"Old School Mates"

[camgarsky4]

In her last will and testament, Lizzie Borden left money to many individuals. In the will, there were only two ladies specifically noted as 'old school mates'.

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Besides being school mates with Lizzie, my research has not surfaced commonalities between Adelaide Whipp and Lucy Macomber, with the exception that neither married.

Lizzie Borden's last will and testament can be read in full on the Lizzie Borden Virtual Library website.

Lucy S. Macomber was born April 1, 1858, 27 months before Lizzie's birth on July 19, 1860. Lucy grew up in Head of Westport and was only two months older than Augusta Tripp (nee Pool); date of birth June 23, 1858. It would seem that whatever drove the decision for Augusta to attend school in Fall River, it had the same effect on Lucy's education. It is interesting that Augusta and Lucy were >two years older than Lizzie. Speculation might be our only course, but what circumstances led to Lizzie bonding with a couple older girls with which she maintained a long term relationship with?

Adelaide B. Whipp was born October 22, 1859; nine months older than Lizzie. Beyond school, her longer term connection to Lizzie is a bit clearer. Adelaide attended the same church (at least when the ladies were in their 20's)....the Central Congregational Church. As you will see in the articles below, both Adelaide and Lizzie taught a church class to Chinese students. That had to have been a bonding experience for these two.

Source: Fall River Herald News, Thursday, May 1, 1941.
Obituary - Adelaide B. Whipp.
".......as a child and young woman, she played the organ in the Central Congregational Mission School on Bedford Street and later taught for many years a class of Chinese in the Bible School of the Central Congregational Church."

Source: Fall River Globe, Friday, June 16, 1893.
Extract of an interview with Mrs. Mary R. Holmes, wife of Charles J. Holmes.
"...I was engaged with her in some of the special work of the church (Central Congregational Church); she was on the hospital board with me, but she was engaged in the Chinese work while I was in the Bible class."

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