Lizzie Borden : Warps & Wefts

The good-looking thirty-seven year old gentleman handling the reins behind the glossy matched pair pulling the spanking-new carriage drew the attention of more than one feminine eye.  Pacing down French St. at a sharp clip, the lady next to him, dressed neatly in a tailor-made suit with the latest in millinery fashion, smiled up at her coachman. Behind the lace curtains on the Hill section of Fall River, tongues were wagging about the unseemly pair. Lizzie Borden, acquitted of double homicide just six years earlier had come into her money and also her style of spending it on the good things in life.  Just what was going on between Lizzie and that coachman, unchaperoned and traveling together all around town?

Chief among those who disapproved of the new coachman was sister Emma, who had been perfectly satisfied with Mr. Johnson, the former coachman who had managed their father’s Swansea farm. This new addition to the house on French St. was far too “at home” and casual for Emma’s proper standards. He did not behave sufficiently as a servant who ought to know his place. His presence in their home was causing gossip and attention, a deplorable situation for the retiring, modest older sister. Handsome Joe would have to go and Emma made sure of that in 1902 after three years of Joe’s service to the Borden sisters. Lizzie was not well-pleased with the dismissal.

Ever since Emma Borden packed her bags and left French St. for good in 1905, friends, neighbors and now historians wonder what caused the split between two sisters who had been so close all their lives. Much has been made of the passing and short friendship Lizzie formed with actress Nance O’Neil as a possible cause of the rift, as well as “theater people” in the house and strong drink. Most likely it was a combination of things but one thing was for sure- Emma’s dismissal of the good-looking young coachman whom Lizzie had hired to drive her around town was a factor.

1900 census listing Joe, Annie Smith (housekeeper) Lizzie and Emma

So, where did he come from and what became of Joseph Tetrault (also Tetreau and Tatro)?  Born on February 9, 1863 in Kingston, R.I. of French Canadian parents, he worked as a hairdresser/barber on Second Street in Fall River at one time.  Later we find him living a short distance away on Spring Street at a boarding house owned by Lizzie and Emma after the murders in 1892. His parents, Pierre Tetreau dit Ducharme and  his mother,Almeda Fanion were from Rouville, Quebec and had moved to Kingston, Rhode Island. Pierre worked in a woolen mill and had nine children with his first wife, Marie Denicourt, and six more with  second wife, Almeda. The last six included :

Edward Peter 1861-1940

Joseph H.  1863-1929

Mary Elizabeth “Mamie” 1865-1956

Frederick A. 1871-1947

Francis “Frank” 1875-1935

Julia E.  1877-1973

We can only imagine the conversation between Lizzie and Emma about Joe Tatro – the arguments put forward, even heated discussions, but in the end, Lizzie had her way and in 1904 rehired Joe to resume his duties on French Street.  Added to Emma’s unhappiness about Nance O’Neil and other factors, Emma and Lizzie parted company in 1905. Joe remained driving Miss Lizzie until 1908, and for whatever reason, decided to move on. The 1908 directory lists him as “removed to Providence”.

Joe never married. Perhaps he remembered his childhood in a house full of siblings and half siblings and parenthood never appealed to him. He decided to try his luck out in Ohio where his youngest sibling, Julia, had gone, now married to Alfred Lynch and where eventually all his full siblings would find their way. Al Lynch worked as a supervisor in a machine works in East Cleveland and he and Julia had two sons, Alfred Jr. and an oddly -named boy, Kenneth Borden Lynch.  One has to wonder about this last name.  Lizzie had two beloved horses, Kenneth and Malcolm. Was this a connection to Joe’s happy past on French Street where he had driven that team of horses?  Lizzie presented Joe with a handsome heavy gold watch chain when he left her in 1908.  The watch fob had an onyx intaglio inset of a proud horsehead to remind him of their days on French St.

Joe’s youngest sibling Julia, who married Al Lynch. She was the mother of two sons including

Kenneth Borden Lynch

Sadly, Kenneth Borden Lynch was to marry, produce one son, and one day while attending to his motor vehicle, was run over by a passing Greyhound bus.

Kenneth Borden Lynch, Joe’s nephew

Joe Tatro developed cancer of the stomach and died at the age of 66 ½ from a sudden stomach hemorrhage on August 10, 1929.  His last occupation was one of a restaurant chef.  He was a long way from those carefree Fall River days. 

He was buried in Knollwood Cemetery on August 12^th from S.H. Johnson’s funeral home. His last address at 1872 Brightwood St. in East Cleveland is today just a vacant lot in a tired old residential neighborhood. He shared the home with another married sister, Mary R. Tatro Asselin.

