Lizzie Borden Society Forum

What do we know about Sgt Harrington other than his first name was Philip. I just stumbled onto an article on ancestry.com stating that Bridget's first cousin was Patrick Harrington. Plus there's the connection via Hiram and Lurana.

Sherry wrote about him in her book 'Resurrections'. He was born in Fall River, mother Mary McCue (Irish, I would guess) father James, who owned a grocery store. Philip Harrington had been in the police force ten years at the time of the murders. He died young in 1893, as a popular and well known Captain in the Fall River Police. He'd been sick for some time and had only just married.

I've got a vague memory that it was Patrick Harrington's wife that was Bridget's first cousin, not Patrick himself, but I may be wrong. There seem to have been a few Harringtons in Fall River. It's one of those names that recurs again and again. Hiram Harrington, Andrew's disliked brother in law, was another. Bridget mentions the Patrick Harringtons in her witness statements. Also, the Patrick Harringtons turn up on old threads on the Forum, I remember reading on Advanced Search. Something about Patrick being involved in something dodgy years after the trial, I think. Sorry, it's months since I read it and I wasn't that interested. If there had been any cousinly connection at all between Philip Harrington and Bridget it would have come out before the trial, surely, with all the rumours floating about town?

An old paper had an article that said Bridget went to stay with her cousins the Harringtons. The family relationship was explained and I do believe Mrs. Harrington was Bridget's blood relation. This article was all tied up with the tale that Bridget had removed a bundle from 92 Second and nobody knew what she did with it. But she or her cousin said she had brought her clothes to the Harringtons, but the police couldn't prove that. I never knew what to make of that story. I have heard if peripherally for years but have no idea if it was true or from where it originated.

Here's something else from ancestry:

I found your post while searching for information on my grandmother's family. Her name was Catherine Sullivan Robinson, her father was Patrick Ulisses Sullivan and her mother was Catherine Harrington. Pat and Catherine both were born in Ireland in 1842 and 1845. Their children were Catherine(gm),James and Maggie Jane. I think Patrick had a brother named Daniel and he had a bunch of kids one was Bridget and one was Eugene. I just saw this yesterday while looking into the 1980 census for Fall River. They all lived on Snell Street in the St Peter and Paul Parish.
And yes there was a connection with Lizzy Borden my grandmother was a friend of hers. Lizzie use to come over to St P & P church and put flowers on the altar. I don't know if that is how she got to know her, but I remember my grandma talking about Lizzie. My grandma was born in 1876 and lived in St P & P parish all her life. We lived on the corner of Snell and Dover across from the school and church. The church was destroyed by fire many years ago but the school was still there the last time I went by the area. I live in FL now.
I have a feeling these families are all intertwined somehow, because they all lived near each other and that's what they use to do in those days.

That's interesting, debbie. Is this person on a 'find your ancestor' type site? So her grandmother knew Lizzie, who in her later years seems to have kept away from her pre-trial churches and fellow congregation members and instead did quiet charity work in the town. Including arranging flowers on the altar of what sounds like a R.C. Church!

Yes, she appears on the Andrew Borden message board on ancestry.com. I found Bridget's family of interest and also that Lizzie took flowers to a Catholic Church for what reason?

Fantastic find! I also wonder why Lizzie would put flowers on the altar of a Catholic church. Any chance it was an Episcopal church? Probably not. So if Lizzie and the Harringtons were friends, was there a deeper connexion with Bridget? Also if the Harringtons and Lizzie were friends it weakens the picture of Lizzie the social climber or snob. Perhaps Lizzie brought flowers from Maplecroft gardens for a special event at the church. Of Lizzie was friends with Bridget's relatives it lends a bit of credence to the report that Bridget had several surgeries for facial neuralgia and who paid for them.

As I read it this woman's grandmother was Catherine Robinson nee Sullivan. She didn't say she was related to 'our' Bridget. She just said that her great grandfather, Patrick Ullysses Sullivan had (she thinks) a brother called Daniel. Daniel supposedly had a large family which included a daughter called Bridget. There are literally tens of thousands of Sullivans in Ireland and the name Bridget was extremely common there in the 19th century. I think there have been several serious attempts to trace 'our' Bridget Sullivan's birth family in Ireland and they've all ended in failure, as far as I know.

