Podcast Summary: “Secrets of the Two Theodosias”
Podcast: Here’s Where It Gets Interesting
Host: Sharon McMahon
Episode Air Date: August 25, 2025
Episode Overview
In this episode, Sharon McMahon unravels the lesser-known histories of two women named Theodosia—one, Theodosia Bartow Prevost Burr (the wife of Aaron Burr), and the other, their daughter, Theodosia Burr Alston. Through engaging storytelling, Sharon explores their connections to early American political history, their intellectual and personal accomplishments, and uncovers fascinating details omitted from standard history textbooks and even popular retellings like the musical Hamilton. The episode also delves into Aaron Burr’s complex family life, including his secret descendants.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Who Were the Two Theodosias? [02:58–04:00]
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The First Theodosia:
- Theodosia Bartow, born 1746, descended from a renowned beauty, orphaned before birth.
- Married James Prevost, a British officer, and lived at the Hermitage in New Jersey.
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Navigating the Revolution:
- Initially benefited from her husband’s British status, but shifted allegiances as war loomed.
- Hosted American soldiers and George Washington after the Battle of Monmouth, with a four-day gathering including major political figures (Hamilton, Monroe, Lafayette).
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Her Affair with Aaron Burr:
- Burr, recovering from injury, became Theodosia’s companion at the Hermitage, leading to a long-term affair.
- They eventually married after James Prevost’s death.
2. Theodosia as Political Equal and Partner [07:45–10:10]
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Sharon emphasizes their intellectual partnership:
“... what she did possess was a highly educated, razor sharp mind, a quality largely unknown, known in a society which placed little emphasis on the education of women.”
– Sharon McMahon [09:20] -
Burr and Theodosia exchanged books, newspapers, and ideas; she critiqued his views openly in their letters.
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She was instrumental in Burr’s political ascent, valued for her keen observations and intellect.
3. The Complicated Household: Slavery in New Jersey [06:00–07:00]
- The Prevosts owned slaves, a reminder of northern colonial slavery.
- Sharon contextualizes Northern vs. Southern enslavement practices and living conditions.
4. Marriage, Family, and Tragedy [10:10–12:00; 15:11–17:00]
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Burr and Theodosia married in 1782; she was ten years older, with five children from her first marriage.
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Of their four children together, only daughter Theodosia survived.
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Theodosia insisted on advanced education for her daughter, who could read and write at three and mastered several languages by age ten.
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Theodosia (the mother) dies of probable stomach cancer in 1794.
“Aaron later wrote that she was the best woman and finest lady he had ever known.”
– Sharon McMahon [16:40]
5. Theodosia Burr Alston: Daughter’s Story [17:00–24:39]
- Theodosia Burr Alston married John Alston (later Governor of South Carolina) in 1801, with their Niagara Falls honeymoon starting a new American tradition.
- Birth of only child, Aaron Burr Alston, left her with life-altering injuries (uterine prolapse), causing chronic pain and difficulty adapting to plantation life.
- After Aaron Burr’s infamous duel with Hamilton and subsequent political downfall, he flees to Europe; Theodosia manages his affairs, but her own son dies of malaria in 1812.
- Grieving, she attempts to reunite with her father via ship (the Patriot)—and vanishes without trace.
6. The Mystery of Theodosia Burr Alston’s Vanishing [24:39–29:00]
- Multiple theories surround the Patriot’s disappearance:
- Shipwreck during storms
- Pirate capture and tragic legend (including a pirate’s deathbed confession about her calm, dignified fate walking the plank)
- A family portrait of Theodosia turned up years later, prompting speculation about her final days.
- Sharon admits:
“Is that story true? I don't know. How would we know? I don't know.”
– Sharon McMahon [28:13]
7. Aaron Burr’s Secret Family [29:00–36:19]
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Burr had two children (Louisa and Jean Pierre) with Mary Emmons, an Indian-born woman who worked in his household.
- Their identities long unrecognized; modern genealogical research confirmed their descent.
- Jean Pierre became a conductor on the Underground Railroad.
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Burr had other children during his exile in Europe and later years, with various women; some were included in his will.
“Mary Emmons, the mother of these two children, Louisa and Jean Pierre, at some point moved to Philadelphia, which is where Aaron Burr did a lot of his work when he was senator. And so it's very possible that Aaron Burr had two households and two lives, one with Mary Emmons and the children that she bore and one with Theodosia.”
– Sharon McMahon [33:45] -
Descendants of these children joined free Black communities in the North; one family requested a miniature portrait of Theodosia, showing some awareness of their blended lineage.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On Theodosia’s intellect:
“What she did possess was a highly educated, razor sharp mind, a quality largely unknown, known in a society which placed little emphasis on the education of women.”
– Sharon McMahon [09:20] -
On the aftermath of scandal:
“Okay, yada yada yada. Aaron Burr is not convicted, so he killed Alexander Hamilton, not even put on trial, tried to make his own country… I am completely ignoring the massive conspiracy that he engaged in to try to get this land to become his own country.”
– Sharon McMahon [21:20] -
On Burr's family complexity:
“It does not stop there, though, because Aaron Burr fathered two other children in Paris while he was away in Paris, and he later adopted them.”
– Sharon McMahon [34:45]
Important Timestamps
- [02:58] – Introduction to the two Theodosias
- [04:00–06:00] – Theodosia’s role during the Revolutionary War, affair with Aaron Burr
- [07:45–09:20] – Theodosia’s intellect and relationship with Burr
- [10:10–12:00] – Family, marriage, and the upbringing of their daughter
- [15:11–17:00] – Burr’s political ascent and Theodosia’s influence
- [17:00–24:39] – Theodosia Burr Alston’s life, marriage, tragedies, and disappearance
- [24:39–29:00] – Mystery of the Patriot and Theodosia’s fate
- [29:00–36:19] – Aaron Burr's secret descendants and their legacies
Tone and Style
Sharon McMahon’s narration blends empathy, humor, and curiosity. She frequently draws connections to contemporary issues (education, women’s roles, race), and peppers the episode with moments of candid commentary (“yada yada yada” regarding Burr’s conspiracies), creating a conversational yet informative atmosphere.
Conclusion
“Secrets of the Two Theodosias” takes listeners deep into the intertwined lives of Aaron Burr’s wife and daughter, seamlessly blending historical intrigue, personal drama, and the complexities of early American society. Sharon not only surfaces hidden stories but humanizes figures often reduced to footnotes, leaving listeners with probing questions and a vivid sense of these remarkable women’s lost legacies.