Lizzie Borden is one of the most notorious figures in American history, accused of brutally killing her father and stepmother with an axe in 1892. But who was Seth Borden, and what was his connection to the alleged murderess? In this article, we will explore the family tree of Lizzie Borden and reveal how Seth Borden was related to her.
Contents
The Borden family origins
The Borden family can trace its roots back to Richard Borden, who emigrated from England to Rhode Island in the 17th century. He was a prominent landowner and founder of the town of Portsmouth. He had nine children, one of whom was Thomas Borden, the great-grandfather of Lizzie Borden
Thomas Borden married Mary Harris and had four sons, one of whom was Abraham Bowen Borden, the grandfather of Lizzie Borden. Abraham married Phoebe Davenport and had six children, one of whom was Andrew Jackson Borden, the father of Lizzie Borden
Andrew Jackson Borden married Sarah Anthony Morse in 1845 and had three children: Emma Lenora, Alice Esther, and Lizzie Andrew. Alice died at the age of two, leaving Emma and Lizzie as the only surviving daughters. Sarah died in 1863, when Lizzie was three years old. Andrew remarried Abby Durfee Gray in 1865, who became the stepmother of Emma and Lizzie
The Borden axe murders
On August 4, 1892, Andrew and Abby Borden were found dead in their home in Fall River, Massachusetts. They had been hacked to death with an axe or a hatchet, with Abby receiving 19 blows and Andrew receiving 11. The crime scene was gruesome and bloody, and the murder weapon was never conclusively identified
Lizzie Borden was the prime suspect in the case, as she was home at the time of the murders and had a strained relationship with her father and stepmother. She gave conflicting and contradictory statements to the police and witnesses, and her alibi was weak. She claimed that she was in the barn when her father was killed, but no evidence supported her claim. She also burned a dress that she said was stained with paint, but some speculated that it was blood
Lizzie Borden was arrested and tried for the murders in 1893. The trial attracted national attention and media frenzy, as it involved a respectable woman from a wealthy family accused of a horrific crime. The prosecution presented circumstantial evidence and testimonies that pointed to Lizzie’s guilt, but the defense argued that there was no direct proof or motive for her to commit the murders. The jury deliberated for only an hour and a half before acquitting Lizzie of all charges
No one else was ever charged or convicted for the murders, and the case remains unsolved to this day. Lizzie Borden became a legend in American folklore and popular culture, inspiring books, movies, plays, songs, and even a nursery rhyme:
Lizzie Borden took an axe And gave her mother forty whacks When she saw what she had done She gave her father forty-one
The relation between Seth and Lizzie Borden
Seth Borden was a distant cousin of Lizzie Borden. He was born in 1857 to William Bradford Borden and Mary Ann Chase. William Bradford Borden was a grandson of Abraham Bowen Borden, making him a first cousin of Andrew Jackson Borden. Therefore, Seth Borden was a second cousin once removed of Lizzie Borden
Seth Borden lived in Fall River and worked as a carpenter. He was married to Mary Elizabeth Macomber and had four children: William Bradford II, Seth Lincoln Jr., Mary Elizabeth II, and Alice Esther II. He died in 1930 at the age of 73
Seth Borden had no direct involvement in the axe murders or the trial of Lizzie Borden. However, he did testify at the coroner’s inquest that he saw Lizzie burning a dress in the kitchen stove on August 8, 1892, four days after the murders. He said that he asked her what she was doing, and she replied that she was burning an old dress that had been covered with paint. He said that he did not notice any blood on the dress or on Lizzie’s hands or face. He also said that he did not suspect anything wrong at the time, as he thought that Lizzie was just cleaning up some old clothes.
Seth Borden’s testimony added to the suspicion that Lizzie had destroyed evidence that could have linked her to the murders. However, it was not enough to convince the jury of her guilt, as they believed that she was innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt
Conclusion
Lizzie Borden and Seth Borden were related by blood, but not by much. They were second cousins once removed, sharing a common ancestor in Abraham Bowen Borden. Seth Borden was a witness to Lizzie’s suspicious behavior after the murders, but he did not implicate her in the crime. Lizzie Borden was acquitted of the murders, but her reputation was tarnished forever. She lived the rest of her life in Fall River, ostracized by the society that once respected her. She died in 1927, leaving behind a mystery that still fascinates and baffles people today.
