Octavia
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A 2014 series of Facebook post leading up to honor Octavia on her birthday.
Florida Women In a birthday week celebration of one of Florida's most notable women, I'm highlighting Madame Octavia Walton Le Vert. I'm publishing this because the State Archives of Florida have very little on Octavia and she has not been highlighted on their site. Other Florida history sites also slight her. Octavia's birthday is August 11, 1811.
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Daughter of George Walton, Jr.
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Octavia Celestia Valentine Walton was born August 11, 1811 at her maternal grandmother’s home “Belle Vue” near Augusta, Georgia. Octavia’s mother was Sarah Minge Walker Walton, the eldest daughter of Elizabeth Talbot and George Walker. Octavia’s father was Walton County, Florida’s namesake, George Walton, Jr. Satterfield wrote, “George was the second son of George Walton, a former member of the Second Continental Congress, one of the three Georgia signers of the Declaration of Independence, a former governor, and prominent jurist.”
Here is my photograph of George Walton the signer’s home “Meadow Garden” in Augusta (7-30-2008). Also, picture of George Walton, the signer, in my private collection. My photograph of George Walton, Jr. portrait by William E. West, 1820. (c) All Rights Reserved Brenda Rees | Shaping Florida
Here is my photograph of George Walton the signer’s home “Meadow Garden” in Augusta (7-30-2008). Also, picture of George Walton, the signer, in my private collection. My photograph of George Walton, Jr. portrait by William E. West, 1820. (c) All Rights Reserved Brenda Rees | Shaping Florida
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Madame Octavia Walton Le Vert, Born August 11, 1811 as Octavia Celestia Valentine Walton, was connected to President George Washington through her grandfather George Walton, signer of the Declaration of Independence. President Washington stopped by Walton’s Augusta house “Meadow Garden” during his 1791 tour. Washington was in Savannah May 12 - 15, as seen by my marker picture, and then traveled to Walton’s house in Augusta. Walton County, Florida namesake George Walton, Jr., a toddler at that time, might have also met Washington or peered over the banister to see him. Later, Octavia would be close friends with Henry Clay and Daniel Webster, who also visited Savannah. Clay visited Octavia a number of times at her home in Mobile and on occasion they met in New Orleans. Octavia dedicated Clay's memorial monument in 1856 in New Orleans, a rare opportunity for a woman in that day.
Original Research and Photographs by Brenda Rees | Shaping Florida © All Rights Reserved Steel Engraving of Clay from my private collection.
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WALTON HOUSE AND NEAMATHLA
Madame Octavia Walton Le Vert, born August 11, 1811, lived in what is now known as “The Walton House” while in Pensacola, Florida from 1821 – 1835. While in Pensacola, the multi-lingual Octavia translated many official Territorial Florida state papers for her father, Secretary of State and Acting Florida Territorial Governor, George Walton, Jr. Among those Octavia met and befriended was Neamathla, one of the early leaders for the Seminoles in Northern Florida. Octavia was known as “The White Dove of Peace” by the Seminole people. Photograph of my presentation of Octavia’s native influence at Destin Library and Garden Club on November 10, 2009 with Norma Hubbard who talked on the Life of Osceola. Photograph of “The Walton House” in Pensacola, which my Great Uncle T. T. Wentworth, Jr. owned and operated as “The Dorothy Walton Museum” for a time and then donated to the city of Pensacola for $1. Photograph of Brenda Rees dressed as Octavia at Walton House after presentation at Gadsden Street United Methodist Church. © Brenda Rees | Shaping Florida |
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Madame Octavia Walton Le Vert, born August 11, 1811, was a national and world traveler. Lafayette and Irving were met on important trips and are historically significant.
