Theodosia burr alston biography for kids video

Actually, to be more specific, we both spent many a summer vacation in Garden City. It is entirely possible we could have been romping along the shore within feet of each other not knowing that we would grow up, meet, and marry. Also coincidentally, both of us were subjected to a particularly rough form of child abuse while at the beach. For some reason, both sets of parents took it upon themselves to ruin an otherwise perfect day at the beach by loading all the kids into the car and driving us to Brookgreen Gardens.

We will readily admit to cringing when driving by those beautiful fighting stallions for almost fifty years. I think I can speak for Rick when I say we both swore a silent solemn oath to never drag a child of ours to this place.

Your browser can't play this video.

About seven or eight years ago, we decided to give the place another chance, and now we think that it is rather nice. Yesterday, we once again ventured inside the gates, but this time, the focus of our attention was The Oaks, one of the four rice plantations comprising the property that is now Brookgreen Gardens. Brookgreen Gardens offers a tour of the site of The Oaks several times per day.

As we rode along the property, our guide gave us a brief history of the Alston family. Our interest was in the family of Joseph and Theodosia Burr Alston pictured above. Theodosia was an only child and her mother died at a young age. Her father doted on her and she was given an education like very few girls of that time.

History that remains a mystery: the heartbreak and disappearance of Theodosia Burr Alston.

The author of a biography of Theodosia went so far as to say that she had what could only be described as an education worthy of the claim that she was the first female college graduate in America. She studied music, dancing, arithmetic, and was fluent in several languages. Joseph Alston never graduated from college, but he studied law under Edward Rutledge, one of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence, and was admitted to the bar, although he never practiced law.

Nonetheless, the marriage was a happy one by all accounts.