Whatever Happened To Theodosia?
One of the most intriguing stories...
...in Charleston is the mysterious disappearance of Theodosia Burr Alston, daughter of former Vice President of the United States Aaron Burr. She was married to Governor Joseph Alston, one of the most wealthy and powerful men in South Carolina in his day. The deed in her name to 94 Church Street still hangs in the hall in that house.
In 1812 Theodosia was on a ship that went down off the coast of North Carolina. The bodies of all the others lost at sea washed up, but hers was never found. Many years later when the estate of an old woman who lived on the North Carolina coast was sold, a portrait of her as a young woman turned out to look exactly like Theodosia.
Charlestonians have their own theory of what happened to Theodosia. Was she kidnapped by an enemy of her father or an enemy of her husband? Did she walk the plank when captured by pirates? Did she have amnesia? Did she run away? What do you think?
