Lizzie Borden never married, despite speculation about her relationship with Nance O’Neil

Lizzie Borden‘s romantic life has become almost as intriguing as the mystery surrounding her family’s deaths, particularly following the release of Netflix’s Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story.

Via Netflix

While the latest series explores Lizzie’s relationships with women, the real Lizzie Borden never married. Lizzie was 32 when her father and stepmother were murdered in 1892, and she was living at the family home in Fall River, Massachusetts, at the time.

She was unmarried and remained so for the rest of her life. Lizzie was accused of killing her father and stepmother and was put on trial, but she was ultimately acquitted. The murders therefore remain officially unsolved.

Did Lizzie Borden have relationships with women?

This is where things become less certain. Netflix’s Monster takes considerable creative liberties with Lizzie’s personal life, portraying her as having a romantic relationship with Bridget “Maggie” Sullivan, the family’s maid, who was also at the house when the murders happened.

In the series, Lizzie, played by Ella Beatty, doesn’t marry following the murders and instead becomes romantically involved with Bridget, played by Vicky Krieps. 

The show also depicts Lizzie developing a close relationship with actress Nance O’Neil, played by Jessica Barden.

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Real-life Lizzie was regarded as a spinster, something that was notable given the expectations placed on women at the time. But being unmarried didn’t mean she lived an isolated life. She remained involved in the Fall River community and was an active member of local society.

Via Netflix

What do we know about Lizzie’s sexuality?

Lizzie’s decision not to marry has led some historians to speculate about her sexuality, although there is no definitive evidence establishing that she was in a relationship with women.

Her sexuality also wasn’t something that could easily have been discussed publicly during the 19th century. Social attitudes towards women and same-sex relationships were very different from those today, making it difficult to draw firm conclusions about her private life.

What we do know is that Lizzie never married, despite living much of her adult life as an unmarried woman in a period when marriage was generally expected of women.

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Featured image via Netflix