He was born out of wedlock, a status that his political opponents would later seize on. "[33], Eliza also continued to aid Alexander throughout his political career, serving as an intermediary between him and his publisher when he was writing The Federalist Papers,[34] copying out portions of his defense of the Bank of the United States,[35] and sitting up with him so he could read Washington's Farewell Address out loud to her as he wrote it. See how you do with some of the questions a petitioning citizen must answer. Get To Know The Schuyler Sisters Of Hamilton And History During her decades as a widow, she founded New York's first private orphanage, socialized with some of the most famous figures in American history, and worked to ensure that her husband and his contributions would never be forgotten. Thrust into harsh financial straits, Elizabeth then witnessed her father's death in November 1804 and had to use both strength and ingenuity to keep her remaining family afloat. Eliza was supportive of her husband throughout his career and aided him with his political writings. The following year, a group of her husbands deep-pocketed friends bought the house and property from Eliza for $30,500 and promptly sold it back to her for $15,000, so that she would have money to take care of herself and her family. After Hamilton became treasury secretary in 1789 her social duties increased. Hamilton was surely aware of Elizas wealth and connections, which likely played a role in his initial attraction to her. He was stationed along with Washington in Morristown for the winter. In a joking letter to a fellow aide he sounded more dispassionate: "Though not a genius, she has good sense enough to be agreeable, and though not a beauty, she has fine black eyes, is rather handsome, and has every other requisite of the exterior to make a lover happy. By early 1777, hed made enough of a name for himself that several Colonial generals asked him to join their staffs. Portrayed by Phillipa Soo, Eliza played a key role in safeguarding her husband's legacy after his death. In 1806, two years after Hamiltons death, Elizabeth became the co-founder of the Society for the relief of poor widows with small children. [29] At the first Inaugural Ball, Eliza danced with George Washington;[30] when Thomas Jefferson returned from Paris in 1790, she and Alexander hosted a dinner for him. The widow couldnt afford a bigger place, but a group of wealthier women in the area decided to help. Hamilton insisted upon his innocence, and the matter was kept private for years. . Some two years after their brief meeting in Albany, Eliza and Hamilton met again at a party given for Washingtons staff by Elizas aunt in the winter of 1780, near Morristown, New Jersey. She continued to help Hamilton throughout his political career, serving as an intermediary between him and his publisher when he was writing The Federalist Papers, copying out portions of his defense of theBank of the United States,and staying up late with him so he could readWashingtons Farewell Addressout loud to her as he wrote it. When Eliza Hamilton died in November 1854 at age 97, the uptown school was still in existence, but it clearly had seen better days. In his 2004 biography of Hamilton, which Miranda used as the basis for the show, Ron Chernow wrote that Eliza destroyed her own letters to Hamilton, but her reasons remain unknown. For the first time since its debut in 2015, Lin Manuel Miranda's groundbreaking Broadway hit Hamilton is available to watch from the comfort of your own couch, courtesy of Disney+. Angelica was also laid to rest at Trinity, in the Livingstons' private vault, while Eliza's eldest son Philip had an unmarked grave near the churchyard. Eliza evidently did not believe the charges when they were first leveled against her husband: John Church, her brother-in-law, on July 13, 1797, wrote to Hamilton that "it makes not the least Impression on her, only that she considers the whole Knot of those opposed to you to be [Scoundrels]. Married to American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, she was a defender of his works and co-founder and deputy director of Graham Windham, the first private orphanage in New York City. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Eliza was also able to collect Alexander's pension from his service in the army from congress in 1836 for money and land. Theirs would be a loving marriage, though not without heartbreak and pain. Even so, according to Gill, Eliza eventually became unable to afford the estates upkeep, and in 1813, she was forced to sell it and move to humbler quarters downtown. