The record-union., 1895-09-28
AARON BURR'S DEAHHBED.
House in Which He Died, at Port
Richmond.
Turned Misanthrope IN His Old Age
One of the Best-Known Men of His
Time Passed Away Among Strang-
ers-His Old Love Letters.


name of Aaron Burr holds fast to the
memories of the American people who
know anything of the colonial times
and the Revolutionary War is the most
astonishing fact in the history OF man
of questionable habits, whose OLD age was
smbittered by the ever-present recoilec-
ton of one great crime. committed IN the
zenith of his fame. Though cynlc at
times, and at times a misanthrope. he
was brilliant man, and, up to the time
of his killing OF Alexander Hamilton,
notwithstanding his intrigues, he was
loved by his countrymen for the good he
had done his country. But after the news
of his duel with the quiet, retiring and
timid Hamilton was heard with sorrow
by the American people, the regard for
Aaron Burr faded, his star waned and he
was forced to read and hear of the oblo-
Guy with which he was regarded by the
whole country.
For that act he was made to suffer the
greatest punishment that could be put
upon man of his fine sensibilities-the
openly expressed censure Of nation.
That punishment carried more weight
with it because in later years, alter his
pride was crushed and he had had Time TO
consider his act in all its phases, as pre-
sented by his critics, he was forced to feel
the wrong he had done, and added to the
obloQuy there was a keen appreciation OF
the correctness of his critics, who pro-
nounced him murderer. His alter lie
was embittered by this, and it is not sur
prising that his greatest desire seemed TO
be to shun the faces Of people who knew
him.
On Washington Hights upon the slope
of Hill, on what Is now known as Con-
vent Avenue, and between One Hun
dred and Forty first and one hundred
and Forty-Second streets, few feet back
from the street, Alexander hamilton, at
the end of the Revolutionary War, when
there were only thirteen Of these United
States, planted thirteen oak trees, one Tor
each Of the States. AT the present time
three of these trees are dead and one Is
dying, although the dead and dying SILL
remain in the cluster, cherished aud up
held by their living companions. A few
PAGES behind these historical trees, in the
year 1902, during which year the trees
were planted, Hamilton built his country
mansion, where, up TO the time of his
death, he lived with his wife and family,
and where, we are told, Washington vis-
tied him, although the Father of his
Country" died three years before the
mansion was erected. Il few years since
the old house was moved TO the opposite
side OF the street. where it now stands.
In the same locality, on One Hundred
and Sixtieth street, east of st. Nicholas
avenue, on rising ground and command
ing a view of the surrounding country,
still stands, in state OF perfect preserva-
tion, the once elegant mansion Of the
celebrated Mime. Jumel, Aaron Burr's
last wife. who figured consplcuousiy IN
his life, and, although separated from him
on account of his numberless intidelities,
went TO his bedside and nursed him
Il. 1.V1 ssalr @ratr 20,
leave him again, and forever, upon his
recovery. This house is great curiosity,
and is visited daily by sightseers from
afar, not one of whom can Leave the name
OF Aaron Burr out of the story OF the
once celebrated woman, who devotedly
loved the man whom she married late in
lie. out of pure affection for him,
prompted by her admiration of his
brilliant life.
Burr was statesman. scholar and SOL
dier, although his military career was
not equal to that of Lee or Gates, or even
Benedict Arnold. He was Colonel, and
this title was fastened to his name
throughout his life. though the gunpow-
der he smelled was not burned upon
battlefield. he was a lawyer of great
note in the city of New \ ork for many
years, and went from here to Philadel-
phia 10 continue his practice and his in
trigues. But his i'll fortune followed
him, and while his expensive habits con-
tinUed, his income decreased, his fortune
was dispelled, and. at the time OF his
death, he was a poor man, bankrupt in
both purse and character, and with but
few friends TO stand at his bier regretting
his sad demise.
1t Is not generally known that Aaron
Burr spent the last days OF his life and
died on Staten Island. a few PAGES back
from the staten Island ferry landing, at
Port Richmond, stands the St. James
Hotel, which is anything but preten-
tious structure, and was originally two
story boarding-house in the year 1896,
kept by a couple named Edgerton. II
was during the early part OF that year
that Burr took room there. and Mrs.
Edgerton became his faithful attendant
and nurse. He sought seclusion and
peace for his last days on earth, and, IN
an extent, found the desire within sight
OF the great city OF his choice, where ne
had realized the greatest triumphs OF his
life. The town was then composed OF but
few scattered houses, and The Jersey
shore was covered with pine forest to
the waters edge, clear view OF which
could be had from this old dwelling
house. He rarely left his room, which
was the front apartment on the second
floor, now used as parlor in the hotel.
The furniture was antique, and the room
about eighteen feet square. The bed upon
which Burr died was an old-fashioned,
four-post, chintz-curIained one. over
the maUtel now hangs profile steel en-
CRAVING OF Burr, undoubtedly cut from
some biography or the man, simply
framed, in which, until recently, there
was attached the inscription: Aaron
Burr died in this room Septem Der ii,
1886"
Upon rare occasions, and when he was
confident that ne would not be noticed,
he wandered a short distance from his
place OF refuge, but the old man was too
well known by the villagers TO escape
observation, and many eyes were upon
him at every step, the villagers being
proud OF their visitor and obseryant OF
every acton Of so celebrated man. He
was an understood, sparely built old man
at this time but he was also. TO the end,
erect ana sOldierly in bearing. His attire
was always very fine, and he dressed
with the utmost neatness, was quite the
nristocratic gentleman of the old school,
and the refinement and elegance OF his
manner were invariably conspicuous.
lie could be singulariy winning and
gentle even with the hum blest His COM
plexion was pale and like parchment iox
years before his death, and at this time he
was upward of 50 years OF age. The dig
nifty Of his face was slightly marred by a
thin aquiline nose, which had a decided
bend To one side, either though some
accident or by natures malfoTmatIon.
Despite his advanced age, his eyes were
keene ana magnetic 10 a remarkable de-
gree.
W lille his manner was reserved. his
ways were as dilettaate as those of the
famous Lord Chesterfield, whom, il has
been remarked, he seemed desrous to
initiate and had long studied. lie had
learned or rather grown TO dislike the
curiosity seeker, and finding that he
could not take his short walks abroad
without being gaZed at continually by
the natives OF Staten Island, he became
more seclusive as the days went by, and