That house on Fourth Street ...

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 10:03 am

Allegedly the cause of Lizzie's hatred of Abby increased or began in 1887, when Andrew purchased one half of Abby's half-sisters house on Fourth St. and gave it to Abby. At the time of her death the house was still 1/2 owned by Abby (page 278 Rebello)

Why would Andrew give the house to Abby? Why not just keep the ownership himself? He was the one experienced in real estate and property ownership.

Putting it in Abby's name and not his own would protect the house for the Whiteheads if Andrew suddenly died. But Andrew doesn't seem to have given much, if any, thought of what would happen after his death. He apparently didn't do anything else between 1887 and 1892 to protect Abby or to try to foresee future conflicts upon his death.

I don't know if it would have changed anything because it was the reason that Andrew bought it that seems to have set off the "girls".

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 9:42 pm

Yes, it is an odd thing for Andrew to do, considering that in the advent of his death, Abby would inherit his property and monies. What was there to gain by putting that property in Abby's name? Perhaps it was a measure of control for Abby, when Andrew died was she maybe planning on moving in with the Whiteheads? They could hardly say no when she owned the place and maybe the plan was to leave the Second Street house for the girls?

Could it have been something along the line of taxation? Would Andrew want a property that he was charging rent on and be taxed for?

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 10:22 pm

Susan @ Tue Feb 08, 2005 9:42 pm wrote:Could it have been something along the line of taxation? Would Andrew want a property that he was charging rent on and be taxed for?

Well even if it were to be put in Abby's name, wouldn't the taxes still need to be paid? I think the reason he put the house in Abby's name was to make the Whiteheads feel more comfortable about it. I think they would feel more comfortable knowing the house was in Abby's name, then for it to belong to that old miser Andrew Borden

.

Audrey · Post by **Audrey** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 10:42 pm

Why would Andrew care about Abby's half sister's comforts? He didn't even have electricity or "modern conveniences" most did?

He does not strike me at all as one who would give the proverbial rat's behind about anyone else's emotional safety...

theebmonique · Post by **theebmonique** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 11:20 pm

Maybe Andrew was just giving in to a wife's nagging about those ungrateful girls ?

Tracy...

FairhavenGuy · Post by **FairhavenGuy** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 11:34 pm

I think that Andrew would have given a rat's behind about someone else's feelings.

I have never felt it fair to classify Andrew as either a miser or as unfeeling. I think a lot of this negative attitude toward Andrew stems from a lack of understanding of old-time, native New Englanders' frugality and ignorance about the large population of Quakers in the early days of southeastern Massachusetts.

The Quakers, who were the early community leaders and business people in these parts, were opposed to ostentation and wastefulness out of religious principle. They went so far as to use unmarked fieldstones on their graves because engraved, imported stones were considered too showy. The Quakers dressed plainly. Their houses were simple. Wastefulness was sinfulness.

The Quakers, though, were also morally opposed to taking up arms. They were huge supporters of abolition and equal rights.

Today elsewhere in America there is a parallel with the Amish and the simple life they try to lead. Many still use no electricity. Many dress plainly. Many still drive buggies pulled by horses. Are they unfeeling misers?

Old Yankee New Englanders were frugal. They knew the value of a dollar and tried not to throw too many of them away for frivolous reasons. They were not unfeeling and shouldn't be called misers.

Give Andrew a break, please.

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 11:40 pm

Well I believe he put that house in Abby's name, the same way that he put one half house in Emma and Lizzie's name. Him giving the girls the house does not strike me as someone who doesn't give a rats behind about someone elses feelings. To me it makes sense, I think Abby's sister would've been more comfortable knowing the house was in her sister's name and not Andrews. I like my brother-in-law, but noone is closer to me than blood.

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 12:06 am

It's actually a pretty slick way of ensuring the Whiteheads get to continue in the house, short of Andrew giving them the deed.

If Andrew, under normal circumstances, died first, the house being owned by Abby, was not part of his estate settlement and therefore the girls had no say in it.

If Abby died first, under normal circumstances, Andrew inherits the house and would have had time to make other arrangements to safeguard the Whiteheads.

The killing of them both left the girls the owners of the 1/2 and to decide the fate of the Whitehead house.

I think Andrew's giving the 1/2 ownership to Abby indicates he recognized there were problems existing between Abby and the girls already and that they did not begin with this transaction.

Audrey · Post by **Audrey** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 12:26 am

I have a new way of thinking about Andrew.

Obviously Yankee thrift and all that is entails is about as "foreign" to me as they can be!

