Alice Esther Borden was born on May 3, 1856, in Fall River, Massachusetts, into what would later become one of the most infamous families in American history. Though she lived for only one year, passing away on March 10, 1858, her brief existence left a lasting emotional imprint on her family. She was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, the same place where many Borden family members now rest. Alice is remembered today not because of anything she did, but because of who she was connected to: the daughter of Andrew Jackson Borden and Sarah Anthony Morse, and the older sister of Lizzie Borden, who would one day become known worldwide after standing trial for the murders of their father and stepmother. Alice’s story is often overlooked because of the dramatic events that unfolded decades later, yet her presence—and tragic loss—played a quiet but important role in shaping the emotional foundation of the family long before the famous 1892 case. This article focuses on Alice’s life and historical context, separate from the crime that later defined her family’s name.
Profile Summary: Alice Esther Borden
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Alice Esther Borden |
| Birth Date | May 3, 1856 |
| Death Date | March 10, 1858 |
| Age at Death | 1 year |
| Birthplace | Fall River, Massachusetts, USA |
| Parents | Andrew Jackson Borden & Sarah Anthony Morse |
| Siblings | Emma Lenora Borden, Lizzie Andrew Borden |
| Cause of Death | Dropsy of the brain (likely hydrocephalus) |
| Burial Place | Oak Grove Cemetery, Fall River |
| Known For | Early Borden family tragedy; sister of Lizzie Borden |
Early Life of Alice Esther Borden — Birth, Family Roots & Historical Setting
Alice entered the world during a period of major growth in Fall River. The town in the mid-1800s was rapidly industrializing, with textile mills providing new opportunities and transforming the local economy. Her parents, Andrew and Sarah, were living a modest yet comfortable middle-class life at the time. Although Andrew would eventually become wealthy, the family was far from affluent when Alice was born. Life for infants during the 1850s was difficult, with high mortality rates due to disease, poor medical knowledge, and limited treatment options. Homes were heated with wood or coal, water was drawn from pumps, and hygiene standards were far from modern expectations. Despite the loving care of her parents, Alice lived in a time when childhood illnesses were often fatal, especially conditions affecting the brain and nervous system. Her early life, though peaceful, was lived within a world where survival was far from guaranteed.
Her Parents — Andrew Jackson Borden and Sarah Anthony Morse
Alice was born into a household shaped by two individuals whose lives later became central to American folklore. Her father, Andrew Jackson Borden, came from a once-wealthy family but had worked hard from a young age to build his own success. Before becoming a banker, real-estate investor, and mill director, he worked as a carpenter and coffin maker—a trade that would eventually evolve into his well-known undertaker and furniture business. Her mother, Sarah Anthony Morse, was known as a gentle and deeply religious woman, devoted to her home and children. Sarah’s life was marked by loss, hardship, and the emotional toll of multiple tragedies. Their marriage in 1845 was considered a loving and stable union. When Alice was born, the family lived on Ferry Street, where Andrew, Sarah, and their growing daughters shared a quiet and simple domestic life. Both parents played a vital role in shaping the environment Alice was born into—stable, disciplined, and rooted in old-fashioned New England values.
Siblings of Alice Esther Borden — The Borden Sisters Before Tragedy
Alice was the middle child in a family of three daughters. Her older sister, Emma Lenora Borden, born in 1851, was five years old when Alice entered the family. Emma was a serious, dutiful, and compassionate child who would later play a protective role in Lizzie’s life. Alice’s younger sister, Lizzie Andrew Borden, was born in 1860—two years after Alice had passed away. Lizzie never met her older sister, but Emma lived long enough to remember the loss, and the trauma likely shaped her emotional development. Family loss often leaves deep impressions on surviving siblings, especially within a household already facing health struggles. Even though Alice lived for only a short time, the memory of her presence—and absence—remained with the Borden family and played a small but significant role in the emotional landscapes of Emma and Lizzie.
Cause of Death — Understanding “Dropsy of the Brain” in the 1850s
The death certificate for Alice lists her cause of death as “dropsy of the brain,” a 19th-century term most commonly referring to hydrocephalus—an abnormal buildup of fluid around the brain. In today’s world, hydrocephalus is often treatable, but in the 1850s, medical knowledge was extremely limited, and infant mortality from such conditions was tragically common. Symptoms could include swelling, difficulty feeding, seizures, and developmental delay. With no antibiotics, neurosurgery, or modern diagnostic tools, families often watched helplessly as their children succumbed to illnesses they did not understand. Dropsy of the brain was a frightening diagnosis, signaling an illness beyond the reach of any available remedy. For Sarah and Andrew, losing a child in such a painful and helpless way must have been devastating, and the shock of the loss would influence the emotional tone of their home for years to come.
How the Death of Alice Affected Her Family
Alice’s death in 1858 deeply affected her mother, Sarah, whose health declined significantly in the years that followed. Records and historical commentary suggest that grief played a major role in Sarah’s weakening physical condition. She experienced depression, exhaustion, and eventually uterine congestion, a rare but painful condition that left her bedridden. Sarah died only five years after her daughter, in 1863, at the age of 39. Andrew, too, experienced emotional distress following the death of his daughter and then his wife. Emma, who was seven when Alice died, likely carried the emotional responsibility of remembering a sister Lizzie never knew. For Lizzie, growing up without her mother and without knowledge of her older sibling may have influenced her later personality and emotional struggles. While Alice lived for only a year, her death cast a long shadow over the Borden family and is considered by historians to be one of the early tragedies that shaped the family’s dynamics long before the infamous events of 1892.
