Menu
EUR
CAD
AUD
GBP
MXN
HKD
CNY
MYR
SEK
SGD
CHF
THBc. 1822 George Washington Bowen his Fire Bucket, son of Eliza Bowen Jumel wife of U.S. VP Aaron Burr
Lot 114
About Seller
Early American History Auctions
1520 Commerce St., #312
Winchester, VA 22601
United States
Categories
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$1,500 - $3,000
Starting Bid
$750
Absentee vs Live bid
Two ways to bid:
- Leave a max absentee bid and the platform will bid on your behalf up to your maximum bid during the live auction.
- Bid live during the auction and your bids will be submitted real-time to the auctioneer.
Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $10 |
| $200 | $20 |
| $300 | $25 |
| $500 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $200 |
| $3,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,000 |
| $30,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
| $300,000 | $25,000 |
| $500,000 | $50,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Early American History Auctions
Dec 20, 2025
Set Reminder
2025-12-20 12:00:00
2025-12-20 12:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Early American History Auctions - December 20, 2025
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/early-american-history-auctions/early-american-history-auctions---december-20-2025-21473
199 Lots of Rare, Historic Autographs, Americana, Civil War Era, George Washington, Revolutionary War Era, Colonial America, Federal Period, War of 1812, Historic Maps & more. Early American History Auctions auctions@earlyamerican.com
199 Lots of Rare, Historic Autographs, Americana, Civil War Era, George Washington, Revolutionary War Era, Colonial America, Federal Period, War of 1812, Historic Maps & more. Early American History Auctions auctions@earlyamerican.com
View Full Catalog (199)
- Lot Description
Post-Revolutionary War to Civil War
c. 1822 George Washington Bowen (1794-1885) Painted Fire Bucket Connected to former United States Vice President Aaron Burr who Shot Alexander Hamilton
c. 1822 George Washington Bowen (1794-1885) a Rhode Island-born man known for his unsuccessful legal claims to be the son and heir of the socialite Eliza Bowen Jumel, who had married former U.S. Vice President Aaron Burr, his Hand-Painted with the name "Geo. W. Bowen" and "No. 1, 1822" Leather Fire Bucket, measuring 12 inches tall x 10 inches across, Very Good.
A fine Painted Leather Fire Bucket with the name "Geo. W. Bowen" and "No. 1, 1822" painted on it. This Fire Bucket is painted black finish, with some painting in faded gold, including the letters of the owner's name measuring 1.25 inches tall. This bucket retains its leather handle metal rings, although the handle itself is missing. It has a rolled leather rim, and is stitched up both sides and around the base. This bucket is in all regards nearly identical to several similar buckets in the possession of the Newport Rhode Island Historical Society. It is in generally very good condition, retaining most of its original black finish, and with the painted decoration also very good. The leather if flaking around the rolled rim, particularly on one side with other minor areas of flaking on the body as shown.
This historic Fire Bucket was the Property of George Washington Bowen (1794-1885), who was the illegitimate son of Eliza Bowen Jumel (later Eliza Jumel Burr), an infamous courtesan and beautiful woman who married several times, including to the elderly Aaron Burr, the former Vice President of the United States and the man who shot Alexander Hamilton in their famous duel. Bowen would have given birth to George Washington Bowen at the age of 10, when she was already working as a prostitute for her mother, a brothel keeper and prostitute herself. Bowen was fostered out to a more responsible couple, and was raised in Providence, Rhode Island, later moving to Newport where he worked as a highly respected baker and shopkeeper for many years, until his death in 1885. His death mask is in the collection of the New York Historical Society, donated upon his mother's death in 1865. George Washington Bowen filed multiple unsuccessful lawsuits to be declared his mother's heir. She left a considerable fortune having successively married two well-to-do French Sea Captains, and then being married to ex: Vice President Aaron Burr. Bowen's lawsuits failed in court however, due to the fact that he had no way of proving his parentage.
His biological father was never definitively identified in public records; while rumors suggested "George Washington" as the father, this was later admitted to be a joke by family members. Born in Providence, Rhode Island, on October 9, 1794, George Washington Bowen died on February 6, 1885, at the age of 90, in Providence County, Rhode Island. A Death Mask, created by an unidentified artist of George Washington Bowen (1794-1885) in 1885, is in the collection of the New-York Historical Society.
We ship what we sell.
- Shipping Info
-
Early American provides in-house worldwide shipping. Please contact us directly if you have questions about your specific shipping requirements.
-
- Buyer's Premium
![[George Washington] Monogrammed pocket knife](https://s1.img.bidsquare.com/item/m/3391/33919779.jpeg?t=1VmfNi)