I never did stop to think of his personality in a positive way...

Thanks Chris!

Audrey · Post by **Audrey** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 12:27 am

I do think it was also the least Andrew could do-- He got a heck of a return on his investment in Abby. She was a good housekeeper and seemed to support him. She put up with a lot for very little in return.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 5:47 am

I don't think it's certain that "most" had modern conveniences like electricity or bathrooms, in Fall River, 1892. Even people like Andrew (who really were of another generation, being born only 22 years into the 19th century, yet rich), distrusted gas and electricity. He had steam radiators and running water, just not a hot water tap. That house was built in 1845, whereas the French Street house was built c. 1889, and might automatically have had such improvements added.

I wonder what "conveniences" the Fourth Street house had?

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 7:30 am

I have to agree Chris, I don't think Andrew was overly miserly. We've discussed this topic before but it is an important one since it is one of the alleged reasons for the murders.

He seems to have provided well for his family. Much is made of the mutton being served several days in a row. Maybe they all liked mutton, who knows? With the lack of refrigeration, it was either eat it or throw it away. We also don't know what the regular fare was. We hear only about the previous 2-3 days. There doesn't appear to be any other complaints on the fare provided and they certainly weren't starving.

How many dresses did Lizzie have in the closet, 16, or something like that? Hardly the wardrobe of a destitute young lady. Of course she had one less on the Sunday morning following the murder. Something about it being paint stained.

Pippi · Post by **Pippi** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 10:50 am

Andrew was more frugal than his neighbors not every yankee went to the extremes he did, especially for his status. Andrew knew the value of a dollar and wasn't letting that moral go, however I don't think he was horribly stingy to the women. He seems to have taken decent care of them and kept them in clean clothes most likely bc they all put up quite the fuss about it.

The deed to the house is an interesting one. Did the same laws exist back then where a husband could gift a wife with property etc. one time without paying taxes as I've heard is used today to cut corners? Could that have been part of the reason Andrew was willing to but the property?

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 12:09 am

I've heard it a bit extravagant to have a maid in a houseful of unemployed women...

And one who is allowed a mid-morning lie down before dinner.

We have a copy of the deed.
Have you all seen it?

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 12:10 am

I do not believe I have ever seen it.

theebmonique · Post by **theebmonique** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 12:15 am

Kat, is there a copy of the deed on the LAB website ? Or is it possible to post it here ? It would be great to see.

Tracy...

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 12:44 am

Kat,

There are no available records that you are aware of that might be researched to find out what kind of "conveniences" the house on Fourth Street had? Other than the deed there is no other documentation available? I am running at an all time high for edits tonight

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 1:01 am

I have no idea where to look for the Fourth Street house's conveniences. If anyone can think of something- fill us in!

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 1:09 am

Deed of share of Fourth Street house from Jane Gray To Abby Borden,
in 2 parts.

BTW: This is what is known as a "fair copy" which means it was a handwritten COPY, before xerox machines. That's why the signatures are all in the same handwriting.

please click on picture

Doug · Post by **Doug** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 11:30 am

I agree with Chris regarding Andrew. I think he and Abby both got bad raps in much of the news, interviews, witness statements, and testimony on and after August 4, 1892. While Andrew had the reputation of and apparently was a hard-driving businessman neither he nor Abby were around to defend themselves and much of the public's opinion favored and defended Lizzie. To me it is a case of the likely perpetrator being considered more of a victim than the people who were slain. I don't find it difficult to believe that Andrew favored Abby with the purchase and deed of one-half of her father's house and where, I think, Abby lived before her marriage to Andrew.

I don't recall seeing the deed to Oliver Gray's house before. Thanks, Kat, for posting a copy. It is interesting to note that when this property was conveyed by Ezra Marble to Oliver Gray in 1857 it was recorded in the "North Bristol Registry of Deeds, Book 1 page 173, Fall River, R.I.,... (my italics). According to Radin in Lizzie Borden: The Untold Story, page 21, the Rhode Island/Massachusetts state line bisected downtown Fall River until about 1862. I gather Fall River, Rhode Island, was part of Bristol County, Rhode Island, which county today includes the towns of Barrington, Warren, and Bristol. Tiverton, Rhode Island, bordering Fall River, Massachusetts, to the south is today part of Newport County, Rhode Island. In any case, the Fourth St. property appears to have been previously located in Rhode Island. It makes me wonder if 92 Second St., located two blocks almost due west of the Fourth St. property, was also once in Rhode Island.

lydiapinkham · Post by **lydiapinkham** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 2:03 pm

Thank you for posting the deed, Kat!

