Andrew J. Jennings profile

[Denise_Noe]

I wrote a biographical portrait of Andrew J. Jennings. You can find it here:
https://lizzieandrewborden.com/HatchetO ... nings.html

I am interested to learn what others think of it.

[camgarsky4]

Denise -- good and informative write up. Thanks for posting the link.

Jennings was Andrews attorney....did Jennings remain Lizzie and Emma's attorney post-trial? If not, do we have any idea why not?

He had the existing knowledge of the family real estate business and he should have earned the sisters admiration and gratitude from the trial success.
Seems like a no-brainer for him to stick around.

Thanks in advance for any insights on this.

[mbhenty]

Good question

Lizzie and Emma retained Jennings for his entire life. (his life) Emma was very fond of Jennings and had him in her will, leaving him 1000 dollars should he survive her. He did not. Jennings died in 1923.

Emma had fired Charles Cook as her business manager in 1917 and retained Jennings as her lawyer and new business manager to her estate.

I never gave it any thought, but the girls must have retained services of another lawyer after the death of Jennings. Once I discover who I'll let you know.

[camgarsky4]

Thanks MB!

So Emma fired Cook in '17 and expanded Jennings attorney role to include biz manager? Lizzie had him as lawyer, but kept Cook as biz manager?

Obviously I don't know much about either, but off the cuff, Jennings and Cook seem like very different characters....one I'd like to do business with and the other....not so much.

Was there a specific incident that led to Emma firing Cook?

[mbhenty]

It is my suspicion that Charles Cook was a Crook. That was proven to me when Lizzie died and he tried to convince the courts that Lizzie had left him the Davenport House next door to Maplecroft, since he was a legal concierge. But that property was indeed part of Lizzie's estate. He was not the bona fide owner. Lizzie was in the habit of placing her properties in Cook's name to hide their true ownership. (I use to live and own that building. I have since sold it)

As for Emma dispensing herself of Cook's labors—my conjecture is that something must have happened during the 1916 Fall River fire which took four city blocks, including Borden property along South Main and Spring Streets. Also it was around that time that Lizzie and Emma sold the old murder house, 92 Second Street. Some hanky-panky on Cooks part must have been exposed, or unsavory business practice, which caused Emma to abandon Cook's services. Indeed ten years later when Lizzie died Charles Cook exposed his hand.

[mbhenty]

From what little research I have done, Lizzie and Emma had different Lawyers after 1923 and Jenning's death. In 1923 Lizzie and her sister Emma had a property dispute in which they both had their own lawyers. Not sure if this was before or after Jenning's death, but it would make sense that if he was still alive he would probably abstain from their dispute and councel them to retain a neutral law firm.

In the property dispute Lizzie had a new four member law firm from Fall River, and Emma had a law firm from Providence. Emma's Law firm was the same firm which made out her will. More research would need to be done to discover who was involved with Lizzie's will. It's not something easily discovered on line or in popular tomes. Not even Parallel Lives or the Rebello.

I don't have the names of the law firms at the moment, but that's the jest of it all.

[Denise_Noe]

Denise -- good and informative write up. Thanks for posting the link.

Jennings was Andrews attorney....did Jennings remain Lizzie and Emma's attorney post-trial? If not, do we have any idea why not?

He had the existing knowledge of the family real estate business and he should have earned the sisters admiration and gratitude from the trial success.
Seems like a no-brainer for him to stick around.

Thanks in advance for any insights on this.

(Denise) I'm actually unsure as to whether or not Jennings continued to work for the Bordens after the trial. This might be an interesting point to research1
Thank you for calling my profile "good and informative." That's what I aimed for.

[mbhenty]

Yes, and I have done some research and inquiries. Inquiries of those in-the-know. (and even with some that I sleep with)

At the very least I have uncovered that "Lizzie Borden vs Emma Borden" is a document that exists, one to a transaction or dispute of some property in 1923 in which Lizzie and Emma had separate law firms and did not use Jennings. That being said, he could have died by then. I don't have the specific dates. But the contention took place in the same year. One would need to examine the dates on the documents.

We do know that Emma continued to use Jennings since we have proof through a business transaction, which happened in 1917 and that stated that Emma was dropping Charles Cook and replacing the business agent with Andrew Jennings.

