Octavia, A Poem by Edgar Allan Poe, Alaqua
Posted 04-22-2009 at 01:07 PM by Brenda Rees
Updated 11-03-2009 at 08:49 AM by Brenda Rees (Steele Church photo, July 4, 1837 Alaqua Map, SoWal Sand Hills, Edgar Poe Wesley)
Updated 11-03-2009 at 08:49 AM by Brenda Rees (Steele Church photo, July 4, 1837 Alaqua Map, SoWal Sand Hills, Edgar Poe Wesley)
Octavia Walton Le Vert, also known as Madame Octavia Walton Le Vert, had a number of poems written for and about her. Octavia was the daughter of Walton County, Florida's namesake, George Walton, Jr. Walton County, Florida, founded December 29, 1824, is home to SoWal and is one of the older counties in Florida. Alaqua was a key community in Walton County in 1827 when Octavia was traveling to Baltimore and other resort cities. See map that shows roads converging in Alaqua during this time.
The first poem probably published about her was by Edgar Allan Poe. Poe's first published poem was Tamerlane in 1827. It was this same year that Poe met Octavia in Baltimore and wrote "Octavia." Octavia was living in Pensacola, Florida and was on a trip with her mother. They could have traveled through South Walton and Walton County. Many relatives and friends lived in Alabama and Georgia. They would have stopped by to see them and refresh themselves on their travels. Alaqua was an early county seat of Walton County, Florida. In addition, Alaqua was the location of an early land grant of their friend Judge Henry M. Brackenridge. This historic Alaqua site is located in North Walton near DeFuniak Springs. Turn on Coy Burgess Loop Road (once known as Steele Church Road) off 331.
Anderson Family Homestead in Alaqua. Perhaps Octavia and her family traveled near here and down a similar road. This is a beautiful, rolling piece of land in Walton County, Florida. (All pictures by and (c) Brenda Rees, All Rights Reserved)
Here is a unique fact I discovered about Poe and Octavia. Octavia and Edgar's grandparents had something in common. Poe's grandparents had given money to Lafayette during the American revolution. Octavia's grandfather, George Walton, signer of the Declaration of Independence, was also a good friend and fellow freedom fighter with Lafayette. Her grandmother and tutor, Dorothy Walton, was also a friend of Lafayette. This connection might have enabled their introduction.
Earlier on this same 1827 trip, Mirabeau Lamar, who became the second president of Texas, had also written a poem for her. See my Blog on Lamar.
You may also enjoy my SoWal blog "Moon-dreaming." Edgar Wesley is who makes the trip with Bob Swinford. There is a picture of the Wesley twins I have, Edgar Poe and Arthur Allen Wesley. Edgar Poe's name may provide the answer to the mystery street name "Poe" that pops up on Mapsquest and Google map searches in the Eastern Lake area. No such street as shown exists today and is confusing to those following their GPS! Poe street in Eastern Lake Estates was perhaps named for little Edgar Poe. The Wesley family had one of the earliest land grants on Eastern Lake. The twins are three years old in picture I have. Also, connection to Edgar Allan Poe and his poem for Octavia Walton, daughter of Walton County namesake, George Walton, Jr. -- Brenda Rees, Shaping Florida
Walton County back in 2003 passed a county motion to provide for better GPS. This vision and work continues to move forward.
Brenda Rees, Shaping Florida (c) All Rights Reserved
Rare photograph of Steele Church, an early church in Alaqua and Walton County. Bebe, my dad's cousin, provided me with this photograph recently.
West Florida and East Florida, the 14th and 15th British Colonies. SoWal was part of West Florida, the 14th British Colony between the 1763 and 1783 Treaties of Paris. After the American War for Independence, West Florida and East Florida were returned to Spain for the last time. Octavia's Grandfather was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, however the Floridas remained British through the war. Octavia Walton's father would later be named Secretary of the Territory of Florida and Acting Governor. The Walton's lived in Florida between 1821 - 1835. Map from personal file from great uncle's (T.T. Wentworth Jr.) collection.
"Bracken" house in Alaqua. This is what my aunt called this house. We toured the area in 2004. It is near Anderson homestead and old Steele Church. She recalled family members who had lived here and some who are buried in what is now Eglin. I took this picture in 2004. I hear it has since been removed.
