Swansea farm sale - April 1893
Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2023 1:01 am
As I was reading Rebello's listing of transactions, one caught my eye that I was unaware of.
Lizzie Borden: Past and Present pg. 556.
On April 3, 1893, Emma and Lizzie Borden sold 74 acres located from the "highway" to Warren, 33' lane by road to Cole's Station & Highway in Swansea, to Leander E. Gardner(Book 12 pg. 364).
I just read the 2 page transaction noted above, and a cool little factoid is that Sheriff Wright's wife, Mary, witnessed Emma and Lizzie's signatures. That would make sense, since Lizzie was being held in the Taunton jail in April, '93. The signed agreement only states the property was sold for $1. As seems to be the case in many of the real estate transactions during that era, the terms of sale were kept private between the parties.
All that said, this is likely one of Andrew's much talked about Swansea farms. The very farms that many conspiracy theorists think was the cause of John Morse participating in the murders. Or one of the farms that Andrew had decided to leave to Abby causing Lizzie to murder.
I can only speculate that the sisters sold the property to raise cash for Lizzie's defense. I was surprised that the selling party wasn't Andrew's estate since the estate had not been settled (occurred Feb, '94). Andrew Jennings was the Justice of the Peace for the agreement and basically served as, what we call today, the notary of public. So I imagine the transaction was appropriate and legal.
Since the sisters sold the 74 acres even before the trial, and not to John Morse who could have bought it instead of Leander Gardner, sure seems like the Swansea farms (or at least this particular one) had no part in anyone's motive to kill the Borden's.
Lizzie Borden: Past and Present pg. 556.
On April 3, 1893, Emma and Lizzie Borden sold 74 acres located from the "highway" to Warren, 33' lane by road to Cole's Station & Highway in Swansea, to Leander E. Gardner(Book 12 pg. 364).
I just read the 2 page transaction noted above, and a cool little factoid is that Sheriff Wright's wife, Mary, witnessed Emma and Lizzie's signatures. That would make sense, since Lizzie was being held in the Taunton jail in April, '93. The signed agreement only states the property was sold for $1. As seems to be the case in many of the real estate transactions during that era, the terms of sale were kept private between the parties.
All that said, this is likely one of Andrew's much talked about Swansea farms. The very farms that many conspiracy theorists think was the cause of John Morse participating in the murders. Or one of the farms that Andrew had decided to leave to Abby causing Lizzie to murder.
I can only speculate that the sisters sold the property to raise cash for Lizzie's defense. I was surprised that the selling party wasn't Andrew's estate since the estate had not been settled (occurred Feb, '94). Andrew Jennings was the Justice of the Peace for the agreement and basically served as, what we call today, the notary of public. So I imagine the transaction was appropriate and legal.
Since the sisters sold the 74 acres even before the trial, and not to John Morse who could have bought it instead of Leander Gardner, sure seems like the Swansea farms (or at least this particular one) had no part in anyone's motive to kill the Borden's.