Connection to the Lizzie Borden Case — Why Alice’s Name Still Appears Today
Although Alice died long before the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden, her name continues to appear in historical records and discussions about the family’s emotional history. She had no involvement in the case, but understanding her existence—and loss—provides insight into the psychological and familial environment that shaped Lizzie and Emma. Historians often note that early family trauma, combined with Sarah’s subsequent death, created a fractured household long before the arrival of the stepmother, Abby. These layers of loss, silence, and emotional distance are believed by some scholars to have influenced the strained relationships that later defined the Borden home. Therefore, Alice remains an important part of the Borden story, even if her life ended decades before the crime took place.
Life in Fall River During Alice’s Time
When Alice lived in Fall River, the town was transforming into a thriving textile center, drawing workers, wealth, and industry. The Borden family lived on Ferry Street, close to mills, shops, and the bustling business district. Homes in the 1850s were simple: few luxuries, limited plumbing, and heat provided by coal stoves. Families often lived close to their workplaces, and social life centered around churches and community gatherings. Although the Bordens later became wealthy, their life when Alice was alive was modest and shaped by Andrew’s ambition and careful financial habits. The world she was born into—simple, hardworking, and rooted in traditional values—was very different from the media frenzy and celebrity culture that would surround her surviving sister decades later.
Burial and Historic Records of Alice Esther Borden
Alice is buried at Oak Grove Cemetery in Fall River, the same cemetery where her parents, siblings, and other family members would later be laid to rest. Her gravestone marks a life barely begun, yet her resting place has become a point of interest for historians, tourists, and those studying the Borden family. Many visiting the cemetery to see Lizzie’s grave often pause to visit Alice’s much smaller marker, reflecting on the innocent life lost long before tragedy struck the household. Historic burial records, death certificates, and genealogical documents all confirm her short life, providing one of the earliest pieces of the Borden family narrative.
Why Alice Esther Borden Is Still Remembered — Legacy of a Child Who Lived One Year
Alice’s legacy may seem small at first glance, but her presence is vital in understanding the emotional and historical context of the Borden family. Her death contributed to her mother Sarah’s declining health, which in turn created the void that Abby Durfee Gray would later fill as stepmother—a relationship that played a critical role in the tension within the household. Her brief life symbolizes the fragility of childhood in the Victorian era and reminds readers that the Borden family experienced loss and grief long before the murders. Even though she lived for only one year, Alice remains a significant thread in the broader Borden narrative, representing the quiet tragedies that shaped a family later thrust into national attention.
Interesting Facts About Alice Esther Borden
Alice died 34 years before the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden, making her a historical figure completely separate from the infamous crime. Her cause of death—“dropsy of the brain”—is now understood as hydrocephalus. She never lived in the Second Street home; the family moved there in 1872, long after she passed away. Lizzie never met her older sister, but Emma remembered her, and that memory influenced her protective role over Lizzie. Historians believe that Sarah Morse Borden’s grief over Alice’s death contributed to her physical decline, indirectly shaping the future of the Borden family.
Conclusion
The life of Alice Esther Borden was brief, yet her story offers important insight into the early emotional landscape of one of America’s most studied families. Her birth and early death affected her parents deeply, especially her mother, whose own health rapidly declined afterward. Understanding Alice’s story allows readers to see the Borden family as more than a crime headline—it reveals a history marked by tragedy, illness, and emotional fragility long before 1892. Her short life reminds us that every person in a family’s history, no matter how small their footprint, contributes to the shaping of future events. Alice’s memory lives on in historical records, cemetery visits, and the deeper analysis of a family whose private grief eventually became public legend.
FAQs About Alice Esther Borden
1. Who was Alice Esther Borden?
Alice Esther Borden was the daughter of Andrew Jackson Borden and Sarah Morse, and the older sister of Lizzie Borden. She was born on May 3, 1856, and died at just one year old in Fall River, Massachusetts.
2. How did Alice Esther Borden die?
Alice Esther Borden died on March 10, 1858, from “dropsy of the brain,” an old medical term that likely referred to hydrocephalus, a condition involving fluid buildup around the brain.
3. Why is Alice Esther Borden remembered today?
She is remembered because she was Lizzie Borden’s sister. Although she lived only one year, her death influenced the emotional history of the Borden family long before the famous 1892 murders.
4. Who were Alice Esther Borden’s parents?
Her parents were Andrew Jackson Borden, a successful Fall River businessman, and Sarah Anthony Morse, who died in 1863 after years of poor health.
5. Did Alice Esther Borden ever meet Lizzie Borden?
No. Alice died in 1858, and Lizzie Borden was born two years later in 1860. Lizzie never knew her older sister.
6. Where is Alice Esther Borden buried?
She is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Fall River, Massachusetts—the same cemetery where the rest of the Borden family, including Lizzie, is buried.
7. Did Alice Esther Borden have any siblings besides Lizzie?
Yes. Alice had an older sister, Emma Lenora Borden (born 1851), who helped care for the family after their mother’s death and played a major role in Lizzie’s upbringing.
More from Viralfeed: Who Is Ava Nickman? The Full Story Of The Wellness Innovator And Creative Leader