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. Eliza Hamilton Family, Life & Death | Who was Alexander Hamilton's Wife is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. A chronicle of Rensselaerswijck, c. 16481656, For over three decades, NNI has helped cast light on America's Dutch roots. Elizabeth was born in Albany, New York, the second daughter of Continental Army General Philip Schuyler, a Revolutionary War general, and Catherine Van Rensselaer Schuyler. More, Housed in the New York State Library, the NNRC offers students, educators, scholars and researchers a vast collection of early documents and reference works on America's Dutch era. But the number of students quickly grew, that improvised setup wasnt adequate. In early 1780, Elizabeth went to stay with her aunt in New Jersey where she met Hamilton, who was one of General George Washingtons aides-de-camp at the time. Both were descendant from third generation Dutch immigrants. By focusing on children, Eliza found connection to her late husbands legacy. A lifelong reader who was largely self-educated, he soon set his sights far beyond his tiny island home. The Society continues to exist until today under the name Graham Windham, a social service agency for children. Eliza's mother had died a year before. Embrace all my darling Children for me. Elizabeth remained dedicated to preserving her husbands legacy. Elizabeth and Alexander Hamilton had eight children: The Hamiltons also raised Frances (Fanny) Antill, an orphan who lived with them for ten years beginning in 1787 when she was 2 years old. Elizabeth was portrayed by Doris Kenyon in the 1931 film, Alexander Hamilton. . Eliza later said of the presidents wife that she was always my ideal of a true woman.. Later she was able to buy it back because executors decided that she could not be publicly dispossessed of her home. Hamilton met Maria Reynolds in Philadelphia in 1791, when she visited the then-Secretary of the Treasury to request financial support for her struggling family. Elizabeth Schuyler was born on August 7, 1757, in Albany, New York, the second daughter of wealthy landowner and Revolutionary War general Philip Schuyler. But a series of events would soon rip that family apart. Alexander and Eliza married on December 14, 1780. The following year, Jefferson supporter James Callender published a pamphlet accusing Hamilton of having skeletons in his own closet. Sign up for the American Experience newsletter! The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of Henry G. Marquand, 1881. Along with giving birth to and raising eight children, she helped Hamilton write speeches and listened to early drafts of Washington's "Farewell Address" and excerpts from the Federalist Papers. Not even wealth could lower that very high death rate. My dear Hamilton is fonder of me every day.". Adieu best of wives and best of Women. [citation needed], Like most Dutch families of the area, her family belonged to the Reformed Dutch Church of Albany, which still stands; however, the original 1715 building, where Elizabeth was baptized and attended services, was demolished in 1806. She was portrayed by Eve Gordon and was referred to as Betsy. She re-organized all of Hamiltons letters, papers and writings with the help of her son, John Church Hamilton. She was buried in Trinity Churchyard in lower Manhattan, not far from the graves of her sister, Elizabeth . The True Story of Elizabeth Schuyler in 'Hamilton'. On March 16, 1801, Alexander Hamilton wrote to Eliza, conveying the news that Peggy had passed away and reassuring her that Peggy had been "sensible" and "resigned" as she faced her death. Philanthropy and "Hamilton: An American Musical", "American Experience | Alexander Hamilton | People & Events | Elizabeth Hamilton (17571854) | PBS", "James Alexander Hamilton - People - Department History - Office of the Historian", "George Washington II: The Forging of a Nation", "Why I'm Convinced Hamilton Is Actually Named After Eliza", "We got comfortable with Hamilton. [45] During this time, Alexander commissioned John McComb Jr. to construct the Hamilton family home. Unlike two of Elizas sisters (including Angelica) who had eloped due to family doubts about their husbands, Eliza received her fathers blessing. As Mazzeo notes, Eliza was simply passionate about children's welfare, and where she saw problems she tried to find solutions.. The Grange, their house on a 35-acre estate in upper Manhattan, was sold at public auction; however, she was later able to repurchase it from Hamilton's executors, who had decided that Eliza could not be publicly dispossessed of her home, and purchased it themselves to sell back to her at half the price. He then returned to Morristown where Elizabeth's father had also arrived in his capacity as representative of the Continental Congress. We remember Maria's older brother dying in a brawl with Tony from West Side Story. Angelica Schuyler And The True Story Behind 'Hamilton' Born in 1757, Eliza was the second daughter of Revolutionary War general Philip Schuyler and Catherine van Rensselaer, a member of one of New York's richest families. Contrary to the musical, the Schuylers had a total of eight children who survived to adulthood, including three sons. By now everyone knows that Eliza Hamilton, the wife of Alexander Hamilton, burned her husband's love letters before she diedand November 9th will be the 162nd anniversary of her death on that day in 1854 at the age of 97. The character grows quite fond of her friend Alexander Hamilton (Lin-Manuel Miranda), but ultimately backs off when he begins a romance with her sister Eliza (Phillipa Soo). She also appears in the 2015 Broadway Musical Hamilton, written by Lin-Manuel Miranda. But when George Washington asked him to become his aide-de-camp, Hamilton embarked on what was, arguably, the second most important relationship of his life. [12] She was said to have been something of a tomboy when she was young;[13][pageneeded] throughout her life she retained a strong will and even an impulsiveness that her acquaintances noted. Lin-Manuel Miranda and Phillipa Soo as Alexander and Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton.