Thursday, December 31st, 1863

This morning the ground was covered over two inches deep with snow. Father [Joshua James Hall], Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and Mr. Thomas Sharp all left, the two former for home and the latter for the wheat region. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] & I ground 6 bushels of corn & 10 bushels of wheat. In the evening the boys commenced work after their Christmas holliday. 

Weather clear and bitter cold, the mill pond being frozen entirely over one inch thick and it continued to freeze all day even in the sun shine. At night it froze all the little woman's eggs in my room although I kept a large fire in it throughout the entire night. It is decidedly the coldest spell of weather that I have ever experienced in the State of Texas, after a residence of 28 years. 

Thus closes my notes for the month of December and also for the year 1863 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.

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

Wednesday, December 30th, 1863

To day Father [Joshua James Hall], Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts], Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] and Hicks all returned from their visit to Crockett, thoroughly soaked to the skin with rain. Mr. Thomas Sharp also came to the mill with 84 bushels of wheat he too was soaked both internally and externally. they all remained with me for the night. I ground 2 bushels of corn and 7 bushels of wheat. Weather cloudy and rainy until night when it turned bitter cold. a hail and snow storm passed over leaving the ground covered with a coat of snow two inches deep, the surface of which was hardly frozen over.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Nellie is a 2nd great-grandma, and is Mahala's daughter-in-law.

Tuesday, December 29th, 1863

To day I let Hicks ride my horse Ratler to Crockett. Father [Joshua James Hall], Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] also rode to Crockett to purchase some of the goods imported by Capt. Stubblefield from Mexico. I ground 8½ bushels of corn and 7½ bushels of wheat. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] rode down to Mothers and remained there for the night as company and protection for the children [half-siblings of Sam as well as of J.M. Hall]. Weather changeable and warm with occasional showers of rain throughout the night.

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

Monday, December 28th, 1863

To day Bill returned home from his visit across the river to Mrs. Tubbs. he brought with him the ox bell which had been stolen from the neck of my ox while he was running over there by one of Mr. Tubbs' negro boys. Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] was quite sick. I remained about the house, writing up this note book. Weather clear & cold with a frost and freeze at night.

Sunday, December 27th, 1863

To day I remained at home writing up this journal or note book. Bill is still over the river on his visit to Mrs. Tubbs. Weather clear and cold with a hard frost and freeze at night.

Saturday, December 26th, 1863

To day I gave the boys holliday until Thursday next. I let Bill ride one of my mules across the river to see his old Mistress Mrs. Tubbs. Captain Peacock left for Magnolia. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] made Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] a pair of shoes. I ground 7 bushels of wheat. Burt* [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] is still here and has been for several days past. Weather cloudy & cold with showers of rain.

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

Friday, December 25th, 1863

To day being Christmas, all order of business was suspended, and we all went in for a regular jollification. I had with me to partake of our Christmas dinner, Father [Joshua James Hall], Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts], Capt. Peacock, Mrs. Bird, Mr. Leaverton, and sundry others besides the home folks. the egg nogg flowed freely and all went off as merry as a marriage bell. To close the scene at night the negroes had a ball in the yard by moon light. they touched the light "fantastic" too and were as happy as happy could be. If Lincoln should succeed in his mad project and for which he is now prosecuting his unholy war for their emancipation, he will only plunge them into abject missery from their now happy condition. Weather changeable & cool.

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

Thursday, December 24th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work on the stables. I sent John over to Rives' still after the demijohn & wallet also for some whiskey but he did not get any in consequence of the still house having been robbed the night before. I ground 12 bushels of corn, and Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 3 bushels of wheat. In the evening Capt. Peacock and I rode down to Fathers [Joshua James Hall] and back. Times are quite brisk at the house preparing for Christmas dinner. Weather changeable & cool with occasional showers of rain.

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

Wednesday, December 23rd, 1863

To day the boys are still at work on the stables. Capt. Peacock arrived from Liberty on his way to Parker's bluff. he stopped with me to spend the Christmas festivities. I ground 28 bushels of corn. Weather cloudy and warm with a hard rain at night.

Tuesday, December 22nd, 1863

To day the boys are still at work on the stables. I sent John across the Trinity river with Father [Joshua James Hall] to Rives' still after some whiskey, but they did not get any. they left my demijohn and wallet over there which will cost another trip. I ground 24 bushels of corn. Weather cloudy and warm with a hard rain at night.

