Monday, April 6th, 1863

To day the boys finished planting the lower field in corn and commenced working in the bottom field preparing it for planting. In the evening Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] came home from Mothers [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts]. he left her still quite sick. I ground 16½ bushels of corn and then assisted the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] in working the garden. weather clear & pleasant.

*This Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma, and is the mother of Sam and Margaret.

Sunday, April 5th, 1863

To day I went with the boys and run out the field tract of land. when I returned home I found Mr. Horn waiting to see me and to whom I paid in full for the Cotton I purchased at Mr. McElroys sale also for 15,000 lbs. seed Cotton I purchased at Moreland's sale. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] with the children drove my horse & buggy down to see Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] who is still quite sick. weather clear & pleasant.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog.

Saturday, April 4th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work planting corn in the lower field. In the evening I went fishing with the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & children. we had some little success. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 24 bushels of corn and then went down to Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and remained there all night. weather clear & pleasant.

*This Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma and is Sam's mother.

Friday, April 3rd, 1863

To day the boys are still engaged in planting corn. I drove my horse (Gladiator) and buggy to Crockett in order to carry Margaret Hall [his daughter?] home after her visit out on the Elk Hart for the past two weeks. while in Crockett I paid Messrs Gorley, Smith & Co the sum of $104.54 upon which they had sued me. I also paid Hall's estate $232. To John Miller $65. To Kenneth Murchison as J.P. the judgment that Miller & Collins obtained against me and Daniel Daily amounting to 58¢. To S.A. Miller as atty for C.G. Forshey a Judgment that he obtained against me for $70.53 principal & interest up to this date. I also collected from W.A. Stewart on a/c of a claim I hold against Cummin's Estate the sum of $197. I returned home in the evening in Company with W.A. Stewart, Wm. Wingfield and Joseph A. Wright. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 21 bushels of corn. weather clear & pleasant.

*This Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog.

Thursday, April 2nd, 1863

To day the boys commenced to plant corn in the lower field. I drove the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & children down to Mother's in the buggy. Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] is still quite sick and confined to her bed. Margaret Hall [his daughter?] went over to Mrs. Leavertons and spent the day. Roberta [Hall] came home with the little woman and I walked home the buggy being full. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 7 bushels of corn. weather clear & pleasant.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa and is Mahala's oldest living son.

Wednesday, April 1st, 1863

To day the boys are still at work plowing in the lower field to plant corn. Frank Stewart drove my horses Rob and Rat home as he returned from Crockett, they having run away and got as far as the Hurricane bayou. Frank remained with me all night. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp], Margaret Hall [his daughter?] & the children drove up to Mrs. Bird's and back. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 28½ bushels of corn. I am busy working in the garden. weather clear & rather cool.

*This Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog.

Tuesday, March 31st, 1863

To day the boys are still busy plowing the lower field in order to plant corn. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & children drove down to Mother's in the buggy. I went down with them horse back. we found Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] but little better. Frank Stewart came up home with me & remained for dinner. In the evening the little woman with Margaret Hall [his daughter?] came home from Mothers. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 14½ bushels of corn. weather clear & cold, with a hard frost at night, which I think has about finished what was left from last night's frost. Thus I close my jottings of little events that occured around me for the month of March.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa and is Mahala's son. Mahala is also the mother of the little woman, and is also the step-mother of JMH (who is married to the little woman).