Did Andrew Borden make coffins and chop customers to size? In real life he did have an eerie job

In Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story on Netflix, Andrew Borden really doesn’t look like a good guy. Lizzie Borden’s father is seen as having little to no interest in his daughter, cheating on his wife with anyone he can, and there’s the small detail of that he may or may not chop people up in his line of work. Andrew Borden is show to us as having a job as a coffin maker, and to save a few bucks, he chops the customers up. Right then. 

When he’s not having multiple affairs, including one with the family maid Bridget, Andrew Borden is shown as going to work as a coffin maker, alongside his very young assistant, Stephen. He loves axes maybe a little too much, and when a dead person is slightly too tall, he’ll simply chop their legs so they fit into a smaller, and cheaper, coffin. 

So, erm, you’re probably wondering if any of this is actually true to the real life story. I don’t blame you. 

via Netflix

Did Andrew Borden really make coffins as a job, and do those horrific things to his customers? 

We should be well aware by now that Ryan Murphy, the creator of Monster on Netflix, loves to make things up for the sake of drama. 

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In real life, Andrew Borden was a wealthy businessman, and he invested in property. He began his career as a cabinet-maker and carpenter, and went on to become a partner in the Borden, Almy & Co furniture shop. 

The company made furniture and yes sometimes, coffins. Part of the coffin-making business did mean organising undertaking and funerals, but Andrew Borden himself did not handle the bodies. So no, he didn’t chop them up. There’s also no evidence to prove he had a huge stash of axes hanging around.

During his career, taking the money from his carpentry, undertaking and coffin-making, Andrew Borden owned a number of properties, and stake in a cotton mill. He was also president of two banks.

via Netflix

As well as these bits that were dramatised for Netflix, Andrew Borden also didn’t have stutter. That was a voice that actor Charlie Hunnam explained just “came to him”. You might be able to rest a little easier at night, now. 

Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story is available on Netflix now. For all the latest Netflix news and drops, like The Holy Church of Netflix on Facebook.