LAFAYETTE Lafayette and George Walton, signer of the Declaration of Independence, were friends during the American Revolution. Edgar Allan Poe’s grandparent’s also gave money to help Lafayette during the American Revolution. Later in 1827, Poe would write a poem for Octavia Walton, granddaughter of George Walton. (This connection -- Original research by Brenda Rees | Shaping Florida) In 1825, Octavia Walton, daughter of George Walton, Jr., namesake of Walton County, Florida, travelled to Mobile, Alabama to have personal meeting with Lafayette who was touring America. Octavia travelled from Pensacola to Mobile. Octavia showed Lafayette a locket picture of George Walton, who had died in 1804. Lafayette spoke kindly of their friendship and remembered Walton’s wife, Dorothy. Octavia’s grandmother, Dorothy Walton, was living with them in Pensacola. Lafayette gave Octavia a snuff box. Lafayette would travel to New Orleans after Mobile. Newspaper clippings of trip available in New Orleans archives. I think of them being lost when watching Benjamin Button and seeing the artifacts wash away at the end. I hope this helps revive and keep history alive. |
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WASHINGTON IRVING
Here is some of the Washington Irving | Walton County | Octavia Walton connection. Madame Octavia Walton Le Vert and Washington were good friends. They met on a stage coach in 1833 while Octavia was traveling from Pensacola, Florida to Washington, D. C. Octavia and her brother were conversing in Spanish about a bullfight in Spain. Irving, sitting across from them, knew the outcome. Octavia said, "Then, you must be Washington Irving." He asked how she knew. The connected and brilliant Octavia said the person sitting next to him at the bullfight had told her the story. Washington Irving encouraged Octavia to write her book, "Souvenirs of Travel." I'll post a letter from Washington Irving to Octavia from the archives at the Oakleigh House and Mobile Historical Society Archives. Also, research notes concerning Washington Irving and his writings on Columbus and how he "spun" the emerging American story to fit the white/Protestant profile. Picture of letter and original research by Brenda Rees | Shaping Florida © LAFAYETTE IN MY PRIVATE COLLECTION All Rights Reserved |
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Madame Octavia Walton Le Vert, born August 11, 1811, was described by Washington Irving as someone who comes along but once in a lifetime. Octavia’s life was full of charm and wit. Anyone who was anyone that visited the South called upon her and attended her social “Mondays.” Along with her personal triumphs, Octavia’s life was not without the greatest pain. In 1849, Octavia and her husband Dr. Henry Levert (yes, they spelled their last name differently!) lost two young daughters, Claudia and Sally. From this deepest sorrow, Octavia wrote a song. Later, encouraged by Washington Irving, in 1857 Octavia wrote “Souvenirs of Travel” based on her European Tours of 1853 and 1855. During this time, Octavia was also a Vice Regent of the Mount Vernon Society which saved President Washington’s home. Lincoln was a gentleman advisor for this group. Octavia’s song reflected that from the deepest sorrow one can “ … pleasure like lamps in a palace, When extinct you need only light more.”
Photographs: 1857 copy of Souvenirs of Travel (Personal Collection), Octavia and Lincoln (with Michael Krebs as Lincoln at 2008 Florida Chautauqua), Vice Regent Mount Vernon Society (at Montgomery Alabama State Archives ) © Brenda Rees | Shaping Florida All Rights Reserved
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, OCTAVIA !!!
Happy Birthday, Madame Octavia Walton Le Vert, born August 11, 1811. I hope you’ve enjoyed these short notes on Octavia. Unfortunately, most Florida and general history books have little to nothing on perhaps one of Florida’s most influential women. Our goal is to correct that oversight. Since there isn’t room in a short Facebook post to tell Octavia’s complete story, here’s just another post and a few pictures to give a glimpse into her fascinating and influential life. A real story about the real Florida.
Octavia’s tutor was Henry Marie Brackenridge, first judge of West Florida. Brackenridge deserves his own birthday week as he is also slighted by Florida history. Octavia might have stayed at his house in Alaqua during one of her trips, especially by stagecoach. Alaqua was an early county seat of Walton County, had a post office, and many first Walton County leaders lived in Alaqua. The Military Road ran from Pensacola through Alaqua, which is up near I-10 off 331. Alaqua Creek was navigable in early Florida Territorial days. Here is a picture of my Brackenridge poster at his NLO (Naval Live Oak) property near Pensacola, a current picture of bridge posts that remain in creek near Alaqua and picture of military road that led by Brackenridge’s home and where he held court.
Original research and photographs by Brenda Rees | Shaping Florida © All Rights Reserved 8-11-2014
Happy Birthday, Madame Octavia Walton Le Vert, born August 11, 1811. I hope you’ve enjoyed these short notes on Octavia. Unfortunately, most Florida and general history books have little to nothing on perhaps one of Florida’s most influential women. Our goal is to correct that oversight. Since there isn’t room in a short Facebook post to tell Octavia’s complete story, here’s just another post and a few pictures to give a glimpse into her fascinating and influential life. A real story about the real Florida.
Octavia’s tutor was Henry Marie Brackenridge, first judge of West Florida. Brackenridge deserves his own birthday week as he is also slighted by Florida history. Octavia might have stayed at his house in Alaqua during one of her trips, especially by stagecoach. Alaqua was an early county seat of Walton County, had a post office, and many first Walton County leaders lived in Alaqua. The Military Road ran from Pensacola through Alaqua, which is up near I-10 off 331. Alaqua Creek was navigable in early Florida Territorial days. Here is a picture of my Brackenridge poster at his NLO (Naval Live Oak) property near Pensacola, a current picture of bridge posts that remain in creek near Alaqua and picture of military road that led by Brackenridge’s home and where he held court.
Original research and photographs by Brenda Rees | Shaping Florida © All Rights Reserved 8-11-2014
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Page Credits:
Photograph : Brenda Rees |