One question. What is the source for Andrew's Quaker upbringing? He certainly was not a practising Quaker and never used the Quaker thees and thous. He may have been a puritan--in the loosest sense of the word, but I don't see any sign of his having ever been Quaker.

--Lyddie

FairhavenGuy · Post by **FairhavenGuy** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 2:16 pm

At the moment, Lyddie, there's no source for Andrew's Quaker upbringing. I don't know whether he or earlier generation Bordens were Quaker or not. I'll be looking into it though.

The reference to the Quakers, who were the primary group of settlers in the earliest days of southeastern MA, was because I have always felt that
Andrew seemed to share a similar philosophy.

I simply wanted to stress that thrift does not necessarily equal "unfeeling miser."

I do seem to recall that Andrew didn't have anything much to do with the Congregational Church or came to it rather late in life, if at all.

Now that I own Rebello (!) I'll poke around and see if there's anything in there about Andrew's religious affiliation. Or if earlier Bordens were Quakers.

FairhavenGuy · Post by **FairhavenGuy** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 3:00 pm

Okay, Back again with some goods for Lyddie.

Richard Borden, the earliest of Andrew's ancestors to settle in America was a Quaker. He died at Portmouth, RI, in 1671 and was buried there in the "burial ground of the Society of Friends." (Quaker)

Richard's son John, also Andrew's line, was born in Rhode Island in 1640. to differentiate himself from other John Bordens he "was known as John Borden of Quaker Hill," according to The Phillips History of Fall River, p.132.

Don't know about Andrew's upbringing, but his direct ancestors a few generations back most certainly were Quakers.

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 3:45 pm

Quakers. That explains alot to me about Andrew.

lydiapinkham · Post by **lydiapinkham** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 10:37 pm

Good research, Fairhaven! I completely missed the reference when I read Rebello!

It seems that Andrew's branch had shed the Quaker philosophy, though, for I see no indication of the Friends in anything I've read of him. Many years had passed since the Quaker settling by the time Andrew came along, and I've seen no mention of his parents' participation either. I think Andrew was more a good man of business than anything else.

--Lyddie

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 3:41 am

Thanks for posting that, Kat! Interesting to see the document of the land transaction that allegedly caused all the troubles in the Borden household.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 4:17 am

This is confusing, nonetheless, because the house, I believe, was not an undivided half, but rather was in quarters.
When Oliver Gray died, his widow and 3 daughters shared the inheritance of the house.
I have never been able to reconcile this.
Maybe Jane Gray got a 1/3 share as widow, and the other 2/3 was divided between the 3 girls? (Abby, Priscilla & Sarah) It's confusing. Apparently Abby already owned a quarter upon her father's death.
And I'm not great at fractions either.

I have notations here in my timeline margins that refer to:
Lincoln 40-41, Sullivan 217, Yesterday In Old Fall River 142, Rebello 278.
I haven't checked any of these tonight except Rebello just now.

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 11:50 am

Yes, I find it confusing too, just reading that document and trying to make heads or tails of what it says in laymen's terms. It sounds like Abby got the land and all the buildings that were on it that were owned by Jane Gray. But what holdings did Jane have? Didn't she own only half the house or something like that? We need a lawyer, is Jennings still available?

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 1:35 pm

from Lincoln page 40:

"Abby's sister Mrs. Whitehead had not married well. She owned and lived in one side of a little half house, the other half of which belonged to her mother, Mrs. Gray. Mrs. Gray wanted to sell, but she could not find a buyer unless the whole house went up for sale. Mrs. Whitehead's half would bring in only fifteen hundred dollars, for which she would find it hard to find another livable home.

The half- house, Andrew knew, could be profitably rented.His impulse was to buy it and put it in his wife's name, since it is not prudent to have impoverished in-laws feel too directly in your debt; it can raise further hopes.On the other hand, the girls disliked Mrs. Whitehead almost as much as they disliked Abby. They might raise a fuss."

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 9:57 pm

Thanks, Allen. I've been picturing a normal home thats been kind of split down the middle and each family gets a half. But, I did a search on half houses and it looks like it was a commone type of home in New England. Heres a pic of a half house in Cape Cod:

The early half-, or One-Room, houses were most frequently "lost" through a process of absorption, as they often served as nuclei for later construction. Following earlier English construction modes, the early half-house generally had a steep roof pitch which contained space adequate for use as a sleeping loft.

