The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1873-08-15
The Fate of Theodosia Burr-one Of
the saddest Tragedies OF History.
To the Ed tor Of the Daily arnnhio

! The Fate of fheOdosia Burr-Ons q,
the saddest Tragedies OF History
To the Editor Of the Daily Graphic.
In your edition Of Tuesday, YOU
have an article concerning the da1gh-
ter of Aaron Burr. She was. indeed
the good angel of that misguided
man, and to James Parton we owe
our knowledge of her sweet and
lovely character. There is a mystery
connected with her disappearance
and, as you say, "the vessel never
reached its destination; was never
heard from after leaving Charleston
har6or" With your permission. I
will tell you what | know Of tbe
matter. What / am about to relate
may be traditionary in degree, but
stlll may possess a peculiar interest
to the reader. It was understood. at
the time, that the cause of Tbeodo-
sla's coming North to her father was
because of the differences between
herself and husband regarding Burr
Theodosia defended her fathers
actions, while Governor tAlston de-
nounced them. This was the cause
OF a separation. Theodosia en-
barked in vessel for New York. in
the care Of a Mr.. Gray, a wealthy
South Carolinian. She took two of
her children children with her, also
a large quantity of family plate.
Ildlngs of her departure reached
New York, and her arrival was anx-
Ioussiy looked for by the lonely old
man. But, alasl she never came.
The bereaYed father gave her up as
dead; whether the vessel foondered
at sea, or what happened they never
knew. Atthis time, my great grand
father, Phillip Freneau, visited Burr.
AS he entered the Office, Burr met
MN, and grasping his hands, said,
"Mr. Freneau, l know what YOU
came for; Ihave received no tidinos:
| am desolater'
As he spoke the tears gushed
from his eyes, and he cried ike a
child. Freneau tried to reassure
him, but to no effect; the conviction
that she was lost to him could not
be shaken. Touched by the grief of
the wretched father, Frenesu after
ward sent him a poem entitled,
"Theodosia in the Morning Star"
which was published in one of the
early editions of his poems. De-
priyed of the only being who loved
him, friendless and alone, the old
man gradually sank, until death
ended his grief. Now comes the
part of the sad story. /
cannot voueh for the truth of it, as
| have been unable to. procure any
thing of documentary nature bear
ing upon the subject. Many years
ago 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 captured
the vessel which contained Theodo-
5ia Alston. He said that he received
information that a 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 pos.
session of the ship many of the
crew and officers were killed. Gibbs
resolved to put the survivors to
death as the safest way of disposing
Of them. Mrs. Aston begged for
the life of herself and children; she
offered him all the wealth she DOS
sessed, and promised to secure him
from harm. She kneeled to him,
and entreated him In the most be-
tones, but the pirate was
ineXorable. 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 proud
" stepped off the board to follow
them. Whether this is the true
story of the fate of Theodosia do
not know. If there is a copy Of
Gibbs Confession in existence,
his incident would very likely be |
mentioned. If true it was well that |
Burr was spared the additional pain !
If learning the mode of his daugh-
.er's death. l give it for what it is
worth. Respectfully yours,
ta G. TOWNSEND HARRIS.