The Harrington in this woman's family was Catherine Harrington, her great grandmother, but she doesn't go into her background at all.
According to the Catholic Directory Peter and Paul was a Roman Catholic Parish Church. Unusual, if Lizzie was friendly with the priest or parishioners there, considering all the sectarianism in those days. Oh for a copy of 'Parallel Lives'! That might mention it, if she was.

From another source on the message boards:

I am searching for information about my husband's great aunt, Bridget (Sullivan) Sullivan, who had been maid for the Andrew Borden family of Fall River, MA. Andrew and his wife, Abby, were victims of an ax wielding murderer on Aug 4. 1892. As history books tell, their daughter, Lizzie, was tried and acquitted of the crime and no one was ever convicted. Bridget was born in Co. Cork, Ireland, in Mar 1864, one of twelve children born to Owen(Eugene)O'Sullivan and Margaret O'Leary. She emigrated to America at the age of 19 years (abt 1883-1885) and worked in Fall River,MA for 2 1/2 years and may have had contact with a cousin, Patrick Harrington, who lived there. It was reported that she returned to Ireland after the Borden trial. She was living in Anaconda, MT circa 1896 where she married a smelterman, John M. Sullivan. She resided there until after his death in 1939. She then moved to Butte, MT where she lived with my husband's mother, until shortly before her death 25Mar1948. Bridget's siblings, all born in Ireland, were Denis (b)Mar1853, Timothy (b)July 1854, Eugene (b)?, Mary(b)June1858, Johanna(b)July1860 (Johanna and Mary died young), Cait(Catherine)(b)Mar1862, Ellen(b)May 1867, Mary(b)Jan1869, Philip and Seamus(b)Apr1872 and Johanna(b)Jan1874. Much has been researched and written about the
Borden murders and Bridget's possible connection; however, she apparently took any knowledge of the event to her grave. Any information about Bridget, her parents or siblings would be greatly appreciated. Naomi

Yoo, hoo, so she has been traced, 'our' Bridget, and I was wrong! However Bridget was the daughter of Eugene Sullivan, not Daniel, so she can't be a relative of our lady who had a grandmother Catherine Robinson, can she? Unless Patrick had a brother called Eugene (Owen) as well as one called Daniel?

I vouch for none of the above. Just some interesting comments that might or might not be relevant.

P.S. Poor old Bridget didn't know her real age. She said she was twenty five when giving testimony in the Prelim. She was, according to the above more like twenty eight, unless she was knowingly shaving some years off!

debbiediablo wrote:From another source on the message boards:

I am searching for information about my husband's great aunt, Bridget (Sullivan) Sullivan, who had been maid for the Andrew Borden family of Fall River, MA. Andrew and his wife, Abby, were victims of an ax wielding murderer on Aug 4. 1892. As history books tell, their daughter, Lizzie, was tried and acquitted of the crime and no one was ever convicted. Bridget was born in Co. Cork, Ireland, in Mar 1864, one of twelve children born to Owen(Eugene)O'Sullivan and Margaret O'Leary. She emigrated to America at the age of 19 years (abt 1883-1885) and worked in Fall River,MA for 2 1/2 years and may have had contact with a cousin, Patrick Harrington, who lived there. It was reported that she returned to Ireland after the Borden trial. She was living in Anaconda, MT circa 1896 where she married a smelterman, John M. Sullivan. She resided there until after his death in 1939. She then moved to Butte, MT where she lived with my husband's mother, until shortly before her death 25Mar1948. Bridget's siblings, all born in Ireland, were Denis (b)Mar1853, Timothy (b)July 1854, Eugene (b)?, Mary(b)June1858, Johanna(b)July1860 (Johanna and Mary died young), Cait(Catherine)(b)Mar1862, Ellen(b)May 1867, Mary(b)Jan1869, Philip and Seamus(b)Apr1872 and Johanna(b)Jan1874. Much has been researched and written about the
Borden murders and Bridget's possible connection; however, she apparently took any knowledge of the event to her grave. Any information about Bridget, her parents or siblings would be greatly appreciated. Naomi

Even allowing that this is family legend, seems to me still that at this point we can figure that married Bridget really was Bridget Sullivan Sullivan, and that the John M Sullivan who was smelting at the Anaconda was the same person as the Mr. Sullivan she mentioned being associated with during her first job in America?