Now it is almost certain that there were countless legal transaction between and in the interest of the Borden sisters, especially for land, buildings, etc. in which Lizzie would need a lawyer. Charles Cook took care of all those legal aspects for Lizzie's properties and probably used his own lawyers. Thus Lizzie would not need to retain one.

But it is true that if Lizzie "officially" retained Jennings as her lawyer is something that would need a little more research. After all, there's the Tilden and Thurber incident. She must have had a lawyer then. Research, including some foot work or nimble finger work would be needed to uncover such information.

[camgarsky4]

MB -- off topic, but did homes get built on the Lake/Borden lots across the street from Lizzie and your homes?

Parallel Lives mentions that the lot was bought in tandem by Lizzie and Mrs Lake, but that at some point Lizzie built a fence across the middle of the lot. Lake's son wasn't aware of any animosity, but could there have been any other reason than a non-pleasant one? Any neighborhood scuttlebutt on the cause of the lot splitting fence?

Thx!

[mbhenty]

You know camgarsky4 that's and interesting question, and out of it comes a hint that in fact Lizzie probably did not use Jennings after the trial as her lawyer.

The story goes as such:

There was a transaction and agreement between Lizzie and Emma Lake for a lot which sat to the west side of the Lake property and that bordered the back of the Brayton Jr. property—next door to Lake. Emma Lake (NOT Emma Borden) purchased the property and a short time later sold half of it to Lizzie.

A very short time after the purchase, Emma Lake decided that she wanted to divest herself of her half. What happened next is uncertain. But it was rumored that they had a falling-out. And when they did, Lizzie put up what became known as the "spite" fence, dividing her half from Emma Lake's. We don't know why or even if there was a fallout....just what the newspapers tell us. Information on the matter shows up no where else.

To complicate things further it was believed that Lizzie purchased the land without legal assistance, as friends. Thus some time later they hired Swift's law firm to make it legal. If indeed they did, it begs the question to why Lizzie did not retain the services of Andrew Borden, who lived two blocks away. Or perhaps they used Emma's lawyer or a neutral law firm.

Now most of this information comes from a Boston Newspaper at the time so one must take it with a bucket of salt and a pinch of fire. Was there a fence really built? It is believed that the papers could have taken liberties with such an outcome. We don't know. There were no official accounts on the matter as told by Lizzie, Emma Lake, or Emma's son who only had fond memories of Lizzie Borden.

So, perhaps Lizzie Borden stopped using Jennings.

Interesting. You have heard of The Crazy World of Arthur Brown? Well...this is the crazy world of Lizzie Borden. And we are all a little crazy for devoting so much time to her.

[mbhenty]

Oh yes, and No. A house was never built there. Some time later the lot reverted back to the Lake estate. (not sure when) Today the Lake house is a home for young wayward girls. The 'home' extended the foot print of the building onto the "Lake/Borden" lot.

Below in the photo you can see the extension on the gray house on the left, the old Lake place, and the red house, the Brayton property on the right. .

[mbhenty]

Here's a look from above. Use the top image or photo. Maplecroft is on the upper left, below it is the Swift property. Across the street is the Lake house, upper right and the old Brayton house lower right. (the second image is seen from a different angle, but you can see Maplecroft labeled.

On the other map you can see the "lines" or division of house lots. There is actually two house lots between the Brayton house and the Lake House. But just on paper.

As you can see Maplecroft sits on two house lots. And you can see the tiny lot behind the Swift house in the illustrated photo. This was purchased by Lizzie. She wanted it for a driveway for her garage. Swift objected and a drive was never built... and built on French Street instead.

To the left of the lake house was the Baker lot. Lizzie purchased that also. Sometime after she died they placed a house there and which stands to this day.

[camgarsky4]

I love your messages, they always deliver 'the goods'!! The aerial really makes it easy to track the explanation.

Didn't Lizzie also have another spite fence with the Swifts because of the driveway issue? Seem to recall Parallel Lives mentions that the swift family weren't thrilled that a fence or something Lizzie built that put their front porch in a shadow or something like that.

Is that a driveway between Swifts and Maplecroft? Which house uses that driveway?

