207 years ago today on July 11 in a legendary duel, the sitting Vice President Aaron Burr mortally wounded the former Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton, rewriting the legends and folklore of the Outer Banks forever.
Ironically, at the time of his death, Hamilton held an avid interest in lighthouses. He believed they created good trading conditions essential for creating a prosperous economy for America. The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse on the Outer Banks is known as “Hamilton’s Light”. Hamilton campaigned continuously for funding for this project. Many believe had Burr not killed Hamilton during their infamous duel, many more lighthouses would have been built along the Outer Banks.
In 1812, Theodosia Burr, the daughter of Vice President Aaron Burr, disappeared at sea, lost amongst the treacherous shores of the Outer Banks. There are numerous legends and tales surrounding her mysterious disappearance and her fate. Read just one of the legends surrounding the disappearance of Theodosia Burr below.
An old Indian legend in Texas tells of a Karankawa Indian chief on the Texas Gulf Coast. Legend has it, Theodosia’s ship was captured and she was taken as a prisoner. After thousands of miles and years at sea, the ship eventually wrecked and was abandoned, along with Theodosia. One evening following a strong storm, a Kawankawa Indian chief found a ship wrecked at the mouth of the San Bernard River. Boarding the vessel out of curiosity, he discovered a white woman, chained to the ship by her ankle wearing nothing but her gold locket. The women told the chief she was the daughter of a great chief of the white men, who was misunderstood by his people and had to leave the country. The woman gave the chief a locket with the words “Theodosia” inscribed on it. The woman died shortly after in the Indian chief’s arms.
To learn more about the disappearance and legends of Theodosia Burr, head over to www.PiratesoftheOuterBanks.com