This drawing of Henry Marie Brackenridge is on display at the Gulf Islands National Seashore Visitor Center. Brackenridge was a young man when he was serving as Judge of West Florida and overseeing early territorial Walton County from Alaqua, an early Walton County seat (before Eucheeanna and DeFuniak). Brackenridge is noted for his development of the Naval Live Oak Preserve near Pensacola and could be called Florida's first national forester. Brackenridge wrote a letter to his wife Caroline from Alaqua, Walton County, Florida. It is on display at the University of Pittsburg and a copy is at University of West Florida. Being one of Octavia's tutors, he would have certainly known about Edgar Allan Poe's poem.
The first poem probably published about her was by Edgar Allan Poe. Poe's first published poem was Tamerlane in 1827. It was this same year that Poe met Octavia in Baltimore and wrote "Octavia." Octavia was living in Pensacola, Florida and was on a trip with her mother. They could have traveled through South Walton and Walton County. Many relatives and friends lived in Alabama and Georgia. They would have stopped by to see them and refresh themselves on their travels. Alaqua was an early county seat of Walton County, Florida. In addition, Alaqua was the location of an early land grant of their friend Judge Henry M. Brackenridge. This historic Alaqua site is located in North Walton near DeFuniak Springs. Turn on Coy Burgess Loop Road (once known as Steele Church Road) off 331.
Anderson Family Homestead in Alaqua. Perhaps Octavia and her family traveled near here and down a similar road. This is a beautiful, rolling piece of land in Walton County, Florida. (All pictures by and (c) Brenda Rees, All Rights Reserved)
Here is a unique fact I discovered about Poe and Octavia. Octavia and Edgar's grandparents had something in common. Poe's grandparents had given money to Lafayette during the American revolution. Octavia's grandfather, George Walton, signer of the Declaration of Independence, was also a good friend and fellow freedom fighter with Lafayette. Her grandmother and tutor, Dorothy Walton, was also a friend of Lafayette. This connection might have enabled their introduction.
Earlier on this same 1827 trip, Mirabeau Lamar, who became the second president of Texas, had also written a poem for her. See my Blog on Lamar.
You may also enjoy my SoWal blog "Moon-dreaming." Edgar Wesley is who makes the trip with Bob Swinford. There is a picture of the Wesley twins I have, Edgar Poe and Arthur Allen Wesley. Edgar Poe's name may provide the answer to the mystery street name "Poe" that pops up on Mapsquest and Google map searches in the Eastern Lake area. No such street as shown exists today and is confusing to those following their GPS! Poe street in Eastern Lake Estates was perhaps named for little Edgar Poe. The Wesley family had one of the earliest land grants on Eastern Lake. The twins are three years old in picture I have. Also, connection to Edgar Allan Poe and his poem for Octavia Walton, daughter of Walton County namesake, George Walton, Jr. -- Brenda Rees, Shaping Florida
Walton County back in 2003 passed a county motion to provide for better GPS. This vision and work continues to move forward.
Brenda Rees, Shaping Florida (c) All Rights Reserved
Octavia
by
Edgar Allan Poe
“When wit, and wine, and friends have met
And laughter crowns the festive hour
In vain I struggle to forget
Still does my heart confess thy power
And fondly turn to thee!
But Octavia, do not strive to rob
My heart of all that soothes its pain
The mournful hope that every throb
Will make it break for thee!”
Lafayette: Connected to the Poe and Walton families. There are a number of landmarks named for Lafayette in America, including a creek in Walton County, Florida. This image of LaFayette is from my 1855 book about his life and efforts for freedom.
Alaqua Methodist Church, established in 1827 per marker. The Steele Church was said to preceed this. Some of the Steele and Anderson family are buried here along with a number of early settler families. It is said the Steele family gave the land for the church. Octavia and the Walton family might have stopped by here on their trips. George Walton, Jr. traveled between Pensacola and Tallahassee many times between 1821 and 1826 as Secretary for the Territory of Florida and Acting Governor. To see this historic church travel north from South Walton up to North Walton on 331. Turn on Coy Burgess Loop, once known as Steele Church Road. This historic Alaqua location is just south of I-10. Related family members are also buried at nearby communities to the east, Redbay and Eucheeanna. Many lost their land to Eglin AFB.
1836 Florida Map by Tanner. Alaqua is the main city shown in Walton County at this time.
Alaqua 1837 is illustrated on this map by J. Lee Williams. Note how all the roads converge in Alaqua in Walton County, Florida. For South Walton, which is now in Washington County for a number of decades, you only see "Sand Hills" noted. SoWal was in the original border of Walton County, FL, 1824. Then, was traded off to Washington County from 1825 to 1913. This helps explain "Pt. Washington." Then, SoWal returned to Walton County in 1913. See more about county development in my blog on South Walton Real Estate.
