LIZZIE BORDEN LETTER

jamfaws · Post by **jamfaws** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 12:37 pm

It's been a long time since i've posted on this forum I know, but thought some of you may be interested in this video clip I uploaded to youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zlc3wuGg930

Cheers

Aaron

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 1:04 pm

First of all, welcome back. It has been a long time. I believe you were looking for a flat (an apartment on this side of the pond) the last time we heard from you.

An interesting letter and the content, as much as we get from the video, sounds very Lizzie like. The date on it reads Dec 5, 1894. The English pound being worth at this time approx. $1.56 makes the item worth from $780 to $936.

The name "Annie" sounds familiar but I'm terrible at remembering who's who in Lizzie's acquaintances and cousins.

Again, nice to see you back!

mbhenty · Post by **mbhenty** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 1:38 pm

Yes, thanks for posting that Aaron.

That is a wonderful historical artifact. We have that episode on tape somewhere. (or is in on disc, or was it Super8??? Not very good at those things, not to say much about my memory)

I love the British version of the Road Show so much better than the American one. The folks are so charming and honest when they display their items. To me it becomes more about the people than the item.

I need to add that the expert got the estimate a little low. I would imagine at the right auction house it would be worth between 750 and 1000 sterling. (1200 to 1600 dollars) At least if I was in the audience. Of course in today's market I dare say it may go for a lot less. But, the provenance sounds wonderful. What a historical treasure for the lady who owns it.

Hey, how about that Harry? What a memory. I can't remember what I had for Breakfast today. (Or was that yesterday. What were we talking about now?)

snokkums · Post by **snokkums** » Fri Dec 17, 2010 8:49 am

Welcome back. I think that it was kind of neat that the womans grandparents were cousins of Andrews.(Did I hear it right?). Interesting bit of information.

nbcatlover · Post by **nbcatlover** » Fri Dec 17, 2010 10:43 am

Thanks, jamfaws, very interesting! Welcome back to the forum as well!

With the letter addressed to Annie, I first thought of Anna H. Borden, who with her sister Carrie, went on the Grand Tour with Lizzie. I do not think, however, that Anna H. Borden ever married.

The lady states that the recipient was a neighbor and cousin to the Bordens. The only other "Annie" that comes to mind was the mysterious Annie Morse. I believe there were Morse relatives who live several doors away on Second St. (Mary Louise (Morse) Morse?). I don't believe we know what became of Annie Morse after her visit to Uncle Charles in Warren with John V. Morse.

Any thoughts here?

P.S. I'm fairly sure Stefani knows who Annie is. In the tidbits from Parallel Lives, under Lizzie's feeling about her incarceration, there is an 1893 letter addressed to My dear Annie...

mbhenty · Post by **mbhenty** » Fri Dec 17, 2010 1:12 pm

Yes, indeed Anna Borden never married and lived at 492 Rock Street with Carrie. Boy did she have class. The home Anna built was very different from the average Victorian which was built by most of Fall River's elite.

I guess you could call it a Federal style or Georgian Colonial. (both very alike) Wonderful home, built in 1917 well after the Victorian period.

Of course many here are very familiar with Anna's home which sits across the street from the FRHS.

mbhenty · Post by **mbhenty** » Fri Dec 17, 2010 1:45 pm

Anna must have died before Carrie. There's a home one block away from the Anna Borden house which is known as the Carrie Borden House. There were 2 Carrie Borden's in fall river at the time. But I'm pretty sure this is the same Carrie, sister of Anna, and her house. Even the facade of the house below mimics the Anna Borden home in style.

If so Carrie must have been up there in age when she built this home. The Carrie Borden House was built in 1941. If Carrie was 20 and lizzie was 30 in 1890 when they made their European trip, then Carrie would have been 70 when she built her own home. (Why would she have moved out of Anna's? Grief? Memories? )

I don't know enough about Anna or Carrie and would need to do a little study before I could write it all down in stone. But I'm pretty sure this is the same Carrie that built the home at 488 High Street.

If Carrie indeed built the "Carrie Borden House" on High Street in 1941, she lived there for only a very short time.

In 1945 or 46 Carrie Borden had died.

twinsrwe · Post by **twinsrwe** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 9:08 pm

Welcome back, Aaron. That is a very interesting video clip. Thank you for posting it.

Stefani · Post by **Stefani** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 9:46 pm

well, yes, I do know about this letter in two different contexts. One, I saw the show on PBS and filmed the clip (which is on my computer). I told Michael Martins about it and he asked that I wait until the book comes out to post it. So much for that! Ha ha!

And yes, this person, this letter, this relationship, is detailed in Parallel Lives. It is a FANTASTIC story. But my lips are sealed, on penalty of death, I think.

I have been very good. Kat can vouch for me. When I was in Florida in October, I brought half the book with me to work on. She wanted to know just a little goodie, a little choice morsel. I didn't share. She was supremely nice about it.

At least I think she was ok with it . . . .

Anyway, I am not at liberty to discuss this letter or this family or woman. All will be revealed in due time.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

nbcatlover · Post by **nbcatlover** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 12:31 am

When? Oh, When? It seems we've been waiting for Parallel Lives for so long.

I know I need a juicy Lizzie fix.

jamfaws · Post by **jamfaws** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 5:25 am

Oh shocks, now I feel like such a rat.

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 7:47 am

No, Aaron, you need not feel that way. Any upcoming historical book faces that same problem of some of its content being divulged elsewhere ahead of its publication. That is unless you have a crystal ball to know what's in the book ....

I see where you are getting a bit of snow over there. Sending some sun!

Stefani · Post by **Stefani** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 8:21 am

Aaron, you did good! Please don't take what I said as criticism of you. You didn't do anything wrong. I think it is great that you shared this! It got out there for people to ponder as they wait for the book!

jamfaws · Post by **jamfaws** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 9:30 am

Glad you guys are ok about this, actually I was sent the clip by a friend in the summer, and due to my Mums ill health I was unable to get around to putting the video up, I kept checking the blog and since nothing was mentioned I kept feeling really bad that I hadn't alerted you guys, since I knew the book was coming out and thought it would be a tragedy if this information wasn't present, so am really glad that the details were known, and am looking forward to purchasing this fascinating book!

Cheers

Aaron

P.S.Yes it's very cold and snowy here in London, not looking forward to slipping all over the place trying to get to work tomorrow (i've already fallen over on Friday night, and no I wasn't drunk