 There are still a few direct descendants of his immediate family alive, and they are aware of his connection to Lizzie Borden. Whatever memories of her, Joe took with him to the grave.

(Photographs courtesy of Ancestry.com, Newspapers.com, The Cleveland Plain Dealer and Zillow.com)

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Lizzie Borden Warps &

Stop by this week as we explore what happened the week before the murders, Emma and Lizzie’s getaway to Fairhaven and New Bedford, and new imagery which will help to tell the story. The pears are almost ripe, August 4th is coming fast, and thoughts begin to turn to that house on Second Street once again. Follow us at https://www.facebook.com/lizziebordenwarpsandwefts/ !

Wouldn’t you love to have interviewed Lizzie’s physician, Dr. Nomus S. Paige from Taunton, the jail doctor, ? He found her to be of sane mind and we can now confirm that he had Lizzie moved to the Wright’s quarters while she was so ill after her arraignment with bronchitis, tonsilitis and a heavy cold. We learn that she was not returned to her cell as he did not wish a relapse so close to her trial. Dr. Paige was a Dartmouth man, class of 1861. I have yet to produce a photo of him but stay tuned! His house is still standing at 74 Winthrop St, corner of Walnut in Taunton. He was married twice, with 2 children by his second wife Elizabeth Honora “Nora” Colby and they had 2 children,Katherine and Russell who both married and had families. Many of the Paiges are buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Taunton. Dr. Paige died in April of 1919- I bet he had plenty of stories to tell about his famous patient in 1893!! He was a popular Taunton doctor at Morton Hospital and had a distinguished career. Dr. Paige refuted the story that Lizzie was losing her mind being incarcerated at the jail, a story which was appearing in national newspapers just before the trial.

Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Taunton, courtesy of Find A Grave.

74 Winthrop St., corner of Walnut, home of Dr. Paige, courtesy of Google Maps

Obituary for Dr. Paige, Boston Globe April 17, 1919

Included in yesterday’s trip to Fall River was a stop at Miss Lizzie’s Coffee shop and a visit to the cellar to see the scene of the tragic demise of the second Mrs. Lawdwick Borden and two of the three little children in 1848. I have been writing about this sad tale since 2010 and had made a previous trip to the cellar some years ago but was unable to get to the spot where the incident occured to get a clear photograph. 

The tale of Eliza Borden is a very sad, but not uncommon story of post partum depression with a heartrending end. You feel this as you stand in the dark space behind the chimney where Eliza ended her life with a straight razor after dropping 6 month old Holder and his 3 year old sister Eliza Ann into the cellar cistern. Over the years I have found other similar cases, often involving wells and cisterns, and drownings of children followed by suicides of the mothers. These photos show the chimney, cistern pipe, back wall, dirt and brick floor, original floorboards forming the cellar ceiling and what appears to be an original door. To be in the place where this happened is a sobering experience. My thanks to Joe Pereira for allowing us to see and record the place where this sad occurrence unfolded in 1848. R.I.P. Holder, Eliza and Eliza Ann Borden. Visit our Articles section above for more on this story.

The coffee shop has won its suit to retain its name and has plans to expand into the shop next door and extend its menu in the near future.

On June 15, 1892, roughly seven weeks before the Borden Murders, Lizzie was helping with the dishes after a social function at church in one of the front parlors. The dumb waiter which went to the kitchens was loaded with dishes and somehow the pulley to lower it slipped and the entire unit came crashing down across Lizzie’s wrists and forearms. The pain must have been excruciating but Lizzie remained calm. It was first thought that her arms were broken but later found to be only badly bruised. Here are several articles which give more detail about the incident. Naturally one wonders if the injury might have prohibited the use of her arms on August 4th in any kind of a violent attack on Abby and Andrew Borden.

Boston Globe, August 15, 1892

The Boston Post August 6, 1892 mentions the incident but has the time wrong. The accident happened in June- not “last winter”.

On October 16, 1900, the Fall River Daily Herald reported an incident at Maplecroft. Lizzie took a tumble from a step ladder while adjusting a picture on the wall. Dr. Stephen Masury Gordon set the broken wrist. Dr. Gordon lived at 165 Rock St. and was a Harvard graduate. One has to wonder why Lizzie did not have one of the servants or her handy man doing the chore.

Dr. Gordon

There was big excitement in late Spring of 1980s when the Silvias, who had owned Maplecroft since 1948 decided to sell. Lt. Col. Kraft and his brother had plans to buy the property priced at $80,000 but financing fell through. (Boston Globe, June 14, 1980).

It would appear the City Council entertained the notion of buying Maplecroft as well. Perhaps it might have been a house museum open to the public today. (Boston Globe April 24, 1980).

