Lizzie Borden Society Forum

I was reading thru the archives, and read thru Emmas' will.

Number 6)If my sister Lizzie A Borden shall survive me and I shall own at the time of my death inthat tract of land with the dwelling house thereon situated on the northly side of French Street, in said Fall River, premises now occupied by my sister and which were purchased by my sister and myself of Charles M Adler, then I give devise and bequeth all my right, title, and interest in and to said of land and the improvements thereon, to moy said sisiter Lizzie A Borden.

Lizzie didn't leave anything to Emma. I thought it was interesting that Emma would leave stuff to Liizzie and Lizzie didnt do the same, especially towards the end of theirs lifes they really weren't on speaking terms.

I noticed that afew yrs ago and never came to a reason for why. What do you think of it?

When Emma left Maplecroft in 1905 she signed an agreement with Lizzie regarding the status of the house. Clause #4 of that agreement reads:

"4. Said Emma and Lizzie shall each provide by will or otherwise so that in case the said undivided interest has not been sold or disposed of as aforesaid the same shall go and belong to the other if she survives her."

It looks like Emma made provision for it in her will but Lizzie did not. Since the agreement reads "by will or otherwise" perhaps there could have been another document by Lizzie that we are not aware of. Since Emma was 9 years older than Lizzie maybe Lizzie thought she would outlive Emma and no provision had to be made.

It does raise an interesting situation however. Since Lizzie died first then rightfully per the 1905 agreement Maplecroft should have been part of Emma's estate as the sole owner. Apparently, Emma as the sole immediate family member surviving upon Lizzie's death inherited the property making the agreement moot.

Emma's estate was finally settled in 1933 and this transaction was recorded (Rebello, p561):

"1933 - April 13
Estate of Emma L. Borden sold 34.363 square rods on the north side of French Street known as Maplecroft.. (Book 398: 414)"

Maybe lizzie thought that Emma was still mad at her for having all those actor type people over. I mean thats the reason she moved out of maplecroft and all but quit talking too her.

That's good background, Har! Thanks.

It reminds me tho that Lizzie also put in her will this:
28. I have not given my sister, Emma L. Borden, anything as she had her share of her father's estate and is supposed to have enough to make her comfortable.

So Lizzie not only did not honor her agreement, at least openly in her will, she included a careful statement where she says Emma is specifically excluded.

I think Lizzie inherited some kind of money-hysteria or money-anxiety from her father. It is always about money with her.
There was a story that Andrew, nearing his dotage, was beginning to think he was becoming poor, because of some kind of small reversal of fortune. I think of it kind of like an obsession.

I've been very disappointed in Lizzie that she was not fair, at least, to her sister, in her will.