Kat Kooreyby Kat Koorey
First published in February/March, 2004, Volume 1, Issue 1 of The Hatchet: Journal of Lizzie Borden Studies.
Andrew Borden and William Almy opened their furniture business in 1845. As early as that, they may have dealt in undertaking. That would include “selling caskets, renting chairs, furnishing hacks and other supplies needed for wakes and funerals” (R. 53). One of their earlier ads, though, does not promote this aspect of the business.
Andrew was no stranger to death. Previous to this career choice and for the rest of his life, those nearest and dearest to him died at an alarming rate. These facts may be alarming to my generation, but maybe more expected than not in Andrew’s day and time:
His grandfather Richard died 1824 — Andrew was 2
His sister Lurana died 1825 — Andrew was 3
His sister Charlotte died 1828 — Andrew was 6
His mother Phebe died 1853 — Andrew was 31
His sister Phebe Ann died 1855 — Andrew was 33
His daughter Alice died 1858 — Andrew was 36
His wife Sarah died 1863 — Andrew was 41
His President was assassinated 1865 — Andrew was 43
His only nephew George died 1867 — Andrew was 45
His father Abraham died 1882 — Andrew was 60
His step-mother BeBe died 1883 — Andrew was 61
His business partner Almy died 1885 — Andrew was 63
If any of these deaths affected Emma and Lizzie personally, we can only guess. It’s possible that they took their cue from Andrew as to how they might react, and that could explain Lizzie’s evident composure on the day of the murders.
Source: Leonard Rebello. Lizzie Borden Past and Present (Fall River: Al-Zach Press, 1999), 3-7, 53-54.