A modern interpretation of a half house:

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 10:18 pm

Thanks for the pictures Kat. It makes it much easier to envision what the house might have looked like. Now if we only had some idea of what sort of " modern conveniences" it possessed. I am going to try to do a little research on this, but I am not sure how successful it will be.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 11:42 pm

Susan provided the pictures, but Inever knew there was an object called a half-house.
I thought it was a legal share. Do we know it's not a legal share description? They say "undivided", I think?

I think these deeds are from the UMASS site- at least they were part of my computer when I got it from Stefani, so it was probably she & Harry who saved this document. Thanks Har & Stef!

I say "these" deeds as we also have the Ferry Street fair copy of the deed to Lizzie and Emma.

Doug · Post by **Doug** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 12:43 am

I believe when Oliver Gray died he left the Fourth St. property to his (second) wife Jane and their daughter Sarah. The "half" in question did not mean a "half house;" rather it referred to a half-share in the house and land on which the house stood. Jane Gray sold her half-interest in the property to Abby Borden, her step-daughter, in 1887. Sarah Gray Whitehead, Jane and Oliver's daughter and Abby Gray Borden's half sister, retained her half-interest. After Abby and Andrew Borden were murdered in 1892 Emma Borden and Lizzie Borden inherited Abby's half-interest in the Fourth St. property. Later they sold that half-interest to Sarah Gray Whitehead and her half-sister Priscilla Gray Fish, who was Abby Borden's older sister. Sarah then owned a three-quarter interest in the property and Priscilla Fish owned a one-quarter interest. At some point after Priscilla Fish's death Sarah gained the final one-quarter interest in the Fourth St. property.

So the ownership went like this:

Oliver Gray

v

Jane Gray (1/2) & Sarah Gray Whitehead (1/2)

v

Abby Gray Borden (1/2) & Sarah Gray Whitehead (1/2)

v

Emma Borden/Lizzie Borden (1/2) & Sarah Gray Whitehead (1/2)

v

Priscilla Fish (1/4) & Sarah Gray Whitehead (3/4)

v

Sarah Gray Whitehead

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 1:00 am

Thanks Doug, that's pretty interesting.

Lincoln's description cited by Allen above sounds like the house was like a duplex.

Doug · Post by **Doug** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 1:20 am

Yes, I gather it was a duplex or at least had space for a second family or tenant to rent/live.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 1:25 am

I hate to ask, but this is very important to me: What is your source Doug for the 1/2 & 1/2 split?
I'd always heard/thought/knew it was a quarter share to each female from Oliver to start. That's why it's taken me 3 years to understand this.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 2:34 am

Sorry: I couldn't wait!
I started looking around.
Maybe Sullivan has more info because he had contact with Lil' Abby?

There's a letter from Abby Potter to Victoria Lincoln reproduced in the LBQ, October, 1998:

..."Now about the property when my Grandpa Gray died in 1878, 77 years old. The old homestead was divided 4 ways, 1/4 to my Grandma Gray, 1/4 to Aunt Abby, 1/4 to her sister Priscilla Fish and 1/4 to my ma.

Aunt Abby gave my ma her 1/4 (and) now ma had 1/2. Andrew Borden bought my Grandma's 1/4 and gave it to my ma and then pa and me bought the last 1/4 of George Henry Fish. Now ma owned it all."...

--I don't know if this account is completely true.

Doug · Post by **Doug** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 2:37 am

The Fourth St. house situation is described in more or less detail in a variety of Borden books. Among them are Kent's Forty Whacks, chapter 5; Sullivan's Goodbye Lizzie Borden, chapter The Bordens and the Town; Rebello's Lizzie Borden Past & Present, chapter Life and Death of a Legend (After the Acquittal) and Appendix C; and Radin's Lizzie Borden: The Untold Story, chapter II The Family. Leonard Rebello also wrote a detailed article in the Lizzie Borden Quarterly Volume IX, Number 1, January, 2002 entitled "The Whitehead House Discovered." There are also references in the Witness Statements under Thomas Walker and Mrs. George Whitehead and in Lizzie Borden's Inquest Testimony.

I hope these references are helpful, Kat.

Doug · Post by **Doug** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 2:47 am

Kat, Abby Potter seems to be the only person who describes one-quarter shares of the Fourth St. property. Most of what I have read relates one-half shares to Jane Gray and Sarah Gray Whitehead.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 4:51 am

So far, besides what Allen transcribed of Lincoln, and what Lil' Abby contributed, we have:

W.S., pg. 14- No shares specific info- only referred to "in part."