Here’s a great article form the Boston Globe dated dated April 30, 1980 with an interview with John McGinn who owned Second St. #92.

Well here is a nice bedtime story about chubby Mrs. Miland who fell through the floor of her ramshackle backyard shed and found – a hatchet wrapped in bloody newspaper. Her house fronted Spring Street, which is very close to the Borden home. You can guess what happened next! St. Louis Dispatch, June 7, 1903. It was a sensation!

The Boston Post also ran the hatchet story on June 1, 1903.

Shelley M. Dziedzic

Many years ago Warps & Wefts published the story of Eliza Darling Borden who threw her young children down the cellar cistern at #96 Second Street. The two youngest, Holder and Eliza Ann drowned. Maria, the oldest child managed to survive a terrible fate while her mother used a straight razor to end her own life.

Eliza was married to the brother of Abraham Borden, Andrew’s father, whose name was Lawdwick Borden. For years his name has seen any number of spellings but Lawdwick seems to be the correct one as it appears in numerous records, including the city directories. Lawdwick would have been Lizzie Borden’s great-uncle.

Lawdwick worked for a good part of life in a planing mill, not surprising as his brother Cook Borden owned a lumber business. He was born March 14, 1812 to Richard and Martha “Patty” Borden. Lawdwick married Maria “Mary Jane” Briggs on September 8, 1833 in Dartmouth. The marriage ended tragically with Maria’s death on January 5, 1838 . After only five years of marriage and the deaths of their two infants, Maria (born and died in 1834) and Matthew (born and died in 1836) . Mrs. Maria Borden is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery.

Lawdwick found himself a young widower. But not for long.

His second wife, Eliza Darling (1811-1848) is the woman from whom all the interest stems. We know about her because of Lizzie Borden’s trial. The topic of her horrific suicide by straight razor after casting her children in the cistern on May 10, 1848 arose as the defense was looking at Lizzie’s possible mental competency, citing the sad tale of Eliza Borden, who may have suffered what today is termed postpartum depression. It was soon pointed out that Eliza, Lizzie’s great-aunt, was only a Borden by marriage – not a blood relation.

Fall River Daily Evening News May 17, 1848

Son Holder S. Borden 1847-1848

Daughter Eliza Ann 1846-1848

Maria Borden (1844-1909) was spared and went on to marry twice and have children of her own in the city of Fall River, as was reported during the time of Lizzie’s trial. Maria first married Samuel Bond Hinckley (1832-1918). Sam was from Machias, Maine and the couple were wed on October 2, 1866. It appears the couple did not have children and that there was a divorce involved as Captain Samuel Bond Hinckley is buried in Riverside, California with his second wife, Julia and had attained the rank of Captain.

Maria Borden Hinkley’s second husband was John B. Chace. They were married on November 27, 1873 in Somerset, MA. It was the first marriage for John B. Chase.

The couple had two children, Lawdwick Chase who died on March 2, 1875 from severe lung congestion and Emma Lou Chase. The 1880 census shows Maria and John with daughter Emma Lou living in the Lawdwick Borden house at #96 Second Street. By that time, Andrew, Abby, Lizzie and Emma had been living next door at #92 for eight years.

Maria Borden Hinckley Chase died at her home at 517 Middle Street on June 17, 1909. Here is her obituary from the Fall River Herald, June 18, 1909.

Maria’s daughter Emma Lou would marry Harry F. Goulding at her father’s home in April of 1912. Her mother did not live to see her daughter and only surviving child’s wedding. Their son, Borden Chase Goulding born on September 27, 1914 became a design engineer for Rolling Mills and lived in Worcester MA.

So what became of Lizzie’s great-uncle Lawdwick? Why he married twice more after the tragedy with wife #2. His third wife was another Eliza – Eliza Tripp!

After her death, Lawdwick married yet again. Wife #4 was Ruhama Crocker who outlasted Lawdwick who died on October 6, 1874. Ruhama died in June of 1879.

Fall River Daily Evening News, June 18, 1879.

Lawdwick Borden left his nephew Jerome C. Borden as trustee of his estate- inherited by his daughter Maria Borden Hinckley Chase.

So who is buried where? Lawdwick with wife Eliza wife 2 and Eliza wife 3 and the two children who drowned (Eliza Ann and Holder) as well as his two children by Maria Briggs, (Matthew and Maria) are in the Borden plot in Oak Grove Cemetery. First wife Maria Briggs “Mary Jane” Borden is buried in the Oak Grove plot ,

wife #4, is buried in South Attleboro, Maria Borden Chase and her husband John B. Chase are in Oak Grove Cemetery and Maria’s first husband Sam Hinckley is in Riverside, California.

