The Enduring Mystery of Theodosia Burr Alston

Southern Gothic

Theodosia Burr Alston was a pioneer for early American women and was celebrated for her education and intellectual achievements, but to this day many remember her for her mysterious disappearance. On December 31, 1812, the daughter of notorious politician Aaron Burr, boarded a schooner headed for New York, but the ship never arrived.

Key Highlights

• The political ambitions and rivalries that led Aaron Burr to exile.
• Educational achievements and intellect of Theodosia Burr.
• Theodosia’s marriage to Joseph Alston, the richest man and eventual governor of South Carolina.
• The circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the Patriot, the schooner believed to have been lost at sea.
• Speculation and theories surrounding the disappearance of Theodosia and the Patriot.
• Supernatural tales and local lore that suggest the spirit of Theodosia Burr Alston is still wandering locations she once did in life.

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Additional Resources for This Episode:

Theodosia Burr Alston: Portrait of a Prodigy by Richard N. Cote

Dear Theodosia: Collected Letters of Aaron Burr With His Daughter by Aaron Burr & Matthew L. Davis

The Life and Times of Aaron Burr by James Parton

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