Tuesday, October 4th, 1864

To day the boys are still at work hauling seed cotton from Mrs. Beazley's and made two more loads. I again rode up to the war tax assr. to correct my inventory. Mr. K. Murchison came by and from him I purchased 62 pounds of wool for which I am to pay him 310 lbs of flour. Father [Joshua James Hall] came up & remained for dinner. Three soldiers stopped for supper and 2 others came & staid for the night. Hicks ground 6 bushels of corn. Weather clear & cold with a frost at night being the earliest frost I ever remember to have seen during my residence in Texas.

Monday, October 3rd, 1864

To day the boys are at work hauling seed cotton from Mrs. Beazley's and made two loads. I made Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] a bridle & then rode up to the War tax Assessor & rendered a list of my property. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & children came home in the evening from Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and Burt came up with her. Hicks ground 9½ bushels of corn. Mr. Ezell who stopped with me last night left early in the morning. Weather changeable & rather cool.

Sunday, October 2nd, 1864

To day the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and children drove down to Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] in the buggy, where they remained for the night. I went down with them, but did not remain long. Weather changeable and warm.

Saturday, October 1st, 1864

To day Bill drove the mules & little wagon to Crockett & back having carried a bale of cotton, which I let Mr. Collins have. I received from him 15 lbs of coffee. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] rode down to Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and spent the day. In the evening Wash Leaverton came home with her, and remained for supper. He has just returned from the army on a furlough after an absence of 2½ years. Capt. Peacock left in the morning in route for Liberty. I made Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] a bridle rein. Hicks ground 12 bushels of corn. Weather variable and rather warm.

Friday, September 30th, 1864

To day John is engaged in hauling wood. Bill is at work setting out eschalots in the garden. I am engaged in making surcingles and made one for Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] & one for Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall]. Capt. Peacock arrived & stopped with me for the night on his way to Liberty from Parker's bluff at which place he has been confined for some time with chill & fever. Weather cloudy & warm with a hard rain & storm at night blowing down the shade trees around the house. Ther: 86°. Thus I close my notes for the month of September and also the noting of the standing of the thermometer until next summer when I will again give it, if I am permitted to live so long.

Thursday, September 29th, 1864

To day I sent Bill with the little wagon & mules and one bale of cotton to Crockett. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] (who missed her fever) and Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] left for Crockett and returned home at night with the little wagon, they having sold the bale of cotton for 47 lbs of coffee. Hicks ground 1 bushel of corn. I worked in the shop. John returned from Mr. Keen's with the wagon late at night. Weather cloudy & warm. Ther: 86° with a hard rain & storm at night.

Wednesday, September 28th, 1864

To day the boys are engaged picking peas. John is still up at Mr. Keen's with the wagon. Father [Joshua James Hall] & Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came up to see the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] who is still sick with the fever. Three soldiers of Brown's Regiment stopped for dinner and three of the same command stopped for the night. I am at work weaving a pair of suspenders for myself. Weather variable & hot. Ther: 90°.