Lizzie Borden Society Forum

I am very curious as to what everyone thinks about Abby and Andrew's marriage - and why.

I think that there was genuine affection there. I do not think that Andrew rushed into another marriage just so his daughter's would have someone to take care of them. I do believe that Andrew was capable of love and, in his way, showing affection. He married Sarah on Christmas Day. What a Christmas present to be married on that day. He bought a half house to ensure that Abby's family had a place to live. They spent time at a summer home in Swansea together. I think that Andrew and Abby were happy together. I've never heard or read of any discord between the two of them. It is always trouble between the daughter's and the parents that we've heard about. I think if it was a less than happy marriage, those rumors would've surfaced with the rest of the family skeleton's. It seems that Lizzie and Emma were angry with Andrew for being tight with his purse strings, and at Abby for not standing up to him on their behalf.

I think it was a happy marriage. Andrew probably hoped and wished his daughters would take a liking to Abby, so there was probably some disappointment there. Instead, to the girls Abby was an outsider invading on what they thought should be rightfully theirs. Abby was an attractive lady in her younger years, and I bet she wished the girls liked her more as well. So I think if there were any problems in the marriage, it stemmed from Emma and Lizzie.

I don't know if it was a happy marriage, as it was a marrigae of convinance. I think they adnired and appricated each other, but love I don't think so. I think he was looking for someone to look after the housxe and the kids.