] Personally, I think JA intended it to be fuzzy...either to protect real names and real epople, or just because she enjoyed making puzzles.

I wouldn't argue strongly against this point. However, I keep seeing references to an 1811-12 date, and that can't be justified by reference to the text and calendars, to what we know of JA's life, or to external affairs. It's either dateless, or it's 1799-1800.