Sullivan, pg. 217: "My father bought Mrs. Borden's half-sister's...share, and gave it to her." (This apparently is a paraphrase of Lizzie's testimony).

LBQ, Jan. 2002, pg. 13: "According to his will, Abby's father, Oliver Gray had left the house to his wife, Jane and his daughter, Sarah."
and
"Andrew purchased Mrs. Gray's one-half share of the property and put the deed in Abby's name."
By William Pavao.

Inquest Testimony by Sarah Whitehead, pg. 157:
A. It is real estate.
Q. Where is it?
A. It is the house I live in.
Q. What is the value of it, about?
A. Well, I think when it was sold, it brought $3000.
Q. It already belonged to the three of you?
A. No, my father left half to me, and half to my mother; and my mother sold her part to my sister.
Q. Your sister, Mrs. Borden?
A. Yes Sir.
Q. So it then belonged to your sister and you?
A. Yes Sir. She bought it to keep in in the family.
Q. It now stands so, that is, to the estate of your sister, and you? You dont know what was paid for your mother's half?
A. I think she paid $1500.
Q. You say she paid it, you dont know whether she paid it or Mr. Borden?
A. I dont know whether it was her money or his money.
Q. Someone's money paid for it?
A. Yes.
Q. The deed was taken right from your mother to Mrs. Borden?
A. I suppose it was.

According to Yesterday In Old Fall River, pg. 142-143:
"Gray, Jane E.D. (Baker) Eldridge (1826-1916)
..."It was to Jane Gray that Andrew gave $1500 in exchange for her quarter-share of the Fourth Street house where she lived. Andrew then gave his share to Abby, who also inherited a quarter-share when Oliver Gray died. Sarah Whitehead, who had her own quarter-share, lived in the house with her mother. The last fourth was owned by Priscilla (Gray) Fish of Hartford, Connecticut. Andrew and Abby gave their shares to Sarah Whitehead.

Andrew did this at Abby's urging in 1887 so that Sarah, beloved by her older sister Abby Borden, would always have a home."...
By Dr. Paul D. Hoffman

--We may need professional guidance here with this question, though I tend to believe Bill Pavao. What I would like is confirmation by way of Oliver Gray's will.

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 9:58 am

I tend to believe the actual testimony given at the time. I am planning to check some other testimony today and see what other documentation I can find. No luck on my other search for the "modern conveniences" available, but I haven't given up on that yet.

Doug · Post by **Doug** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 4:06 pm

Thanks, Kat, for reporting Sarah Whitehead's inquest testimony. I missed that.

Len Rebello, in his article "The Whitehead House Discovered" writes:

"In 1878 Oliver Gray died leaving his property to his second wife, Jane and their daughter Sarah Bertha Gray. Oliver's oldest daughter, Priscilla Gray Fish (1820-1894) of Hartford, Connecticut, and Abby Gray Borden (1828-1892) were each left $200. Priscilla was also given a feather bed and a large engraved silver spoon." This passage is footnoted (9) and the footnote reads, "9. Probate Court, Taunton, Massachusetts, will of Oliver Gray, 1878."

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 4:40 pm

It's the testimony and the letter from Lil' Abby which disturb me- because people were not precise in their memory, or their speech.
Kind of like Eye-Witness testimony from years later.

I was thinking later that maybe between 1878 when Oliver died, and 1887 when part of the house was sold, that maybe during that time two 1/4's came together, one to Sarah and one to Jane, to make two 1/2's. I thought this was possible within that 9 years, because something brought the shares together for the deed to read that way.

Thanks Allen for looking and a big thank you to Doug, who I think solved the problem. He did go to the "professional"-- Len in that article! I read the cover story by Bill last night, (late) but missed Len's! If anyone had Oliver Gray's will it would be he!

Now I think I have to adjust info on the web-site Chronology.
Lil' Abby should have her mouth washed out with soap, and where are Dr. Hoffman's source citations?

