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The Scandalous Hamiltons: A Gilded Age Grifter, a Founding Fathers Disgraced Descendant, and a Trial at the Dawn of Tabloid Journalism Spiral-Bound | July 26, 2022
Bill Shaffer
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The Scandalous Hamiltons: A Gilded Age Grifter, a Founding Fathers Disgraced Descendant, and a Trial at the Dawn of Tabloid Journalism
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An Alexander Hamilton heir, a beautiful female con artist, an abandoned baby, and the shocking courtroom drama that was splashed across front pages from coast to coast—this is the fascinating true story behind one of the greatest scandals of the Gilded Age, and the story that gave rise to the sensational tabloid journalism still driving so much of the news cycle in the 21st century.
“Fans of Erik Larson–style histories and anyone who just loves a fun, gossipy read will love The Scandalous Hamiltons.”—Apple Books, Best of the Month Selection
"Adultery? Check. Attempted murder? Check. Baby-trafficking? Check. These are just a few of the missteps of the woman who rained humiliation onto the House of Hamilton." —Marlene Wagman-Geller, author of Women of Means: Fascinating Biographies of Royals, Heiresses, Eccentrics and Other Poor Little Rich Girls
It’s a story almost too tawdry to be true—a con woman prostitute who met the descendant of a Founding Father in a brothel, duped him into marriage using an infant purchased from a baby farm, then went to prison for stabbing the couple’s baby nurse—all while in a common-law marriage with another man. The scandal surrounding Evangeline and Robert Ray Hamilton, though little known today, was one of the sensations of the Gilded Age, a sordid, gripping tale involving bigamy, bribery, sex, and violence.
When the salacious Hamilton story emerged in during Eva’s trial for the August 1889 stabbing, it commanded unprecedented national and international newspaper coverage thanks to the telegraph and the recently founded Associated Press. For the New York dailies, eager to capture readers through provocative headlines, Ray and Eva were a godsend.
As lurid details emerged, the public’s fascination grew—how did a man of Hamilton’s stature become entangled with such an adventuress? Nellie Bly, the world-famous investigative reporter, finagled an exclusive interview with Eva after her conviction. Hamilton’s death under mysterious circumstances, a year after the stabbing, added to the intrigue.
Through personal correspondence, court records, and sensational newspaper accounts, The Scandalous Hamiltons explores not only the full, riveting saga of ill-fated Ray and Eva, but the rise of tabloid journalism and celebrity in a story that is both a fascinating slice of pop culture history and a timeless tale of ambition, greed, and obsession.
“Historical true crime buffs will be engrossed.” – Publishers Weekly
“Shaffer has an appealing writing style and a talent for sneaking up on the reader with each big reveal…Rich period detail.” – Booklist
Story Locale:New York City; Atlantic City, NJ; Jackson Hole, WY; and Sand Diego, CA
“Fans of Erik Larson–style histories and anyone who just loves a fun, gossipy read will love The Scandalous Hamiltons.”—Apple Books, Best of the Month Selection
"Adultery? Check. Attempted murder? Check. Baby-trafficking? Check. These are just a few of the missteps of the woman who rained humiliation onto the House of Hamilton." —Marlene Wagman-Geller, author of Women of Means: Fascinating Biographies of Royals, Heiresses, Eccentrics and Other Poor Little Rich Girls
It’s a story almost too tawdry to be true—a con woman prostitute who met the descendant of a Founding Father in a brothel, duped him into marriage using an infant purchased from a baby farm, then went to prison for stabbing the couple’s baby nurse—all while in a common-law marriage with another man. The scandal surrounding Evangeline and Robert Ray Hamilton, though little known today, was one of the sensations of the Gilded Age, a sordid, gripping tale involving bigamy, bribery, sex, and violence.
When the salacious Hamilton story emerged in during Eva’s trial for the August 1889 stabbing, it commanded unprecedented national and international newspaper coverage thanks to the telegraph and the recently founded Associated Press. For the New York dailies, eager to capture readers through provocative headlines, Ray and Eva were a godsend.
As lurid details emerged, the public’s fascination grew—how did a man of Hamilton’s stature become entangled with such an adventuress? Nellie Bly, the world-famous investigative reporter, finagled an exclusive interview with Eva after her conviction. Hamilton’s death under mysterious circumstances, a year after the stabbing, added to the intrigue.
Through personal correspondence, court records, and sensational newspaper accounts, The Scandalous Hamiltons explores not only the full, riveting saga of ill-fated Ray and Eva, but the rise of tabloid journalism and celebrity in a story that is both a fascinating slice of pop culture history and a timeless tale of ambition, greed, and obsession.
“Historical true crime buffs will be engrossed.” – Publishers Weekly
“Shaffer has an appealing writing style and a talent for sneaking up on the reader with each big reveal…Rich period detail.” – Booklist
Story Locale:New York City; Atlantic City, NJ; Jackson Hole, WY; and Sand Diego, CA
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp.
