Lizzie Borden Family Engraved Silverware

Lizzie Borden Family Silver Flatware:

Fork engraved “L Borden”
A coin silver (90% silver) five-thread fiddle-handled place fork
manufactured by Allcock & Allen of New York City, NY (active c.1848-1851)
$400

Teaspoon engraved “L Borden”
A coin silver (90% silver) fiddle-handled teaspoon
manufactured by J. Gorham & Son of Providence, RI (active 1841-1850)
$400

"Strawberry" spoon engraved “B”
A small coin silver (90% silver) spoon
manufactured by William Butler Durgin of Concord, NH (active 1853-c.1884)
$200

The previous owner of this silverware, Gertrude Frances Borden [Leib] (1879-1959), was a distant cousin of Lizzie and lived in Fall River and Melrose, MA. The two are related through Gertrude's great-great grandfather, Thomas Borden (1749-1831), who was the brother of Richard Borden (1769-1824), the great-grandfather of Lizzie. This item was passed down to Gertrude’s granddaughter and then sold at auction.

From the original auction notes: According to family tradition, the "L Borden" on the set of forks and teaspoons was for the alleged murderess Lizabeth "Lizzie" Borden (1860-1927) of Fall River, MA. She went to trial and was acquitted for the murder of her father, Abraham Jackson Borden (1822-1892), and her step-mother, Abby Durfee Gray Borden (1828-1892), which occurred on August 4, 1892.