Hiram & Andrew acrimony
Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2023 9:49 pm
Sharing another minor, but (to me) interesting tidbit. We all are familiar with Hiram Harrington's infamous newspaper interview where he described his August 4th conversation with Lizzie and other Borden family insights. One of his comments was describing how Andrew might be overly tight and possibly unfair with his money. Extract from the interview below.
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Hiram Harrington interview extract
Source: Fall River Globe August 6, 1892
"Mr Borden was an exceedingly hard man concerning money matters, determined and stubborn, and when once
he got an idea nothing could change him. He was too hard for me. When his father died some years ago he offered my wife
the old homestead on Ferry St for a certain sum of money. My wife preferred to take the money, and after the agreements
were all signed, to show how close he was he wanted my wife to pay an additional $3.00 for water tax upon the homestead."
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What hasn't been called out is that Hiram likely moved into 12 Ferry shortly after BeBe's death mid-summer 1883 and immediately after Andrew bought 12 Ferry from the estate and Lurana in August, 1883. Not entirely sure what a water tax might be, but if its what we would call a water bill today, perhaps Andrew considered that a cost a renter/tenant should pay. The 1884 Fall River directory data was gathered in November of 1883. Since the 1884 City Directory has the Harrington's living at 12 Ferry, that would mean they were already living there no later than November 1883. Andrew bought it from Lurana and the estate in August. Perhaps what Hiram considered being a cheapskate, was instead Andrew thinking the rightful person was paying for what they should pay for.
There were multiple situations that could have created the acrimony between Hiram and Andrew....perhaps it was a combination of all of them. Hiram worked briefly for Andrew, Hiram rented from Andrew, Hiram likely lived briefly w/ Andrew....any and all of those situations could lead to discord.
Date Event Source:
Dec 6, 1882 Abraham Borden dies. Source: Fall River Death Register
July 2, 1883 Be Be Borden (Abraham's wife and occupant of 12 Ferry) dies. Source: Fall River Death Register
August 11, 1883 Andrew buys Lurana's 50% of 12 Ferry for $3,000 Source: Taunton, Ma. Registry of Deeds
1882 - Hiram & Lurana lived at 13 Ferry; Fall River City Directory
1883 - No city directory in 1883
1884 - Hiram & Lurana lived at 12 Ferry; Fall River City Directory - Important to remember that census data gathered November of prior year.
1885 - Hiram & Lurana lived at 12 Ferry; Fall River City Directory
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Hiram Harrington interview extract
Source: Fall River Globe August 6, 1892
"Mr Borden was an exceedingly hard man concerning money matters, determined and stubborn, and when once
he got an idea nothing could change him. He was too hard for me. When his father died some years ago he offered my wife
the old homestead on Ferry St for a certain sum of money. My wife preferred to take the money, and after the agreements
were all signed, to show how close he was he wanted my wife to pay an additional $3.00 for water tax upon the homestead."
----------------------------------------------
What hasn't been called out is that Hiram likely moved into 12 Ferry shortly after BeBe's death mid-summer 1883 and immediately after Andrew bought 12 Ferry from the estate and Lurana in August, 1883. Not entirely sure what a water tax might be, but if its what we would call a water bill today, perhaps Andrew considered that a cost a renter/tenant should pay. The 1884 Fall River directory data was gathered in November of 1883. Since the 1884 City Directory has the Harrington's living at 12 Ferry, that would mean they were already living there no later than November 1883. Andrew bought it from Lurana and the estate in August. Perhaps what Hiram considered being a cheapskate, was instead Andrew thinking the rightful person was paying for what they should pay for.
There were multiple situations that could have created the acrimony between Hiram and Andrew....perhaps it was a combination of all of them. Hiram worked briefly for Andrew, Hiram rented from Andrew, Hiram likely lived briefly w/ Andrew....any and all of those situations could lead to discord.
Date Event Source:
Dec 6, 1882 Abraham Borden dies. Source: Fall River Death Register
July 2, 1883 Be Be Borden (Abraham's wife and occupant of 12 Ferry) dies. Source: Fall River Death Register
August 11, 1883 Andrew buys Lurana's 50% of 12 Ferry for $3,000 Source: Taunton, Ma. Registry of Deeds
1882 - Hiram & Lurana lived at 13 Ferry; Fall River City Directory
1883 - No city directory in 1883
1884 - Hiram & Lurana lived at 12 Ferry; Fall River City Directory - Important to remember that census data gathered November of prior year.
1885 - Hiram & Lurana lived at 12 Ferry; Fall River City Directory