Emeline Johnson Watlington, born in New York City, came to Key West as the sixteen year old bride of Francis.  She gave birth to nine daughters, sailing back to New York City and family for two births. The story of The Oldest House, and of this family is really Emeline’s story: how the girl from New York managed in rough frontier Key West in the 1830s; how she coped with the loss of two young daughters to Yellow Fever in the 1850s; how she dealt with a daughters’ out-of-wedlock child and a stillborn baby; how she coped with her husband’s estrangement during and after the civil war. With help from her family in New York, she took title to 322 Duval Street. She died at age 69. Emeline was a true pioneer woman of Key West. Her daughters continued her influence on family life in Key West