Lizzie Borden Society Forum

This may have already been discussed, but I haven't been able to find any threads relating to Lizzie wearing a wedding band, only discussion of the ring she gave to her father.

However, in the photo of her standing behind a chair there is clearly a ring on her left ring finger. Does any body know anything about this? Why would she be wearing a wedding band?

Thanks for any insight!

~Just Curious

Just Curious-

Do you have the picture that you can scan and upload here? Is it possible that it's the same ring she gave her father?

I was lucky to get this posted correctly! Don't have the photo, but let's see if I can post a link: http://www.prairieghosts.com/lizzie1.jpg

Not the best pic, but you can see the ring.

Had not thought of that! You are right, it might be the ring she gave to her father. It just seemed strange she would wear it on her wedding ring finger. Maybe that was not a custom in the 1890s.

Thanks for the reply :)

First of all, I want to welcome you to the forum, JustCurious! This is an interesting thread you have started.

Here is a picture of the one shown in the link you provided, please click on this image to enlarge the picture, then the ring shows up better.
The photo is not the best, so I find it hard to tell what kind of a ring it is. However, you may be right that it appears to be a wedding band. Hmmmm.

There are several threads on the forum regarding the ring that Lizzie gave Andrew, which he wore on his pinky finger until he died, and I believe that he was buried with it still on his finger. There is also mention of the diamond ring that Andrew gave Lizzie…

On May 03, 2007, Diana, posted the following, in the thread titled, Diamond Ring (Highlighting is mine):

I don't know if there are any other references to this, but in The Trial of Lizzie Borden, Edmund Pearson claims:
"Mr Borden, at one time, had kept a horse and buggy---the contemporary equivalent of a Ford car---and he had presented at least one of his daughters (the younger) with a diamond ring and a sealskin coat or cape . . . " (Pearson, 5)

http://tinyurl.com/oallhco

I reposted Diana’s information in the threads titled:

The infamous ring: http://tinyurl.com/ox4be84

And

The Ring Lizzie Gave To Andrew: http://tinyurl.com/oy4ntvh

Do you think it could be a diamond ring on Lizzie’s finger in this photo?

The exchange of rings...that doesn't sound at all to be incestuous

I agree, Lee. I admit that a sexual relationship between Andrew and Lizzie did cross my mind. However, if their relationship was of a sexual nature then I think it had to have been a consensual one. I highly doubt Lizzie would have given her father a ring, if they were in a non-consensual sexual relationship. I believe Lizzie was an odd duck, but to give her father a ring if they were in a non-consensual sexual relationship would be way beyond odd.

Here is something you may find interesting (Underlining and highlighting are mine).

In an archived thread titled, Lizzie and Jewelry, Harry posted the following on May-4th-03:

… I happened to be reading Lizzie's will so I knew there were entries there.

Apparently Lizzie was quite fond of rings. Rebello lists a few entries as well as the will.

Page 237, from the Fall River Daily Herald, June 23, 1893:

"...On what is usually called the engagement finger was a ring containing several stones of different colors set after a common design...."

Page 308:

"Lizzie purchased a ring set with three sapphires and two diamonds for $169.00. Between 1899 and 1905, Lizzie purchased four ring sets with diamonds worth a total of $1,545.00 according to the Diamond Record Book of Gifford Jewelry Store." - Source: Fall River Historical Society.

Page 331+ - Lizzie's will left the following:

"Lady's Yellow Gold Tiffany Diamond Ring - $1,500.00
1 Diamond about 3 carats

Lady’s Yellow Gold 3-Stone Diamond Ring - 900.00
1 Diamond about 1 1/2 carats
2 Diamonds about 1 1/4 carats each

Lady's Yellow Gold Twisted 2-Stone Diamond Ring 500.00
2 Diamonds about 1 1/4 carat each
6 small diamonds"

Source: http://tinyurl.com/y6faf85a

I believe the ring we see on Lizzie's finger in the above photo, is the ring described in the Fall River Daily Herald, on June 23, 1893.
I wonder if this is the ring Andrew gave Lizzie, and because she wore it on her wedding band finger, Person misinterpreted it as an engagement ring.

OOPS! Double post!