BIO

Hello, my name is Jocelyn. I am from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. My major is creative writing, and I'm minoring in communication.

Florida for Sale: Conflicting History About Margaret Eaton

Abstract

This project was conducted to develop an intimate understanding of territorial Florida through investigating historical disagreements about Margaret Eaton, the wife of John Eaton, who served as Florida Territory's governor from 1834-1836. She was a controversial woman with such an infamous reputation in the United States, who moved to territorial Florida, and it would be fascinating to know how the Tallahasseans reacted to her arrival. There are many discrepancies between Margaret Eaton's accounts of her life and others' perceptions of her. The research specifically delves into how other individuals’ accounts often overshadow hers at times. Furthermore, the research calls to examine how Margaret Eaton occasionally skewed her history to prove her husband and herself were moral people. The process requires cross-examination of primary and secondary sources that mention Margaret Eaton. The research will aid the organization 'Theater with a Mission' in its production of 'Florida for Sale' by providing a character study of Margaret Eaton. The play will be about an assortment of historical figures and their time in territorial Florida as Florida transitioned from Spanish rule to become a US state.

Keywords: History, territorial Florida, Eaton, Tallahassee