The Tuttles in Carrington History - Part 5

I realize that I've been on this family for quite awhile. I'm learning so much about the moral codes of the Puritans. It's interesting that they came to America for religious freedoms, and then took so many freedoms away from followers.

As long as I've gotten this far, I need to write a bit about Esther Edwards Burr's children. Esther was born in 1731 and died 1758...quite young. She died of smallpox. Her husband, Rev. Aaron Burr, died in 1757. Esther's daughter Sarah was born in 1754 so she was about 4 when she became an orphan. Sarah's brother, Aaron was born 1756, so was even younger. From what I've read, their uncle Timothy took them in when he was only 20 years old, along with Timothy's younger brothers and sisters.

When Aaron Burr was only 13 years of age, he entered Princeton, "being of precocious mind, and even then is said to have been fitted to enter the Junior class. Considered very handsome, with hazel eyes and irresistible charm. Thought to be one of the most brilliant students graduated from Princeton in the 18th century. In 1777-78, Colonel Burr was at Valley Forge but never complained of the hardships of that terrible winter. Led his regiment in the Battle of Monmouth, June 1778. Resigned 1779 due to ill health, but continued helping in military matters to the end of the war. Became an attorney after six months of study and passed the bar examination in Albany in 1782. In 1804 he killed Alexander Hamilton in probably the most famous duel in history at Weehauken, New Jersey.

Aaron Burr's only child, Theodosia, was born 1783. She married Joseph Alston. Theodosia was lost at sea on her passage from Charleston, SC to New York in 1812. They had one son, Aaron Burr Alston.

I also need to add something to Pierpont's (Timothy's youngest sibling) history. Pierpont's daughter Henrietta Frances (my 3rd cousin 7xremoved), born 1786, married Eli Whitney. Eli was the celebrated inventor of the cotton gin. "For inventive power and a persevering spirit which never relinquished an undertaking until it was accomplished, Mr. Whitney had scarcely a parallel. His name will be ranked with the names of Fulton, Arkwright and Watt."

The next blog will deal with another of the Tuttle siblings. Then I'll gladly give the rein to another family. I do intend to visit the Tuttles again. I'm acknowledging our personal freedoms in a different light.