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 10:19 pm

In the article which Doug pointed out in LBQ, Jan. 2002, pg. 6, by Len Rebello, the place decided upon as the original Whitehead house is described as a "smaller cottage duplex." Meaning smaller than the other, newer house on the lot. Here is a sequence of events established in Len's article:

The house on Fourth Street was bought in 1857, by Oliver Gray. Priscilla, Abby's older sister might have already been married by then, according to the article, and not ever lived there. The residents would be Oliver, his wife Sarah, and Abby, their grown daughter (29). Sarah died in 1860. In 1862, Oliver married a widow, Jane Gray (Eldredge), who also had 2 children, a girl Lucy and a boy Henry. In 1864, Jane gave birth to Sarah (Whitehead). Abby left to marry Andrew Borden in 1865 [not 2 months after Lincoln was assassinated]. Oliver died in 1878. In 1882, Sarah Jr. married George W. Whitehead, and Jane's son Henry died of consumption. Jane's older daughter Lucy was probably married by then, being 28. In 1883, Jane moved out, and seems to have lived in several places nearby, though she owned 1/2 the house.
I don't know why Jane would move since it seems the only family left living in the house was George Sr. and Sarah Jr., his wife, no children yet born. Abby (Potter) was born in 1884.
With Jane living away, it's no wonder Jane wished to sell her share.

It's a good article.
.......

In March 1887, little George Whitehead was born, and it was in May 1887 that the 1/2 share of the house changed hands, and October 1887 that Andrew gave his daughters the Ferry Street property; it was in 1887 that Hiram and Lurana then moved from Ferry Street to Freetown, Mass., and it was also in 1887 that Lizzie stopped calling Abby "Mother."

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 3:44 am

Wow, great research, gang! Thats helpful to have that description of the house as being a "smaller cottage duplex", I've always seen it written about as a "half house", hence my search for what that may have been. So, it was a duplex, I wonder why it was never listed as such by any of the authors that I have? I think its great to delve into this like we have as this is supposed to be the source of Lizzie and Emma's hatred of Abby. And with what has been found, it really doesn't sound like all that much to caused such a stir!

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 4:08 am

I'm still wondering why Jane left. It almost seems as if her mortgage was due, or overdue or she needed the money for some reason- because it was very soon after that she paid off the mortgage. She may have been on the verge of losing her part of the house.
Other than that, the article says that George Whitehead died in 1898 of a liver infection. Maybe he was hard to live with?

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 9:01 pm

Thats a good question, Kat, why did Jane want to sell her portion of the house and move out? And, where did she move to afterwards? Do we have any record of that? If that place was as cramped as it sounds, I can see why Jane wouldn't want to stay there, and supposing that George was a drinker; liver disease. This is one of those points in the case that makes the people who were part of it so real for me, not just words on a page.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 9:44 pm

I read that Oliver was a blacksmith and I have to admit I thought, BO.

They take people off of airline fights who smell really bad. I know people were more used to smells back then, but not everyone, all the time.

But, that was Oliver. And he is gone and we are left with George Whitehead. It doesn't say what he did for a living, but he did well enough in 1897 to start building the bigger house that is now on the lot, but died before it was finished. I thought "Drinker" too- but a liver "infection" might more likely be hepatitis? He was only 38. (d. 1898).

The article says Jane moved to "7 Park Street, a short distance away. She eventually moved next door to her daughter (Sarah) to 43 Fourth Street boarding at the Alexander Milne house from 1885-1888, and one year later she lived across the street from her daughter at 40 Fourth Street (1889-1890). At the time of the Borden murders she resided at 215 Second Street (1892- 1894), a short distance from the Borden house at 92 Second."

Thanks Len! That's his article.

Jane took the money and either that very day or the next day, she paid off her mortgage. Maybe she had some $ left over and so lived on that for a while. Her son-in-law, George, may not have been able to support her. She was Abby's step-mother and it seems like she was the one who benefitted from Andrew and Abby's largesse.

stuartwsa · Post by **stuartwsa** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 10:03 pm

Is the house on Fourth Street still standing?

Doug · Post by **Doug** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 10:51 pm

Research by Len Rebello and Bill Pavao shows the Whitehead house, the house on Fourth St., is still standing. It is not in the same position on the lot as it occupied in 1887 or 1892, however. In 1897 George Whitehead, Sarah's husband, obtained a permit to build a second, larger house (which also still stands) on the lot and to "move and improve" the original house. The original house was moved back on the lot and also I believe was turned sideways so that the front of the house no longer faces the street. See Leonard Rebello's artice in the Lizzie Borden Quarterly Volume IX, Number 1, January, 2002.

As for Jane Gray moving out of the house (around 1883) she still shared ownership in, perhaps she wanted her newly married daughter, Sarah, to have some privacy as well as some income from the rental space in the house. Or maybe Jane did not care for her new son-in-law. In any case she continued to live in close proximity to the Fourth St. house both before and after she sold her interest in it. Coincidentally, Sarah Whitehead and Jane Gray were at Rocky Point, R.I., where the Fall River police were having their outing, on the day of the Borden murders.