[mbhenty]

Thanks for the cheer

Yes

The driveway you speak of is the Swift Drive. It goes to a small garage in the back. Behind that is the Swift backyard, or the lot that Lizzie was interested in for a drive way.

If the sun was indeed blocked the fence must have been very high. It would have blocked the morning sun since the Swift house is West of Maplecroft. But the entire driveway, which is very narrow, would have been shadowed.

At some time she must have taken down the fence and placed a small 30 inch wrought iron fence, which we se there today.

In the photo below we are looking at the small fence and the Swift house and driveway, with Maplecorft off to the right.

The other photo is of the west side of the Swift house. Maplecroft is behind it. To the left is the Swift back yard, with the lush lawn. This is the lot which once belong to Swift, then to Lizzie, then back to Swift.

[mbhenty]

Now, in the photo below taken very early in the 20 century we can see Maplecroft with the old 19early teens automobile.

If you look over to the far lower right you can see a black fence. Behind it is the rear entrance to the Davenport house and its back yard. It looks like a trellis fence. But it looks very high. Perhaps 10 plus feet. If such a fence was placed between the Swift house and Maplecorft it would have been very unsightly. Though one does not appear to be in place in this photo. But this photo was probably taken before Lizzie had built her garage. Who knows, that may even be her car.

You can see in this photo that Maplecroft has a normal open air porch. And the steps and railing are all wood. I like this look much better than what Lizzie built later and which we see today.

(click on photo to enlarge)

[mbhenty]

And while we're on a roll here's a summary.

Here's a nice air shot.

The lake house in the foreground just off to the lower right.

Way off to the right, the white place, is the old Baker house.

Next to it, the house with the red roof, is where the Lizzie/Baker lot once stood vacant.

You can see the large extension on the Lake house with the original building to its right. This is where the Lizzie/Lake lot once stood.

Above it is the swift house, Maplecroft, and the Davenport house.

(click on photo to make BIG)

[camgarsky4]

Thanks!

"A picture is worth a thousand words!!!!"

[mbhenty]

Here's another nice old shot of the corner of French Street and Belmont.

Off to the distant left is the Lake house in all its glory.

In the middle is the John Brayton Jr. House. This was the place where Lizzie complained about the crowing bird.

In the distant off to the right is the George Lathrop house. He was a bookkeeper at the Bleachery or Spencer Borden's Bleach house.

The middle picture was taken out the window of the Davenport House. It shows the Brayton house as it looks today from the backyard and Maplecroft to the right.

And since this thread is about Andrew Jennings, the Jennings house on June Street and how it looks today.

[Denise_Noe]

It looks lovely!

[mbhenty]

Yes, Denise. It is lovely. On the outside.

Most of the interior has been torn out when they installed three kitchens and three bathrooms and turned this gorgeous one family home into three apartments. In their destruction they paid little concern to historical architecture.

Right next door to the Jennings House is the James Eddy House. He was president of Eddy Manufactory in Fall River back in the 19th century. It was a single family home at one time. Today the thirty room home has Ten apartments. Think about what they had to tear out to install ten kitchens and baths.

Below is one of the very few artifacts in the Victorian Jennings home that has survived. Very bad photo. But if you look closely you can see that it's of an old staircase. But the first landing is gone. Instead there's a bathtub there. The hallway and stairwell was turned into a Bath. Such was Fall River's distressed economy in the late nineteen sixties and early seventies when the building was converted.

[camgarsky4]

MB - are there any families still in the neighborhood that have been there since pre or during Lizzie? Did you ever hear interesting scuttlebutt?

[mbhenty]

Yes

Since the time of Lizzie, Fall River was a dying town. Those with money were dying off and their sons and daughters took their money to other parts of the country. Primarily, there was a constant backfill of Portuguese, French Canadians, with some Polish, Lebanese, and others to a lesser extent. The French settled in first. Through the forties, fifties, and sixties their was a mass migration of mostly Portuguese. Many French neighborhoods had a Portuguese church right down the street. These groups filled in with the Irish and English who first settled Fall River around and before Lizzie's Second Street days.

