Octavia's Trip to London, Also Met Queen

Madame Octavia Walton Le Vert, daughter of Walton County, Florida's namesake, also went to London and met the Queen. She was presented to Queen Victoria during her European tour of 1853. Later, Octavia would attend special events in New York honoring the Queen's son, the Prince of Wales. Octavia wrote "Souvenirs of Travel" in 1857 detailing her two European trips and meetings with the rich and famous of the world. This is a picture of my 1857 edition of Octavia's book and a page where she discusses the Queen.


Madame Octavia Walton Le Vert was a Vice Regent for the Mount Vernon society charged to preserve and save the home of President George Washington. Octavia's grandfather, George Walton, had signed the Declaration of Independence, fought in the American Revolution and was a friend of George Washington. Walton County, Florida was named for her father, George Walton, Jr. Picture by (my mom) Gloria and Sonny Hollingsworth in Montgomery, Alabama Historic Archives. Sonny (Ernest L.) Hollingsworth is the nephew of Alline and Tuff Smith, early settlers in Grayton Beach. Sonny's family (his mother was Anna Smith Hollingsworth Reardon) had one of the early dairy farms in Walton County. Octavia might have worn this dress, or something similar, when she traveled to Europe in 1853 and met Queen Victoria. Perhaps she wore a similar dress in 1860 when she met the Prince of Wales during his American tour. Octavia and the Prince of Wales attended many gala events in New York. There has always been a good tourism business between the South, New York and Europe.


Madame Octavia Walton Le Vert, picture of portrait by Brenda Rees, 6 - 2009. I finally got up to Montgomery, Alabama to visit the Alabama Museum of Archives and History. What a great facility. This beautiful watercolor of Octavia is prominently displayed. A bonus was meeting museum chief curator, Robert Bradley. He knew my great uncle and was familiar with his Florida State Museum, the T.T. Wentworth, Jr. museum. Octavia was such a great person, it will surely only be a short while before she is rediscovered by a new generation. La Fayette, who Octavia visited in 1825 in Mobile, also has a portrait in this museum. Octavia had traveled from Pensacola to honor him and share family news. La Fayette and Octavia's grandparents, George and Dorothy Walton, had been good friends during America's Revolution and War for Independence. This portrait portrays Octavia as she might have appeared during her European Tour. Octavia was a lady of the nation. Abraham Lincoln served as a gentleman advisor of the Mount Vernon committee of which she was a Vice Regent.

The Belle of Florida, Georgia and Alabama, Madame Octavia Walton Le Vert, has a beautiful watercolor portrait preserved in the Alabama Museum of Archives and History in Montgomery, Alabama. Well worth the trip and visit. Octavia's father, George Walton, Jr., is the namesake of Walton County, Florida. Walton County was founded December 29, 1824. -- Brenda Rees -- Shaping Florida (c) pictures by Brenda Rees All Rights Reserved


Bronze map in front of building shows Alabama and even SoWal. There is significant shared history between Alabama and Florida. Alabama was within the original borders of Florida as depicted on the Chavez map published in Ortelius' Atlas in 1584. Later, part of Alabama would be within the borders of West Florida. Alabama was part of Florida, while Florida was not in Alabama. East Florida interests had wanted West Florida to annex to Alabama, but the stronger West Florida interests prevailed and remained in control of Florida for many years.


The case that Madame Octavia Walton Le Vert's portrait is displayed also has her ornate sewing table. The State of Alabama Museum of Archives and History is magnificent. The T.T. Wentworth, Jr. Museum in Pensacola, Florida also has archive information about Octavia. Robert Bradley, chief curator of the Alabama State Museum, knew T.T. Wentworth, Jr. We had a delightful conversation on the day I visited his museum. Octavia is a woman of note for Alabama, Florida and Georgia. More American students should study her life and influence. Very few remember her today. I portray her in an effort to share her great life story. I plan on providing my timeline and notes for this presentation. Look for it later this summer.