Original Binding: Hardcover
Pages: 320 pages
ISBN-10: 080654225X
Item Weight: 1.4 lbs
Dimensions: 5.9 x 0.96 x 8.5 inches
Praise for The Scandalous Hamiltons
“Shaffer gives a detailed account of the scandal surrounding Robert Ray Hamilton (1851–1890), great-grandson of Alexander Hamilton, and his secret marriage to a prostitute and attempted murderer. Historical true crime buffs will be engrossed.” —Publishers Weekly
“Shaffer, an author and historical researcher, has resurrected a forgotten story of lies, betrayal, and blackmail in The Scandalous Hamiltons. The author explores the role of the press as the narrative unfolds, and his meticulous research brings turn-of-the-twentieth-century New York to life. Shaffer discovered this wild story by chance and put his formidable historical sleuthing skills to work. Readers will be glad he did.” —Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
“If legal-thriller star John Grisham thought up the story of Robert Ray Hamilton and Eva Steele one morning, by lunch he would have abandoned the idea as too far-fetched. Yet historian Shaffer shows that these seemingly implausible events not only happened in the late-nineteenth century, they played out for millions, thanks to the telegraph and the nearly 16,000 newspapers in existence at the time. Ray, great grandson of Alexander Hamilton, and Eva, from a poor background in rural Pennsylvania, met in a Manhattan “bawdy house.” Eva became Ray’s mistress; four years later, they were married by a minister whose last name was, ironically, Burr. Eva and Ray’s marriage fell apart over a concealed marriage, skullduggery involving a baby girl Eva said was Ray’s daughter, a stabbing, and a final bizarre twist. Shaffer has an appealing writing style and a talent for sneaking up on the reader with each big reveal. Though it can feel as though Ray and Eva don't warrant book-length treatment, this concern is mitigated by the rich period detail Shaffer provides as context for their "scandalous" story.” —Booklist
"Adultery? Check. Attempted murder? Check. Baby-trafficking? Check. These are just a few of the missteps of the woman who rained humiliation onto the House of Hamilton." —Marlene Wagman-Geller, author of Women of Means: Fascinating Biographies of Royals, Heiresses, Eccentrics and Other Poor Little Rich Girls
“This eye-opening take on the birth of society journalism kept us riveted. Fans of Erik Larson–style histories and anyone who just loves a fun, gossipy read will love The Scandalous Hamiltons.” —Apple Books, Best of the Month Selection
“Shaffer gives a detailed account of the scandal surrounding Robert Ray Hamilton (1851–1890), great-grandson of Alexander Hamilton, and his secret marriage to a prostitute and attempted murderer. Historical true crime buffs will be engrossed.” —Publishers Weekly
“Shaffer, an author and historical researcher, has resurrected a forgotten story of lies, betrayal, and blackmail in The Scandalous Hamiltons. The author explores the role of the press as the narrative unfolds, and his meticulous research brings turn-of-the-twentieth-century New York to life. Shaffer discovered this wild story by chance and put his formidable historical sleuthing skills to work. Readers will be glad he did.” —Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
“If legal-thriller star John Grisham thought up the story of Robert Ray Hamilton and Eva Steele one morning, by lunch he would have abandoned the idea as too far-fetched. Yet historian Shaffer shows that these seemingly implausible events not only happened in the late-nineteenth century, they played out for millions, thanks to the telegraph and the nearly 16,000 newspapers in existence at the time. Ray, great grandson of Alexander Hamilton, and Eva, from a poor background in rural Pennsylvania, met in a Manhattan “bawdy house.” Eva became Ray’s mistress; four years later, they were married by a minister whose last name was, ironically, Burr. Eva and Ray’s marriage fell apart over a concealed marriage, skullduggery involving a baby girl Eva said was Ray’s daughter, a stabbing, and a final bizarre twist. Shaffer has an appealing writing style and a talent for sneaking up on the reader with each big reveal. Though it can feel as though Ray and Eva don't warrant book-length treatment, this concern is mitigated by the rich period detail Shaffer provides as context for their "scandalous" story.” —Booklist
"Adultery? Check. Attempted murder? Check. Baby-trafficking? Check. These are just a few of the missteps of the woman who rained humiliation onto the House of Hamilton." —Marlene Wagman-Geller, author of Women of Means: Fascinating Biographies of Royals, Heiresses, Eccentrics and Other Poor Little Rich Girls
“This eye-opening take on the birth of society journalism kept us riveted. Fans of Erik Larson–style histories and anyone who just loves a fun, gossipy read will love The Scandalous Hamiltons.” —Apple Books, Best of the Month Selection
Bill Shaffer is the author of Emotion In Motion: 55 Baranger Displays, to be published by Vitra Design Museum in June, 2021. He has been published on designobserver.com and the online site of Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum, where he was a Smithsonian Fellow. Shaffer has also worked as a Research Assistant for Paul Goldberger on his latest book, Ballpark: Baseball in The American City, (Knopf, 2019) and for Laura Auricchio’s contribution to A True Friend of The Cause: Lafayette and the Antislavery Movement, (Grolier Club, 2016). He holds an M.A., History of Design and Curatorial Studies from Parsons, The New School.
Author Residence: New York, NY
Author Residence: New York, NY