John Borland was born in 1792, the son of Leonard Vassall Borland and Sarah Lloyd Borland. John's uncle was Senator James Lloyd of Massachusetts [1769-1876]. John had three sisters, one being Augusta Elizabeth Borland [Mrs. William Parkinson Greene, 1795-1861]. John had two sons, John Nelson Borland [1828-1890] and M. Woolsey Borland [1824-1909].