BURR, Aaron -- There's a legend, immortalized in Clarence Fargo's “History of Frenchtown” (1933) that Vice President Aaron Burr and his daughter showed up in Frenchtown in 1804 – on the lam from the killing of Alexander Hamilton. Travel-stained and weary, they dropped in on Frenchtown's founder, Paul H.M. Prevost, and “asked the privilege of a short period of rest.” (Did people DO that?) Sure, said Prevost. Later on, realizing who they were and recognizing that they were distant relatives, he invited them to spend the night, which they did.
But, according to Prevost's sworn testimony, that's not what happened.
First of all, here's how Prevost and Aaron Burr were related: Paul's uncle, Marcus Prevost, was married to a woman named Theodosia, making her “Aunt Theodosia.” Marcus died, then Aunt Theodosia married Aaron Burr, almost but not quite making him Paul's uncle. But anyhow, they were family friends. Fun fact: Because Theodosia was much younger than her first husband, and much older than her second husband, the generation gap was closed up -- "Uncle" Aaron and Prevost were the same age -- both born in 1756. Back to business:
In 1807 Aaron Burr was accused of trying to get the western states to succeed from the union and raising an army to plunder New Orleans. The charge was treason. Prevost was called to testify. Here's what he swore to: In 1806, after he hadn't heard from Burr for years, he got word that Burr was nearby and wanted to come visit him and the fam.
Prevost sent a message saying that coming to New Jersey was a bad idea (because Burr was wanted for Hamilton's murder here), but Prevost would come see Burr in Fallsington, Bucks County. During the visit, Burr told Prevost that there would soon be a war with Spain to settle territorial disputes, and Burr was so confident of victory, he was buying land in some of that disputed territory. He invited Prevost to invest. Prevost said no thanks, all his money was tied up his New Jersey mills and plantation.
Prevost's testimony helped acquit Burr. He hadn't committed treason, but he had been planning to invade Mexico with an army of 100 men. That would've been illegal, but not treasonous.
So anyhow, the tale of the bedraggled visitors to Frenchtown is just a tale.
From "Rick's Frenchtown Encyclopedia"
Comments