Octavia often traveled in style. When Octavia took her big trips as a young girl and woman from Pensacola through possibly Alaqua, Florida, Alabama, and Georgia on her way to Baltimore and Washington D.C. in 1827 and 1833, she rode by coach some of the way. This picture might be of her family in Augusta, Georgia. Octavia died in Augusta, Georgia in 1877. Picture in lobby of Partridge Inn on Walton Way. The direct line of descent of George Walton, the signer, ended in 1926 with the death of George Walton Reab, unmarried and no children.
Picture (about 1961) of my family's Eastern Lake, South Walton, beach house built out of lumber from my dad's grandfather's place in Alaqua. Most of the Anderson Alaqua land was taken for Eglin Air Force Base after WWII. That's me at the door. My great uncle Tom Wentworth once owned the house where Octavia and her family lived in Pensacola. This "Alaqua" area is up near DeFuniak Springs off 331, not off Highway 20.
Fourth of July, 2009. Take a moment this Fourth of July as you celebrate America's Freedom and thank Octavia Walton Le Vert and Edgar Allan Poe's grandparent's efforts. Edgar's grandparents gave money to LaFayette whose efforts enabled the American Colonies to defeat the British. Octavia's grandfather, George Walton, signed the Declaration of Independence and fought in the war with Washington and LaFayette.
West Florida and East Florida, the 14th and 15th British Colonies. SoWal was part of West Florida, the 14th British Colony between the 1763 and 1783 Treaties of Paris. After the American War for Independence, West Florida and East Florida were returned to Spain for the last time. Octavia's Grandfather was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, however the Floridas remained British through the war. Octavia Walton's father would later be named Secretary of the Territory of Florida and Acting Governor. The Walton's lived in Florida between 1821 - 1835. Map from personal file from great uncle's (T.T. Wentworth Jr.) collection.
"Bracken" house in Alaqua. This is what my aunt called this house. We toured the area in 2004. It is near Anderson homestead and old Steele Church. She recalled family members who had lived here and some who are buried in what is now Eglin. I took this picture in 2004. I hear it has since been removed.
This drawing of Henry Marie Brackenridge is on display at the Gulf Islands National Seashore Visitor Center. Brackenridge was a young man when he was serving as Judge of West Florida and overseeing early territorial Walton County from Alaqua, an early Walton County seat (before Eucheeanna and DeFuniak). Brackenridge is noted for his development of the Naval Live Oak Preserve near Pensacola and could be called Florida's first national forester. Brackenridge wrote a letter to his wife Caroline from Alaqua, Walton County, Florida. It is on display at the University of Pittsburg and a copy is at University of West Florida. Being one of Octavia's tutors, he would have certainly known about Edgar Allan Poe's poem.
Total Comments 2
Comments
-
Brenda,
Where do you find all this great stuff? You really bring history to life.Posted 04-25-2009 at 11:59 AM by Namaste
-
Oh, that's a long story. But, thank you. I am an Anderson of Alaqua, a Jackson of DeFuniak, a Wentworth of Pensacola and other Florida connections over 200 years. (My avatar is of my great great grandmother, Nancy Jane Hendry Wentworth. Taylor/Hendry County,Florida connections). My great uncle, Tom Wentworth, gave about 150,000 items to the state of Florida worth about $10 million which is now part of a state museum named for him, the T.T. Wentworth, Jr., Florida State Museum. Museums, archives and historians in several states remember his generosity and kindly receive me. For many years he had a famous museum in Ensley, also named the T.T. Wentworth, Jr. Museum. I have spent many years researching some of this material, traveled thousands of miles and taken many pictures and sat on the floor in many archive basements. The Poe, Walton, Lafayette connections have a neat SoWal twist. I was substitute teaching one day at SWHS. During lunch break I went to the library and picked up a book on Poe. I had lots of background information. I was delighted when I read about Poe's family's connection to Lafayette. It enabled me to make the connection to Octavia and the Walton family, which of course, has never been published anywhere else as far as I know.Quote:Originally Posted by Namaste
Brenda,
Where do you find all this great stuff? You really bring history to life.
I would like to know more about you. You must be a history buff.Posted 04-25-2009 at 10:11 PM by Brenda Rees
Updated 04-28-2009 at 12:06 AM by Brenda Rees (added Taylor County)
Total Trackbacks 0
