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Emma Borden

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Celebrity's Relative

The Resume

    (March 1, 1851-June 10, 1927)
    Born in Bristol County (Fall River), Massachusetts
    Lizzie Borden's older sister
    Key figure in the Lizzie Borden murder trial (1892)
    Portrayed by Clea DuVall in 'Lizzie Borden Took an Axe' (2014) and 'The Lizzie Borden Chronicles' (2015)

Why she might be annoying:

    She was a spinster.
    She was fond of wearing sealskin coats.
    She had a more vocally antagonistic relationship with her stepmother Abby than even Lizzie (rarely eating meals with their parents and - until her death - both addressed her as 'Mrs. Borden').
    The bad blood between her and Abby would have made her an obvious suspect for the double murder, but she had a rock solid alibi which made pursuing a case against her useless (she was visiting a friend who vouched for her).
    Although the likelihood of her being the sole culprit is close to nil, conspiracy theorist suggest she, Lizzie, the family maid (Bridget), and uncle John Morse, collaborated to kill Andrew and Abby Borden to keep Andrew from changing his will.
    She has been accused of perjuring herself to protect her sister when she testified that she was the one who suggested Lizzie burn a dress that had paint stains (speculated ever since to have really been blood stains).
    She moved out of the house she shared with Lizzie following an argument (1905) and never saw her sister again.

Why she might not be annoying:

    With her sister, she taught Sunday school to immigrant children.
    She was involved with the Christian Endeavor Society and the Women's Temperance Union.
    She was devoted, supportive, and loyal to her sister throughout her legal ordeal (and spent years covering for Lizzie's shenanigans before and after).
    She was considered the comparably more normal of the two sisters - both more socially active as well as better looking.
    She and her sister moved to a comfortable house in the elite 'Hill' neighborhood of Fall River, naming it 'Maplecroft.'
    She used some of her inheritance money to take a cruise to Ireland and Scotland (without her sister).
    She died nine days after her sister, and the two were buried side by side in the Borden family plot in Oak Grove Cemetery.
    Katherine Helmond played her in the TV movie 'Lizzie Borden' (starring Elizabeth Montgomery as Lizzie).

Credit: BoyWiththeGreenHair


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying