A family reunion of sorts will take place next month in Weehawken, when members of two different families converge on the township for a special day.
Heading the one family is a psychologist from New York who also has maintained an office in Hoboken for the last 18 years. The other family is headed by a computer sales representative from a suburb outside Columbus, Ohio.
The family names have a historic significance and when they convene on July 11 to mark the 200th anniversary of one of the most important moments in American history. On July 11, the Weehawken Historical Commission will mark the bicentennial of the historic duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr with a day-long commemoration. This will include a re-enactment of the famed fatal duel near the site of the original duel that eventually claimed the life of Hamilton.
Participating in the duel re-enactment will be Doug Hamilton, who is the fifth great grandson of Alexander Hamilton, and Dr. Antonio Burr, a distant cousin of Aaron Burr.
Hamilton, Burr, and the other re-enactors will row up the Hudson River to Weehawken’s shore dressed in costumes of the period, using replicas of the original pistols.
Both Hamilton and Burr are elated to be participating in the event.
“I had been contacted by the Weehawken Historical Commission to see if I could find an ancestor,” said the 51-year-old Hamilton, who resides in Ohio but vows to bring at least 60 family members to Weehawken for the commemoration. “I’m really pumped up by it. It’s great to see the town doing so much to commemorate the day. I’ve had some family members ask me why I would want to do this. But the town is going to recognize both families, so I said, ‘Why not do it?’ I’m really looking forward to it.”
“I’m excited,” said Burr, who has been an active member of the Aaron Burr Society, which strives to improve the image of Burr, the vice-president of the United States in 1804. “I’m very proud and excited. This is an honor to be so closely associated with the day.”
Both men are well aware of their family ancestry, having studied the lives of their famous relatives since they were very young.
“I’ve been a member of the Aaron Burr Society for many years,” said Dr. Burr, who was the staff psychologist at St. Mary’s Hospital in Hoboken before opening his own office. “We’ve worked hard at trying to improve the image and explain just who Aaron Burr was. The image of Burr is quite distorted throughout the country. He’s gone down in history as a bad guy, but he was actually a hero in the Revolutionary War. He fought in famed battles in Quebec, Monmouth, Paramus and Staten Island. He snuck behind the enemy lines to learn strategies. He carried a wounded General Montgomery back himself during the Battle of Quebec in icy conditions.”
Added Burr, “Burr always considered himself to be more of a military leader than a political leader.”
Hamilton said that once he became aware of his family lineage, he started to research more and more about the former Secretary of the Treasury and the man who still graces the $10 bill.
“I’ve done a lot of genealogy,” Hamilton said. “Once I found out that I was an ancestor, I became very interested. I picked up things over the years. Still, after all I’ve done, there are some pages missing. I get one or two more descendents a year and I bet there are 100 or so Hamiltons still out there. It’s safe to say that the intensity has picked up a bit over the last six months.”
The Burr-Hamilton duel came about after 15 years of political rivalry between the two. The men rowed three miles across the Hudson River from their homes in Lower Manhattan to Weehawken on the morning of July 11,1804, accompanied by their seconds and a doctor. They settled their “affair of honor” with dueling pistols before returning to New York, where Hamilton, mortally wounded, died the next day.
Family reunion
Doug Hamilton said that the weekend will be a family reunion, with more than 60 Hamilton descendents from all over the country coming to Weehawken for the festivities.
“We’re making it a big deal for our family,” Hamilton said. “There are some people whom I’ve never met. We have family members coming from Virginia, Tennessee, Massachusetts, New Mexico. I know the members of the family will enjoy it.”
Hamilton said that all the males in the Hamilton family are currently reading “Alexander Hamilton,” the new best-seller written by famed historic author Ron Chernow, who has agreed to participate in the commemoration by appearing at a symposium at Weehawken High School as part of the day-long program.
“Ron has become a friend through writing this book,” Hamilton said. “We communicate through e-mails all the time as he’s marketing the book now.”
Burr said that he is pleased with the way his relative is being treated by the Weehawken Historical Commission.
“The Commission approached the Aaron Burr Society and we graciously accepted to be a part of the re-enactment,” Burr said. “They’ve been so gracious to the memory of Aaron Burr, because not many people are positive about Burr.”
Lauren Sherman, the co-chairperson for the Hamilton-Burr Bicentennial Commemoration, was pleased to get the participation from both families.
“Having the participation of Hamilton and Burr family members has heightened the excitement around this event for the Weehawken Historical Commission as well as the public,” Sherman said. “It’s been a pleasure dealing with both Doug and Antonio, who, understandably, feel a sense of loyalty and responsibility to their ancestors’ places in history. We look forward to welcoming all of the family and friends of the Hamiltons and the Burrs on July 11.”
Additional activities will include a wreath-laying at the Hamilton Monument and a symposium with leading authors on Hamilton, Burr and revolutionary America.
Under the direction of the Weehawken Historical Commission, the event is sure to be of great interest to history buffs.
“What happened that morning and the events that led up to that dark day are still subjects of controversy after two centuries,” Sherman said. “That contributes to the interest in this seminal moment in American History. We’ve been working on this commemoration for quite a long time, and are trying to portray the duel in an objective and respectful manner.”
Other activities
After the re-enactment, there will be a dedication of two historical plaques at the Hamilton Monument, followed by a symposium with author Ron Chernow. Joining will be Thomas Fleming, author of “Duel, Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr and the Future of America,” and Joanne Freeman, author of “Affairs of Honor; National Politics in the New Republic.”
A panel discussion will follow, moderated by CUNY and Baruch College Professor Carol Berkin, author of “A Brilliant Solution: Inventing the American Constitution.”
The day will end with a reception and book signing.
Burr said that he hopes that the day will bring a better appreciation for his ancestor.
“Hamilton was basically canonized, but we don’t feel that Burr was responsible for the duel,” Burr said. “Even after 200 years, there are no apologies. Aaron Burr was such an engaging figure. Who knows what might have happened if he won [the highly contested Presidential election of 1800] instead of [Thomas] Jefferson? Aaron Burr was a step away from being a fundamental founding father. Obviously, a lot of people are still fascinated by him.”
Hamilton believes that his participation proves that bygones should be bygones.
“Alexander Hamilton forgave Aaron Burr on his deathbed,” Hamilton said. “We don’t bare any ill will. We do want to recognize Aaron Burr for his place in history.” For more information about the Hamilton/Burr Duel and the agenda of activities for the entire weekend in Weehawken, visit www.duel2004.weehawkenhistory.org. Reservations are required for the book author symposium at Weehawken High School. To make reservations, please first check the internet site. If that doesn’t answer your questions, call (201) 221-7563.