Don't know that gets us anywhere, but feeling anything connected with this case is beyond reasonable doubt is at least a little reassuring...

I'm trying to get a fix on how many males were available to women of the Borden household for man chores or murder. Franz is convinced that Morse hired the killer(s). Now we have Tim with letters that may implicate Bowen and an entire Irish family who hate the Bordens. How many Welches, Greins, Sullivans, etc, were in the vicinity in early August 1892. Were any of then angry enough to commit homicide?

And if the Grein stories hold true, it is more possible that Andrew had an illegitimate son after all so you could throw another angry man in the mix.

I agree about smelter John Sullivan, taosjohn!

Don't know about illegitimate sons, but I have to say the report I posted from the New Bedford newspaper about Uncle John being a possible conduit to info on Andrew's intentions and the 'girls'' frequent visits to New Bedford very interesting.

Hiram Harrington disliked Andrew (but also Lizzie.) We'd have to locate every male Welch, Grein or Sullivan, which may well be impossible at this point in time. As far as the Welches go, Sarah had left employment with the Bordens in 1878. Granted, her family may or may not have had mixed feelings about Andrew but fourteen years is a little long to let that stew.

How inter-connected were these people! Alice Russell's uncle, Seabury Manley was a tenant in the Andrew Borden building. Seabury was, of course, one of Dr Bowen's forenames. Alice was related to many very old Massachusetts families, including a minuteman who had fought in the Revolutionary Wars. She was also descended from Brownells. Emma was visiting two members of the Brownell family at Fairhaven.

Wasn't Hiram's wife an interim housekeeper for Andrew? I wonder if Harrington's hatred stemmed from something that happened during that period? Has it ever been determined if anyone beyond Lizzie and Emma benefitted from the Borden deaths?

Yes, families settled and stayed. My husband and I can look at an old county atlas from the late 1800s and our families are living within a few miles of each other. I'm married (40 years in February) to a man I've known since I was in kindergarten and he was in second grade. My first cousin married his father's first cousin's son. We are viewed as an anomaly in the 21st century, but not so in 1892.

debbiediablo wrote:I'm trying to get a fix on how many males were available to women of the Borden household for man chores or murder. Franz is convinced that Morse hired the killer(s). Now we have Tim with letters that may implicate Bowen and an entire Irish family who hate the Bordens. How many Welches, Greins, Sullivans, etc, were in the vicinity in early August 1892. Were any of then angry enough to commit homicide?

Surely somewhere in the threads I haven't gotten to, someone has attempted an "Orient Express" theory; that the reason nothing really adds up is that everyone was lying and they were all on it, one chop apiece.

Only then you'd think they'd have worked up lies that didn't leave Lizzie hung out to dry...

Something that always made a tiny bit of sense to me, but it is just made up out of my mind, is that Bridget's night out Wednesday has some part in this. I can't defend the thought. It's just a feeling. I have also wondered if she was hung-over when she was ill that morning. Did she drink beer or something on her night out? Scurrilous thought, really. Absolutely no proof.

I know folks dismiss the importance I put on the Gordon Bordon Letter but if it is reduced to the smallest kernels of possible fact, we have illegitimate son, mother committed to mental asylum by Andrew, attempted pay-off (need not be like the letter says), Abby fighting the attempted pay off, people or a family who feel rightly or wrongly that lives were ruined by Andrew Borden and these people kept their anger or hatred alive for a number of years.

If we look at it that way and don't jump to a sweeping decision like the letter proves Lizzie's innocence, we can back up and consider the basics. The letter doesn't have to prove Lizzie's innocence. What if she was completely guilty? We still have the letter that someone took the time to write. It is an involved letter. It wasn't the only confession letter received. It was the one that Knowlton kept. Think about it. Even if Lizzie was absolutely proven guilty, is there anything in the letter worth considering anyway? What does it tell us?

taosjohn wrote:

debbiediablo wrote:I'm trying to get a fix on how many males were available to women of the Borden household for man chores or murder. Franz is convinced that Morse hired the killer(s). Now we have Tim with letters that may implicate Bowen and an entire Irish family who hate the Bordens. How many Welches, Greins, Sullivans, etc, were in the vicinity in early August 1892. Were any of then angry enough to commit homicide?

