Some Christmas/Borden references

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 1:57 pm

In keeping with the spirit of the season I browsed my Borden archives for references to Christmas.

Andrew J. Borden married Sarah Anthony Morse, Christmas 1845. He was 23, she 22.
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Andrew J. Jennings married Marion F. Saunders, Christmas 1879
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The Fall River Art Association advertised a Lizzie Borden Christmas ornament, designed by artist Alan Iveson and sold for $15.00. Fall River Herald News, December 3, 1992: 2. (Rebello 504+)

Opinion / Backtalk, "Borden Ornament in Poor Taste," Fall River Herald News, December 15, 1992: 4
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"Crafts Fair Pulls 'Em In, It's Expected to Net $15,000 in Scholarship Money," Providence Sunday Journal, December 4, 1994: Section B1. (Rebello 505):

One of the most popular items offered at the annual craft fair at the B.M.C. Durfee High School of Fall River were wooden Christmas tree ornaments crafted to look like miniature Lizzie Borden books. Novelty crafter Robert Taylor was unable to keep up with the demand. The craft fair was under the direction of Jim Rogers."
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Lizzie's alleged marriage was supposed to take place "around Christmas. From the Boston Globe, December 10, 1896:

"... The engagement has been rumored about for weeks, but it lacked confirmation until a few days ago, when it was learned that Miss Borden has given to a well-known dressmaker an order for a trousseau. Mr. Gardner has had erected in South Somerset a fine new house. It is said that the wedding will probably take place about Christmas."
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From Victoria Lincoln's book, page 38:

"She [Lizzie] was good at sums and wrote a neat, bland, unfeatured hand; she did much dogwork for her charities, and her purse was open to them, a purse that in his final years her father kept well filled. And while in her own house she would not lift a finger outside her own room, she loved to help cook and serve the Church's yearly Christmas dinner for the newsboys."
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From Radin, page 51:

"... Her interest in children included more than allowing a group of neighborhood boys to pick unwanted pears from the ground. With a group of friends she organized annual Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners for poor children and newsboys and she was an active worker in the kitchen, cooking and loading their plates. ..."
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Sarah Whitehead, in an interview cited in the Boston Globe, August 13th, 1892, discussing Abbie's possessions:

" ... My sister had quite a sum of money left her by our father which had been accumulating, and she also owned bank shares and mill stock, and only last Christmas I know her husband presented her with some other mill stock. ..."
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From the Witness statements, Officer Harrington's notes of August 17th:

"... Mrs Phebe Warner of Second street, with whom Mrs. Currier, Mr. Borden's sister, lived and said, knew nothing substantial. During her sickness which was quite long, the Bank street Church took care of her. Mr. Borden and the girls called once in a while. Mr. Borden gave her $10.
each Christmas. ..."
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Bridget was questioned at the trial by Robinson (p258) whether she had overheard a conversation between Mrs. Borden and the girls. She claimed she did not remember it. Robinson refers her to her Inquest testimony:

"Q. You testified at the inquest?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Do you remember what you testified there?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Do you remember it all?
A. I think I do.
Q. Did you in answer to this question, "Did they talk pleasantly?" say "Yes, sir." and "they talked over things at Christmas, and if anything was the matter with Mrs. Borden, Lizzie did all she could for her."
A. I did not know what was the matter between them.
Q. Didn't you testify that?
A. I don't remember anybody asking me that question.
Q. Do you say you did not?
A. I don't remember anybody asking me such a question."

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 2:40 pm

That's good stuff! A tip of the Egg Nog to ya!

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 3:35 pm

A Very Borden Christmas To You!

shakiboo · Post by **shakiboo** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 4:34 pm

Thanks Harry for the Christmas references! And Kat for the Borden Christmas tree! And wishing you all the merriest of Christmas's and a Happy New Year!!!

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 9:01 am

Andrew would come to regret teaching Lizzie how to use an axe for the family Christmas tree. He wondered whatever became of that axe ...

shakiboo · Post by **shakiboo** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 9:58 am

Oh that's a great picture Harry, your right, Andrew had no idea what a big headache it would become!!

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 5:21 pm

That's great Har! Thanks!

Smudgeman · Post by **Smudgeman** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 6:51 pm

I have to make some copies of that one Harry, I love it! Thanks