History

• Rebecca Cornell lived with her son, Thomas, in her home on her 100-acre property. Her son's second wife, Sarah, their two daughters and Thomas' four sons from his first marriage lived there as well. Other members of the household included Henry Straite, a male lodger, and James Moills, a male servant.
  
  

The Death

• Thomas Cornell testified that on the evening of his mother's death, he went into her room and talked with her for about an hour and a half, then went to another room for about 45 minutes. Sarah Cornell, Thomas' wife, then sent her stepson, Edward, to ask his grandmother if she wanted some boiled milk for supper. The boy saw a fire on the floor of her room and told his parents. They went to the room and Henry Straite pulled on the arm of the person in the room. Cornell recognized the corpse as his mother.
  
  

Evidence

• Thomas was the last person to see his mother alive. His relationship with his mother was shown to be disrespectful and argumentative. He had received her estate but was required to give 100 pounds to his siblings and provide his mother with a maid, which he didn't do. Testimony of his abuse of his mother, his financial complaints against her and his temper were considered to be motives for the killing. Further testimony was given that the ghost of Rebecca visited her brother, John Briggs, and said she had been burned to death. Several friends and relatives testified that Rebecca had talked several times of killing herself because of her unhappiness in the household.
  
  

Consequences

• Accusations later arose that Indians might have been to blame, that Thomas' wife Sarah might have been involved or that Rebecca had committed suicide. This led to trials of other possible killers, an Indian named Wickhopash and Thomas's wife Sarah. Both were acquitted in the woman's death. After Thomas was convicted and hanged, his wife had his daughter named Innocent. Innocent was the ancestor of the ax murderer Lizzie Borden. The Cornell line also produced the founder of Cornell University, Ezra Cornell, and Carolyn Cornell Holland.