BORDO BOFFIN
1099-1215
Bordo is probably best remembered for his long and fulfilling lives, being one of the oldest hobbits on Shire record.
Bordo was the firstborn son of Berno and Petunia Boffin. Born in the summer of 1099, twelve years after the original excavation of Boffin’s Burrow, Bordo was brought up surrounded by wealth and privilege. It is known that he received a rich education, provided by a number of notable tutors and scholars. From a very young age he showed signs of academic prowess. It was noted by one of his tutors that he was able to excel in any subject that he put his mind to. His upbringing was in stark contrast to his father’s, who was not born into privilege and had to work hard to achieve what he did. Although there is no denying that Bordo’s upbringing was comfortable, that is not to say that he took it for granted.
Bordo’s mother, Petunia, died in 1123 when he was twenty four. Upon Berno’s death in 1128, the twenty nine year old Bordo inherited the mastery of Boffin’s Burrow and the estate that came with it, along with all its wealth and income. What we know is that the smial, upon his inheritance, was not particularly opulent or grand. Already known as a creative and artistically natured hobbit, he immediately set about on making the place more homely and charming. Soon it began to resemble the Boffin’s Burrow of today. The style seemed to reflect both Bordo’s wealth as well as his rustic Southfarthing heritage. His love for gardening also meant that the hill and grounds would become fresh with beautiful flowers and other such flora. In all, he brought character to his home at Boffin’s Burrow that his father had put so much work into building.
In the year of 1158, the Long Winter struck the Shire. Many hobbits were to perish as a result, from either the cold or the hunger that came as a result. The Southfarthing, having a naturally warmer climate than elsewhere in the Shire, did not suffer as badly. But that is not to say that death was not still to be found there. The humble holes of the Hobbits of Barleywick would provide little shelter from the cold. Doors were said to have frozen shut, trapping families inside with no way of escaping. Now came Bordo’s greatest moment. The fifty nine year old is said to have mounted his pony in order to ride around the village, ringing aloud a bell to alert everyone and to summon them out of their homes. When he realised that there were some trapped inside, he kicked down the frozen doors in order to rescue them. Once all the villagers were convened, he led them to Boffin’s Burrow to provide shelter for all. Young and old, rich and poor, all of Barleywick was gathered together in Bordo’s care. Hearths were lit and blankets were provided. The farmers had brought with them sacks of barley, lest their crops perish in the cold. It was Bordo who took this barley in order to make a soup. Although tasteless, it provided instant warmth to those who may have otherwise died. This same soup is distributed to the villagers by Bordo’s descendants during wintertime to this very day.
Once the Long Winter had passed, Bordo resolved to spend much of his own fortune in improving the holes throughout the village, so that they may be more resistant should such a winter ever occur again. Indeed, when the Fell Winter of 1311 occurred, Barleywick was brought together by Bosgo Boffin, who used the same initiative as Bordo to bring all the hobbits together in Boffin’s Burrow, where they once again survived.
Five years after the Long Winter, Bordo married Rosemary Sackville. It is believed that they were deeply in love - and shared the virtue of charity and other intellectual pursuits. They had one son together, Bindo, in 1164. It would seem that Bordo was rewarded for his charity and courge in the form of great life. For eighty seven years he attended to the mastery of Boffin's Burrow and the patriarchy of Barleywick with kindness and wisdom. His wife, Rosemary, died in 1189, at the age of eighty nine. Bordo went on to outlive her by twenty six years. Finally, in 1215, at the great age of one hundred and sixteen, he died peacefully in his sleep. The Bell of Bordo rests in Boffin's Burrow, which is to be used to summon the residents of Barleywick to the smial in case of an emergency - whether that is another harsh winter or even war.
In his later years (which for him were very 'late' indeed) it is said that whilst many have their hair fall out and go thin in old age, Bordo's grew to a long length which appeared like a grey mane. His wisdom was highly regarded across the land in many subjects, from gardening to history. People began to think that he may never die, and many wished that he never would. Alas he did, but his legacy outlived even him. He was a close friend to the Thain, Fortinbras the First (1145-1248), who is said to have often sought Bordo's counsel.