Surely somewhere in the threads I haven't gotten to, someone has attempted an "Orient Express" theory; that the reason nothing really adds up is that everyone was lying and they were all on it, one chop apiece.

Only then you'd think they'd have worked up lies that didn't leave Lizzie hung out to dry...

Oh, for sure, I think the case is peppered with liars, those with hatchets and those without.

Hiram Harrington was a blacksmith, married to Andrew's sister Lurana. Following Andrew's death Hiram was busy with newspaper reporters, making up visits he'd made to Lizzie following the murders. He didn't like Andrew and he didn't like Lizzie. His is the only name Lizzie put forward at the inquest as someone who may have wished her father harm.

In Rebello Page 25 New Bedford Evening Standard August 13th 1892.
'Anecdote of Andrew Borden'.

'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 (Lurana) the old homestead on Ferry Street 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 dollars for water tax upon the homestead.'

Andrew was administrator of his father's estate. When Abraham died in 1882 he left no will. Like father, like son! However Abraham's estate was dispersed equally between Bebe, his second wife, Lurana Harrington and Andrew Borden in 1,960 dollar shares. Lurana sold her share of the Ferry St home to her brother Andrew. Abraham had already deeded the old Borden house in Ferry St to Andrew way back in 1854 (Rebello Page 28)

According to the Federal Census of 1870, Abraham Borden, his wife Bebe, Andrew, Abby, Emma and Lizzie, and Hiram and Lurana were all living at 12 Ferry St. (Rebello, Page 29)

Hiram Harrington and his wife continued to live in Ferry St until 1887. This was the year Andrew deeded the Ferry St house to his daughters. The Hiram Harringtons went to Assonet, Mass. for about a year, returned to Fall River (to different residence) 1890. (Rebello Page 29)

I rather like the idea of an Orient Express idea! One blow from John, to Andrew delivered courtesy of Emma, 'This is for ignoring your Sarah while you pursued money', from Emma 'You never offered me a trip to Europe!', from Bridget 'You were the meanest old man I ever worked for!' from Lizzie 'You married Abby!' and so on...

I will look at the Gorden Borden letter again, irina.

I'd like to know the middle names of Bridget's brothers and where they were located in 1892 which would be almost impossible to find. Philip Sullivan, born about 1873 and a copper smelter, appears in the 1920 census of Silver Bow, Montana. His eldest son was named Eugene. According to this record Philip arrived in the United States in 1900, but I'd still like to know his middle name....

I've just been hunting in a very early thread from 2003 and, amid talk of Irish Parish records about Bridget (they were discussing why she was nicknamed 'Maggie') Harry stated that a genealogist had searched the local records of Bridget's native parish and she wasn't given a middle name in the records. I don't know about Irish Roman Catholic customs but if the registering came first, then the baptism, any middle name of Bridget and her siblings might be on their baptismal certificates only.

I am Church of England (Anglican) and many years ago I had to send for my original birth certificate (in England.) To my amazement (because I knew I had been baptised) my middle name of Patricia was left off the certificate. The same thing might have happened with Bridget and her siblings. To make matters worse, the confirmation records for the parish have not survived.

Philip Sullivan? Maybe his middle name was Gordon? Philip Gordon Sullivan Reed-Bordon?

There was actually a Philip Grein in Billings, MT but I have no reason to believe he was connected to this case. He was a businessman there. Wife's name was Amanda.

Bridget's confessional friend was supposed to be Minnie Green. There might be some important information if all the Green-Grein, Welch, Harrington and Sullivan families could be sorted out. I'd love to know where the 57 brothers and fathers and brothers-in-law of these women were in 1892.

I've been trawling through old threads over the last couple of days and in one of them Kat said that the woman Minnie Green who was supposed to have worked in a library and was a great friend of Bridget's was herself a mystery as no-one of that name was ever found working where she claimed she had.

I saw that, too, but took it to mean the woman who told the story about Minnie Green was the one who supposedly worked in the library, not Minnie herself. Either way, it casts some doubt on Minnie's existence.