Thus closes my notes for the month of December and also for the year just passed and gone and now numbered with the things that were. Whether the Almighty will spare me to chronicle the daily events of the incoming year is more than I know but trusting in Him I shall enter upon the pleasing task, which is useful as a reference and may be profitable to those who have an interest in me.
To day I went in company with Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] to Crockett and while there purchased 1 bull tongue plow & 1 Moore plow & 3 singletree irons. Paid Mother 50¢ heretofore borrowed from S. Daniel and returned home in the evening. Still at work on the old ground plowing. Weather warm & cloudy in the morning but fair & pleasant in the evening.
*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog.
bull tongue plow -- From Farming and Stock Raising by A. M. Haswell . . . This was a narrow, flat somewhat curved blade of steel, sharply pointed and mounted upon a plow stock much like that of a double shovel of later days with one shovel left off. For loosening up the earth among the stumps and roots, or around the standing trunks of a "deadening," nothing could have been better devised than this. One of our modern plows with a broad mold board would not have made one-tenth of the progress in a day, or have done it one-tenth as well, as the bull tongue; for the narrow blade could pass through narrow spaces, around roots and rocks, and stir the virgin soil to a good depth, where the modern plow would have stalled under a tough root or been wrecked upon a hidden rock. . . .
Moore plow -- not sure what this is . . . found an 1887 Vermont reference to "a foundry, where was manufactured the Moore plow, or Scotch plow, by John and William Moore, about fifty years ago."
singletree irons -- a singletree is a wooden bar swung at the center from a hitch on a plow, wagon, etc. and hooked at either end to the traces of a horse's harness . . .
To day I started Mr. Tanner with the wagon for a load of corn. Also completed the fence around the new ground field, and started one plow in the old ground field. Weather fair and warm.
The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & myself went fishing and caught 5 doz. fine sun perch. Bill split 134 rails. Weather warm, fair & pleasant.
To day all hands commenced putting up the fence and came within 20 panels of enclosing the field. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] went to Mrs. King's. No other incident. Weather warm but very cloudy and light mist of rain.
To day Joe Wright & Collin Aldrich took dinner at the house. I went security on J.J. Hall's note for $179.50 due one year from date and drawing 10% after maturity. I completed the worm of my fence. Weather fair and pleasant.
To day I completed the fence worm around the new ground. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] brought me a pair of negro shoes from Crockett to wear around the place. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] commenced to garden at the old place for the benefit of the negroes. Weather fair & pleasant.
*This Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog.
We this day had Albert, TANNER & myself at work on the fence and reached the far corner with the worm. I let I. TANNER have 1 lb. of tobacco on a/c & Frank STEWART 5 lbs. on a/c @ 50 cts per lb. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] completed me the first flanel shirt I ever wore, and by the way it is pretty & comfortable and she has my greatful thanks for it. Weather cloudy, cold & extremely disagreeable.
Isaac TANNER set in to day for one month. It rained all day and consequently no work was done, all hands idle. I let Darby have 1 lb. of Tobacco in payment for his rails, making us even & square up to date.
