor, John
       Donohue, the dead man,
       was identified by George
       Ulrich as a member of the
       party responsible for the
       murder of George K. Smith.
       Ulrich contradicted the
       statement (Pottsville Miner's
       Journal, February 23, 1867).
       Thomas Border  was tried
       for the murder of Donohue
        and acquitted. The prose-
        cution showed that Donohue
        had gone to the Northall
        home to request his pay, and
        that the firing was commenced
        by an excitable man who was
        staying with Northall at the
        time. Border, after the
        acquittal, left the region and
        returned to England."

  Ironically, after his return to England
and Murton Colliery, Thomas Border
only lived a short time longer. He
died  on April 5, 1868 at the age of 28.
The cause of death was listed as
"Phthisis," a form of the "Black Lung"
disease  common among miners.