It’s an interesting family story, especially now that the Lawdwick Borden house is in the news over the controversy concerning the coffee shop. Alice Russell would live in that house as well as Dr. and Mrs. Michael Kelly- all connected to Lizzie Borden!

By September 10, 1893, the Borden sisters have moved into their new home on French St. and are busily unpacking and furnishing their dream house. The ladies are seen all around the city, Lizzie driving her own buggy at a fast pace around town, Emma looking thoroughly exhausted and worn out from the past year. By and large, many from church and her former neighborhood steer clear of Lizzie but a few are still true blue.

The Holmes sisters, the Buck sisters and Caroline Borden are supportive and maintain their ties. Lizzie is planning a trip to Chicago to see the Columbian Exposition and Alice Buck and Caroline Borden opt to go with her. The ladies will stay at 250 61st St. at Miss Robey’s Ladies’ rooming house.

Back in the old neighborhood, the Borden house has been turned back into a two-family home, just as it was when Andrew Borden moved his family there in 1872 and very soon a local grocer, Mr. A.C. Peckham and his wife will rent the first floor, and L.L. Hall, the livery stable owner across the street will rent the second floor.

As the Boston Post, October 30, 1893 describes, life post acquittal was not quit the same for Lizzie as before the crime.

The Grand Jury which brought in an indictment for Lizzie Borden (unknown which is Mr. Bodman)

Henry A. Bodman was the foreman of the Grand Jury which indicted Lizzie Borden. A couple of months after Lizzie’s acquittal Mr. Bodman himself would be in the newspapers, a sensation after being found beneath the sheets, empty vial of poison beside him and two suicide notes written to friends. His wife, Sarah had died in 1891 and his finances were going downhill, leading to despondency. They had married in Springfield, Massachusetts on May 3, 1853

Henry Bodman was born on September 13, 1831 to Erastus and Mary Ann Bodman in Williamsburg, Massachusetts- a farming family. He enlisted in the 73rd Infantry, Illinois on August 21, 1862 and resigned as a Second Lieutenant on March 9, 1865. By 1870 he and Sarah were living in New Bedford with two sons, Frederick and Wilmer. Henry was working in a plane factory. By 1880 he was living in Attleboro as a musical instrument dealer. He opened a music store which he sold a couple of years before his death and was water register and superintendent of water works for a time. It is believed the suicide had taken place several days before the body was found, most likely the Sunday evening after he had been seen on the street. He was reported missing and a search revealed his sad demise.

The Fall River Daily Globe obituary

The Boston Globe, Sept. 8, 1893

Henry Bodman was a Mason. He left two married sons.

Death Registry indicating suicide

Woodlawn Cemetery, Attleboro, (photo courtesy of Find A Grave)

Follow the testimony of the proceedings on our Facebook page, profusely illustrated with cartoons from the Boston Post and the Boston Globe at

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We learn that the Borden sisters left the brass door plate on the front door with “Andrew J. Borden” on it affixed to the door until they moved to Maplecroft in September 1893. Cropping and enlarging this 1892 photo, you can see the plate clearly.

Thanks to the Providence News, August 25, 1892, we now learn there was a letter “B” carved into the center motif on the top of the front gate of 92 Second St. This article also confirms the presence of a brass name plate with Andrew J. Borden on it which was on the front door of the house. It’s a little thing, but life is made up of the little details. Lizzie would also have a letter B over her front door at Maplecroft on a metal plate over the keyhole as well as etched in her back porch glass door.

People have not changed in many ways over the decades. Here is an October 21, 1893 article from the Fall River Globe about a couple determined to get a tour of the Borden house and came 2000 miles to see it! Also of note is the report on “Spooks” at #92! Some things never change. 🙂

130 years ago today, Lizzie is set free to return to Fall River. A welcome home party is waiting for her as she alights from the carriage at the house of her great supporters, Mr. & Mrs. Charles J. Holmes. There are refreshments and friends, even a brass band plays Auld Lang Syne at the front door. Lizzie, in a black silk dress, sits happily by the drawing room door in full view from outside and laughs with friends as they look through some funny newspaper cartoons of the trial personalities and look forward to the future. Emma and Lizzie will spend a relieved and snug night on Pine St. and return to #92 Second St. in the morning to begin the rest of their lives. Images from the Fall River Globe and Herald.

Image above, Boston Globe.

As the 130th anniversary of the Borden Trial in New Bedford begins, visit our Facebook for daily postings and articles about the Trial of the Century. https://www.facebook.com/lizziebordenwarpsandwefts/