[1][2] Congress changed the Legislative Council's structure many times in the 1820s and 1830s, gradually granting the territory more autonomy.
The first legislative session was held at Pensacola on July 22, 1822; this required delegates from St. Augustine to travel 59 days by sea to attend.
During this session, the council decided future meetings should be held at a half-way point to reduce the distance; eventually Tallahassee, site of successive Indian settlements until burned by Andrew Jackson, was selected as a half-way point between the former capitals of East and West Florida.
[9][10][11] Richard Keith Call, Davis Floyd, Charles W. Downing, Jr., Thomas Baltzell, Joseph B. Lancaster, William A.
During his time as a Council member, he advocated for the Spanish system of slavery that provided for certain rights to free people of color.
Kingsley attempted to influence Florida lawmakers to recognize free people of color and allow mixed-race children to inherit property.
Anna returned to Florida in 1846 to participate in the Kingsley estate defense, despite the increasingly tense racial climate in Duval County.
Anna furthermore asked for, and was granted, the transfer of ownership of slaves who had been sent to the San Jose plantation when the family had moved to Haiti.