Monday, December 21st, 1863

To day the boys are at work on the stables. I drove my horse (Rob) and buggy to Crockett and back. while there I left with L.E. Downes 15 pairs of russett brogans for him to sell for me. I purchased one gallon of whiskey for which I paid 80$ 1 oz. of the oil of Sassafras at 5¢ per oz. 1 lb. of candy at 3$. I record these prices for the benefit of those that come after me, in order that they may see some of the benefits that war brings upon the Country and people. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 9½ bushels of corn. Mother* [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] went home leaving the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and babe [Josephine] all doing well. Weather changeable and cold, with indications of rain.

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

Sunday, December 20th, 1863

To day Father [Joshua James Hall], Mr. & Mrs. Bird, came to see the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and the little stranger [Josephine]. Mother* [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] is still here. Mr. Butler passed on his way to Polk County from Parker's bluff. he called in to see us, but did not stay long. Weather clear and cool with a hard frost at night.

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

Saturday, December 19th, 1863

To day the boys are engaged in cutting up and salting down the pork killed yesterday. John is at work hauling wood. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] rode out hog hunting but was unsuccessful. he however killed two fine turkeys. Mother* [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] is still here. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] is improving. I ground 7½ bushels of corn. I purchased two bushels of pecans, at 6$ per bushel & gave flour for them at 50¢ per lb. Weather clear and cold with a hard frost and freeze at night.

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

Friday, December 18th, 1863

In the morning the boys worked on the stables. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] rode out with Mr. Keen and succeeded in killing 6 hogs which the boys cleaned in the evening. they weighed 637 lbs. Mr. Keen came up to see the little new responsibility [Josephine]. he however did not stay long. Mother* [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] rode down home and returned with Father [Joshua James Hall] in the evening, who came up to see the little stranger [Josephine]. Father did not remain long. I ground 18 bushels of corn. Weather clear and cold, with a hard frost and freeze at night.

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

Thursday, December 17th, 1863

To day the boys and I worked on the mill in order to make it grind but only succeeded in grinding 4½ bushels of corn. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] rode out hog hunting but had no success. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] is doing very well after her confinement. Mother** [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] is still here attending to the new responsibility whom we have this day named Josephine Martha Hall. Weather clear and cold with a hard freeze and frost at night.

*2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog
**3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog

Wednesday, December 16th, 1863

To day the boys are at work on the stables. John is at work hauling wood. Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] is still here. Rachael however went home. Not having caught sufficient head of water, the mill done no grinding. Weather cloudy, disagreeable & very cold with a hard frost and freeze at night, the ice forming in all the vessels that had water in them ½ inch thick.

Tuesday, December 15th, 1863

To day Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] and the boys finished the floor in the mill forebay and let down the gates to catch a head of water. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] was taken sick and at 1½ o'clock A.M. was delivered of a female child [Josephine Martha Hall]. She may truthfully be said to be a woman of ready conception and easy delivery. there were present Mrs. Bird, Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts], Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] and myself, assisted by Rachael a negro woman. I sent for Dr. Murchison, who came but as usual too late to be of any service in his profession. he remained for dinner and then left for home. Weather cloudy with occasional showers of rain and a hard rain at night.

Monday, December 14th, 1863

To day the boys, Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] & I are all at work in the Mill forebay stopping the hole in it. I let in the water and ground 8 bushels of corn, but found we had not stopped the leak in it, and again let off the water, and we then commenced putting a new bottom or floor over the old one. Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came up and remained all night. Weather cloudy and cold with strong indications of rain.

Sunday, December 13th, 1863

To day Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] went out hog hunting but without any success. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp], Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire], the children and I all went over to Mr. Leaverton's and spent the day. A hole broke in the flooring of the forebay and let off the whole head of water. Weather clear and cold with a hard frost and freeze at night.

Saturday, December 12th, 1863

To day the boys are at work on the stables. John is at work hauling wood. Capt. Peacock and I had a settlement for the rent of my house in Liberty which he is occupying. I paid him the freight bill on my furniture from Liberty to Hall's bluff which was brought up on the steamer Alamo which he was commander of her. The freight bill was 183$ but I deducted 50$ from it for lost articles. He then paid me $167 balance on rent & I receipted him in full for the current years rent of said house which expires on the 31st inst. He & Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] then left for Mr. Beavers'. I ground 20 bushels of corn. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] rode my horse Hawk down to Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and spent the day. Sam* had no success in hunting hogs. Weather clear and cold with a hard frost at night.

*This Sam and Nellie are 2nd great-grandparents to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is Sam's Mother.