Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-08-21
THE FATE OF THEODOSlA BURR.

A correspondent writing to the New York
Graphic concerning the undetermined Theo'
dosia Alston, the daughter ofAaron Burr says:
She was, indeed, the good angel of that mis-
guided man, and to James Parton we owe our
knowledge of her sweet and lovely character.
There is a mystery connected with her disap'
pearance, and, as you say, "the vessel never
reached its destination; was never heard from
after leaving Charleston harbor." With your
permission, will tell you what know Of the
matter. What I am about to relate may be
traditonary in degree, but still may possess
peculiar interest to the reader. 1t was un-
derstood at the time that the cause Of Theodo'
sia's coming North to. her father was because
of the differences between herself and husband
regarding Burr. Theodosia defended her
fathers actions, while Governor Aston de-
nounced them. This was the cause Of sepa-
ration. Theodosia embarked in a vessel tor
New York, in the care of MIR. Gray, veal
thy South Carolinian. She took two of her
children with her, also large quantity. of
family plate Tidings other departure reached
New York, and her arrival was anxiously
looked for by the lonely old man. But, alas d!
she never came. The bereaved father gave
her up as dead whether the vessel foundered
at sea, or what happened they never knew.
At this time my great grandfather, Phiiilp
Freneau, visited Burr As he entered the
office Burr met him, and grasping his hands,
said, "Mr. Freneau, I know what you came
for; I have received no tidings; am desolate"
As spoke the tears gushed from his eyes,
and he cried like child. Freneau tried to
reassure him, but to no effect the conviction
that she was lostto him could not be shaken.
Touched by the grief of the wretched father,
Freneau afterwards sent him poem entitled
"Theodosa in the Morning STAR" which was
published in one of the early editions of bis
poems. Deprived of the only being who loved
him, friendless and alone, the old man gradu-
ally sank until death ended his grief. Now
comes the mysterious part of the sad story. l
cannot vouch for the truth of it, as have
been unable to procure anything of a docu-
mentary nature bearing upon the subject:
Many years ago a notorious pirate named
Gibbs was captured, brought to this port and
condemned to be hung and gibetted. On his
condemnation he made a confession, and
among other crimes confessed to having cap
tured the vessel which contained Theodosia
Alston. He said that he received informa-
tion that vessel intended leaving Charleston,
having on board plate of great value. He
resolved to lay in wait for her he did so, and
captured the vessel, with all on board. In the
struggle for the possession of the ship many OF
the crew and officers were killed. Gibbs re-
solved to put the survivors to death, as the
safest way of disposing of them. Mrs. Alston
begged for the lives Of herself and children
she offered him all the wealth she possessed,
and promised to secure him from harm. She
knelt to him and entreated him in the most
beseeching tones, but the pirate was inexora-
BILE. He said that if he saved them he must
save the rest, and that he could not do. He
now forced them to walk the plank" The
turn of the two little boys came, and as they
disappeared in the sea the mother firmly and
proudly stepped off the board to follow them.
Whether this is the true story of the fate of
Theodosa, do not know. If there is copy
of Gibbs Confession in existence, this incident
would very likely be mentioned. If true, it
was we'll that Burr was spared the additional
pain of learning the mode of his daughters
DEATH give it for it is worth.
Respectfully yours,
G.. TOWNSEND HARRIS.