Gilded Age Scandal: Natica Rives

From her birth to her death, Natica (Belmont) Rives Burden (1883-1908) was discussed wherever she went. Born at her mother's family home of Swanhurst, in Newport RI, Natica was a fixture of the New York City Gilded Age through her godmother, Mrs. Caroline Astor. Developing into a nervous child due to her father, Oliver Belmont, and his rejection of her as well as his social climbing into the Vanderbilt family, Natica was one of the first to suffer from New Yorkitis. Seeking rest cures, she was sought out by William P. Burden of the Burden iron works family. Unfortunately she died less than a year after they were married, by inhaling gas in her 5th avenue home. But was Natica's death really an accident? Could it have been a suicide? Or a murder?

Sources:

William Proudfit Burden, Genealogy, https://www.geni.com/people/William-Burden/6000000002726798147

National Park Service, Women's History Month Spotlight, Alva Vanderbilt, https://www.nps.gov/vama/blogs/womens-history-month-spotlight-alva-vanderbilt-belmont.htm

Daytonian in Manhattan, Gerry-Rives Mansion, https://daytoninmanhattan.blogspot.com/2011/10/1907-rives-gerry-mansion-no-69-east.html

American Gilt Trilogy, History, https://americangilt.com/history/

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