The Famous Ghost Story Of Virginia's Female Stranger Will Surely Send A Chill Down Your Spine
By Beth|Published February 06, 2021
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Beth
Author
A lifelong Virginia resident, Beth loves exploring different parts of the world and currently resides in Charlottesville. She holds a degree in English Literature and one of her short stories has been featured in the Shenandoah Review. Other interests include hiking, songwriting, and spending time in the mountains.
There are some stories that have been around for so long, it’s difficult to know whether they are fact or fiction. Today’s tale is a true one, although it seems like something straight out of a movie. In the early 19th century, a woman came to Alexandria, Virginia by ship and faced an untimely death. Continue reading to learn why her misfortunate death and identity remain shrouded in mystery, even today. Without further ado, we give you the famous ghost story of Virginia’s Female Stranger.
Tucked away in Old Town Alexandria awaits one of the oldest taverns in the state: Gadsby’s Tavern. Yet it’s also famous for being the last place that the iconic Female Stranger ever visited.
The year was 1816, and a 23-year-old woman traveled to Alexandria with her husband by ship. However, she had contracted a disease aboard the ship and her health only deteriorated after arriving at Gadsby’s Tavern.
Her husband hoped that his young bride would recover at Gadsby’s but unfortunately, it wasn’t long until she passed away at the inn. And mysteriously, one of her last wishes was that her identity remain a complete secret.
In fact, this woman and her husband asked that everyone who witnessed her deathbed keep her identity a secret. To this day, not one soul knows the identity of this woman. Her grave is marked “Female Stranger” in the nearby St. Paul’s Cemetery.
So who could this woman have been? There are many guesses as to who held the identity of the Female Stranger. Some believe it to have been Theodosia Burr Alston, who was the daughter of Aaron Burr and was believed to have been lost at sea.
According to this interpretation, Theodosia married a pirate, and they landed in Alexandria because it was a wealthy shipping port at the time. This belief is contested as the dates given for Theodosia aren’t quite consistent with the story of the Female Stranger.
While the identity of the Female Stranger remains a mystery, there are many who have allegedly seen her ghost, both at Gadsby’s Tavern and St. Paul’s.
What are your thoughts on the famous story of the Female Stranger in Virginia? Have you heard this tale before? Be sure to leave your thoughts below – we’d love to hear from you! For related content, you’ll enjoy learning more about some of Virginia’s most haunted places.
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