Lizzie Borden Society Forum

Over the years probably thousands have followed the black pavement arrows to visit Lizzie. Strange things have been left on her grave and sometimes on Abby , Emma and Andrew too. I have found notes to Lizzie, broken glass, votive candles, coins, voodoo fetishes, feathers, dolls, cards, all kinds of flowers, pinecones, stones, wiccan amulets, mardi gras beads and Christmas ornaments. For many years the animal rescue league used to plant geraniums on all the graves in the plot on Memorial day. Here are a few photos , some going back to 1992 when the grass was worn away from all the feet coming to see her. Even today there is rarely a time when I visit that several cars do not pull up, make a beeline for her stone, then go to read the big family marker- out come the cameras, then a "family" shot all together in front of the Borden marker. Strange how this family has become our own. . .anybody have photos or stories?

August 1992

Dead of winter

Is Joseph Welch buried there? Wasn't he just as famous in the 1950s?

Hi Shelley!
A few months ago I visited the graves with my cousin. We found, on Alice Esther's grave, a tiny box made of white cardboard, like you'd get if someone gave you a gift of jewelry. Inside was a small piece of what looked like broken china and a tiny Austrian crystal bead. Anyone got any idea why someone would leave something like that? Is it kind of like leaving rocks?

Lolly

Beats me- I am beginning to think people leave whatever they have handy- some days it looks like a junk pile. I have started bringing a Hefty bag when I visit for dying flowers, trash, and weird stuff!

Love the photos Shelley.

How modest a stone, huh?

You know, there is another grave site in Oak Grove Cemetery that to some is just as famous as Lizzie's, though it is rarely visited or location known.

That last photo was the grave on August 4, 1992.

Ah, a mystery . Michael! Give us a clue!

Here you go Shelley!

Need a higher resolution OR another clue- I could still not make out a thing in Photoshop Highest Magnification!

It was a Fall River outrage, in 1832.

Oh my! I had no idea Sarah Cornell was buried in Oak Grove! I thought it was Tiverton. This is the pregnant Fall River factory girl who was murdered by the preacher?
http://www.brown.edu/Facilities/Univers ... eryms.html Click on the little photo squares to see the full pictures- how sad!

Wow! Now you will have to tell us how to find it Michael. The poor girl should have some Christmas greens on her grave.

Shelley,

We 'll have to go looking for sarah Cornell! I have heard about that too!
I can show you Wixon as well. Yes I did find Deputy Wixon. It was one of those cases where I just stumbled upon after I looked at the Stafford monument.

Well, name the day and we will descend upon Oak Grove Jeff- and Michael- and anyone who lives close enough to Come On Down as Bob Barker says! I have been working on a map of the cemetery to easily find Borden-related graves for the guests who stay at the house. Sure do wish the streets at Oak Grove had NAMES!

Yes Shelley, not sure how long I will be in Florida but it would be nice to take a walk with you guys and visit poor Sarah's plot. (though many do not believe that she has earned any pity.)

The story is fascinating and all but forgotten. But in reading the "FALL RIVER OUTRAGE" by David R. Kasserman you sort of get the feeling that much of what happens to her, including her death, can be directed at the terrible life style she lead.

She was not a very "nice girl", even by today's standards. But still, I feel sorry for her. A young women alone, trying to make it in the early 19th century must have been extreme by all accounts, especially within the religious world in which she so strived to be accepted.

Like Lizzie, proof that the minister did it was difficult and mostly circumstantial. There are even those that believe Sarah killed herself. (?)

OK...............if you take Oak Grove Cemetery you can divide it into three parts.

The northern part, where Lizzie is buried.
The southern part, where you found Staffords grave.
And the eastern part, where most of the new graves can be found; towards Oak Grove Ave.

The eastern part is where Sarah is resting. Some time in the distant past she was moved to the plot where she is buried today. I forgot the story to why she was moved.

But, if you go into the newer section of the cemetery there is a large section (plot?) where they buried children and babies. Sarah is buried there. If you stand on Sarah's grave and you look south you will see a small brick building several hundred feet away. (probably where they keep the lawn mowers, etc.) Beyond that brick building is Oak Grove Cemetery and many of the newer graves. Where she is buried there are small narrow sidewalks that dissect the row of plots. Embedded in the sidewalk are brass plates displaying the plot numbers. Sarah is 2733.

Oh I know where that little building is! Yes, hers is a sad tale. I imagine her despair and terror at her condition, and knowing she would not be believed. How pathetically tragic, the signs of self-attempted abortion (or maybe the ministrations of a midwife). I can only imagine the agony!
Now where is that old bugger, Rev. Avery buried I should like to know? He is worse than Dimsdale- in fact the whole sad affair is Fall River's own Scarlet Letter. Once Len took me out to where that haystack area was. I seem to recall taking the second exit off 24 South in Portsmouth where the farm was located. Do you know where she was buried before he body was moved?

Yes Shelley, not sure of what farm you speak? The farm where Sarah was found was part of Tiverton R.I. in 1832 and later sold to Fall River in a land exchange. The building that houses the Fall River Historical Society was later only 3 blocks away at the bottom of Columbia Street.

Sarah was found on the old John Durfee Farm in Tiverton which today is Kennedy Park in Fall River, better known to me as South Park, just below St. Anne's Church; only about 5 or 6 blocks from 92.

The church later thought it best to move Avery out west around the Lake Erie and Cleveland area; Lorrain County to be precise, where he became a farmer for the rest of his days. Not sure where he is buried but it's out in the mid-west somewhere.

Oh okay- thanks. I think I had Patriot's Park in mind out in Tiverton. I heard the Durfee house attached to that farm was still in existence. We will pack a picnic and go a'snooping! Does that stone read died December 20, 1832? Or 1852? In any event, we can take a green wreath out on the 20th this month.

We could go up there this weekend if you want. I am off friday and have the mornings and early afternoon free saturday and Sunday.
Just give me a ring

I know what section Michael is talking about and I don't think it will be too difficult too to find.

Sarah's grave stone in the photo above is difficult to read and strangely enough I found it even more difficult in person out at the site. But starting from top-across-to the bottom it reads:

IN - MEMORY OF - SARAH M. CORNELL - DAUGHTER OF - JAMES AND LUCRETIA - CORNELL - WHO DIED DEC. 20 1832 - IN THE 31ST YEAR - OF HER AGE

Poor Sarah was 30 when she died and by the standards of the time well over- the-hill for marriage. (wait.....what does that make me?)

To add some credence to those who believe that Sarah killed herself, I must add that it happened just 4 days before Christmas. The Holiday Season can be a terribly lonely time for those who have no family or loved ones to share it with, and many suicides happen during that period.

She could have shared the holidays w/ her parents, but of course for the
time period they probably were dead at that point.

I believe that Mr. Avery killed her and hung her up to make it look like a suicide. The man had a family and a reputation as a religious man to mantain. When he found out that Sarah was pregnant, he had to do away w/ her so nobody would find out.

Hi Michael,
How far away is sarah's grave from the little brick building?
I tried and struck out on my first attempt to find her. It appears she is on a stone path. Do you remember the name of the path? It says the names
on the ends of the path. It looks like she is not on the end, but somewhere
in the middle.

Hi Jeff: yes, even I have a little problem going right to it and it's not until I get close that I get my bearings. Not real sure how far it is from the brick building but I would think about 200 feet or so or the equivalent of two telephone pole runs. If you are standing at the foot of Sarah's grave and you look directly towards Oak Grove Ave, the red brick building is almost in line.

Yes, Sarahs grave is in the middle of the cement path plot area and down one of the paths about half way. Her stone is that sugary white tablet. You can see the shape in the photo above on another of my posts.

Yes Jeff the paths are named. Sarah is down "WHITETHORN PATH." In front of the grave stones embedded in the cement path is a brace plaque with the number 2733.

If you look at the photo below you can get a perspective with the tree, what you see when you are standing at her gravestone. Notice the number at the base of the headstone.

Thanks Michael. I am sure to be able to find it now! I am sure I was close
to it and I was probably running in circles around it.. It seems when I am looking for someone there I never find it, but when I am not I usually
stumble upon someone like I did with Deputy wixon last week.
Thanks again Michael

Hi Michael,

I found Sarah! The path name was covered so I followed the # plates
until I found the old white stone. I can't really read much of it at all.
Time has taken it's toll on it. I can read more of it in your pics of it.

Great Jeff! Yes, you can see the inscription clearer in my photo than in person. I toke the shot from that angle just for that purpose, to make reading it somewhat better. I'm not sure what sort of stone is used for Sarah's stone but if you see other's like it you will find they are all more or less the same.

Yes, I do not visit Lizzie's grave without visiting Sarah's. I have probably visited Sharah's grave more often. Did Shelley make the visit with you or did you make the trek alone?

Thanks, everyone. Now I have a second historical sight to visit when I stay again at Lizzie's house next spring. Before then, I am going to read up on Sarah Cornell. Thank you also for the reference to "Fall River Outrage", which I just ordered from Amazon. I think I'll start my research there.

Hi Michael,
Shelley wasn't in town this week so i made the trek alone. It's much
better if you have someone with you

Michael @ Sun Dec 10, 2006 8:21 pm wrote:Thanks, everyone. Now I have a second historical sight to visit when I stay again at Lizzie's house next spring. Before then, I am going to read up on Sarah Cornell. Thank you also for the reference to "Fall River Outrage", which I just ordered from Amazon. I think I'll start my research there.

There is a *quickie* version of the Cornell story in Phillips History of Fall River, Fascicle III, Chapter XII.
You can download it at the Keeley Library online. You can use this link and scroll down to the last book there and you'll find the chapter: "Notorious Local Murders."

http://www.sailsinc.org/durfee/fulltext.htm

The Williams book devotes much space to the Cornell story. I am glad to see it is still available
http://www.amazon.com/Fall-River-Authen ... 0195083598
I think today is the anniversary of the grisly deed. 174 years ago today- poor Sarah.

That is a good book on the Sarah Cornell story.
I think our Mark A. recommended several books to us/me.
I've read them all, plus newspaper accounts.
Also there is (besides the free Phillips segment on her which link I posted):

Pearson, Edmund- Murder at Smutty Nose and other murders, Chapter VIII, "The Tiverton Tragedy; or The Strange Case of Miss Cornell and Rev. Mr. Avery." 1927.

Kasserman, David Richard- Fall River Outrage- Life, Murder, and Justice in Early Industrial New England, 1986.

Paul, Raymond- The Tragedy at Tiverton, An Historial NOVEL of Murder, 1984.

--The best book I think, is the Williams book.

Great info KAT: I have the 2nd printing of Williams book which was published in 1833. My copy is 1834.

There is also another rare book on the case also written in 1833. It was authored by a Benjamin Hallett. Has a long title being: A FULL REPORT OF THE TRAIL OF EPHARIN AVERY, CHARGED.......................etc.

Just happens that a good friend of mine has a copy for sale. Not in good condition at all, but when found in decent shape would sell for 150 to 200 dollars.

http://cgi.ebay.com/True-Crime-Tiverton ... dZViewItem

Thank you, Shelley, MB and Kat. I ordered and/or downloaded all of the books you mentioned. I just received "Fall River Outrage" in the mail and have already begun reading it. I plan to finish it soon - much sooner than when I visit Lizzie's B&B again the last weekend in April. The last time I was there, I met Shelley. I hope you see you again, Shelly, and perhaps some other friends, as well.

Michael @ Sun Dec 10, 2006 8:21 pm wrote:Thanks, everyone. Now I have a second historical sight to visit when I stay again at Lizzie's house next spring. Before then, I am going to read up on Sarah Cornell. Thank you also for the reference to "Fall River Outrage", which I just ordered from Amazon. I think I'll start my research there.

Let us know if the "Fall River Outrage" is any good. If it is, I'd like to order it.