Immigrants had always settled in Fall River, ever since its inception. But once the textile industry went south, the city went into a decline and all the old families moved away. Around the time Lizzie died, decline was full steam ahead. Most of the major textile mills were gone. The sewing industry was taking its place. Instead of making cloth, Fall River was sewing it together into dresses, shirts, curtains, etc.

As a child and after grade school was let out at Espiroto Santo Parish, I would go down Alden Street a couple of blocks and wait for my mother to get out of work. She was employed at Shelburne Shirt Company at the time. I would loiter outside the mill and wait. In the summer, all the windows were open and all you could hear was a flurry or whirling grind from one sewing machine after another. Then a bell would sound and all the din would stop. In less than sixty seconds, and seamstress' would hastily pour out the front door. They couldn't get away from the place any faster. Mother was one of them. Soon we were on our way home to make super. On the way she would count her tickets. Piecemeal tickets. When we arrived home, we would sit on the front porch and she would try to determine how much she made that day. We lived at the end of Wamsutta Street. Less than a block away was the Emery house on Weybosset Street. Across an empty grassy lot was the Hargraves Mill Building where Daniel Emery worked (but a newer building). Its windows were open and all you could hear from our front porch was sewing machines... soon followed by the bell. This was back around the late fifties.

By the time I moved into Lizzie's old Maplecroft (in the eighties) neighborhood, all the old families who were alive in her time had moved away or died.

[mbhenty]

And while we have mentioned telephones, etc.

I have posted this in the past, but will do it again for the newcomers.

Below is an old telephone book from my Lizzie Book collection. Dates to 1925. In it is listed one: Lizbeth Borden, 306 French. Telephone number 378 Easy enough to remember, Huh?

Interesting

Above Lizzie's name is Jerome Cook Borden. He is cousin of Lizzie and pallbearer at the funeral of Andrew. And I believe he became president of Andrew's bank after Andrew past away.

And Spencer Borden, who lived at Interlachen. He has two telephone numbers. He was owner of the Fall River Bleachery and had an Arabian Horse farm where he was famous worldwide for breeding the animals for sport and the Calvary. So you may call him at his residence or his business. Doubt you'll get an answer though.

Below is a post card of Interlachen.

http://lizzieandrewborden.com/HatchetOn ... aters.html

[camgarsky4]

My gosh, there are a lot of Borden's in that town! Is it still a wildly common name in Fall River?


Regarding Jennings & Lizzie's relationship post trial:
Rebello's book pg. 306 has the following blurb about the Thurber-Tilden episode and Jennings involvement.
-----------------------------
"Lizzie was a chronic shoplifter. Several years ago after the trial, she was caught shoplifting in Providence. My grandfather (Andrew J. Jennings) got her off, then came home and said "I will have nothing to do with that woman." Mr. Edward Jennings, grandson of Andrew J. Jennings,
Brockton Sunday Advertiser, September 13, 1992.
-----------------------------

This might imply that Jennings did not continue to be Lizzie's attorney after this episode. However, makes sense that when Emma and Lizzie had their permanent estrangement, that Jennings would have been Emma's attorney and eventual biz manager.

[mbhenty]

YES, Lots of Borden's in Fall River.

Here is a list of all the Borden's in Fall River in 1893.

All 140 of them. Today there are probably no more that nine or ten Bordens living in Fall River.

[mbhenty]

...

[mbhenty]

Now, for lack of having anything better to do today....

If you think there was a lot of Bordens in Fall River in 1892

You would be very unlucky if you were trying to ID someone named Sullivan, which there are a couple of hundred.

Ah, but you say you are looking for a specific Sullivan, one named John C. Sullivan.

At the time of the murders there are 85 Sullivans named "John", and Seven of them are named John C. This in a city of Seventy Five thousand souls. (And they indeed are all souls as we speak)

There is only one Bridget listed. Very few women lived alone in those days unless they were widowed. Most Bridgets were married or lived with family and city directories were in the habit of only listing men... unless the woman was a widow. And the only Bridget listed is a widow. For example: there are 14 Hannah Sullivan's listed. Thirteen, 13, of them are widows. So, there's probably countless Bridgets... well, not countless but

Interesting... or not.


.

[camgarsky4]

As always, MB, cool info!

Noticed there are 7 William Borden's listed above (4 w/ middle initial H). Any by chance the infamous "son" of Andrew? :)