Monday, February 6th, 1865

To day my boy Bill came up from the boat yard on a visit. The mill levee gave way in part and required the labor of all hands to save it. Weather cloudy and cold. Billy Stewart returned to Crockett.

Friday, January 27th, 1865

To day I rode down to Stubblefield's Mill and delivered my negro boy Bill into the possession of Capt. J.T. Smith. On my way home I stopped at Mothers [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] for dinner and found Father [Joshua James Hall] had left for Crockett with his negro boy Dick to be placed in the Government service. Hicks ground 10 bushels of corn. A soldier stopped with me for the night. Weather variable & cold.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. She is also the step-mother as well as the mother-in-law of JMH.

Thursday, January 26th, 1865

To day I borrowed from Mr. Haden the sum of 25$ in specie and then left Crockett in Company with Dr. Murchison for home. I put my boy Bill in the service of the Government for the space of two months and 12 days to do work in the ? boat yard at Brookfield's bluff. Hicks ground 2½ bushels of wheat & 5 bushels of corn. Weather changeable & cold with a hard freeze at night.

Saturday, November 12th, 1864

To day Bill is engaged cutting up and salting down the beef & hog that I had killed on yesterday. Hicks, John & I are at work putting in the new ink, bushing, &c. in the mill. we succeeded in getting the mill started and ground 20 bushels of corn & 1½ bushels of wheat. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] is sick. Weather clear & rather warm, but cold at night with a light frost.

 

Friday, November 11th, 1864

To day I sent Bill to Mr. Keen's to have the mill ink upset. I sent John after a beef who succeeded in getting one. I assisted Hicks to repair the forebay floor. Billy Stewart left for Crockett. Father [Joshua James Hall] came up and got his share of leather upon settlement I owe him 60 lbs of dry hides. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] rode down to Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and spent the day. Weather clear & warm but rather cold at night. 

Monday, November 7th, 1864

To day Bill is at work splitting rails and John hauling pine. Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] is still sick. The little woman [Margaret Hall nee Sharp] wove 1½ yds of jeans. Hicks ground ? bushels of wheat and 7 bushels of corn. Weather cloudy & warm, with a very high wind blowing from the South.

Wednesday, October 26th, 1864

To day the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] in the buggy, Toby [Horace Oscar Hall], Bill, Wolf, Charlotte, Kate, Jemima, little Jo [Josephine Martha Hall] & myself left home in the little wagon bound for Barnes prairie in order to gather pecans. We drove to the Trinity River and camped on the bank for the night. Mr. & Mrs. Keen, Mrs. Moreland with Taylor & Charity were of the party. John & Hicks are at work storing the cotton. The latter ground 2 bushels of corn. Weather changeable and rather warm.

Thursday, October 20th, 1864

To day Bill is at work plowing the little field. Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came up and spent the day. Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] rode home with her but did not remain long. I am better and work on a bridle. John had another chill and fever. Hicks ground one bushel of corn. Weather changeable and cold.

Tuesday, October 18th, 1864

To day Bill is still plowing in the little field. John is still sick. I am much improved. Florence [Florence Mahala Hall] & I drove down to Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] in the buggy after some honey. Hicks ground 2 bushels of corn. At night a gentleman and lady stopped with us. Weather cloudy & cool with a light drizzling rain.

Monday, October 17th, 1864

To day Bill is still plowing the little field. John is sick with chill & fever. I am still confined but improving. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] rode down to Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and spent the day. Hicks ground one bushel of corn. Weather changeable and rather cool.

Thursday, October 13th, 1864

To day Father [Joshua James Hall] & Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] came up and purchased from Mr. Day ten pounds of wool. I also purchased from him 12 lbs of wool, after which he left. Bill arrived from the tan yard with the leather. I am quite sick. Hicks ground 6 bushels of corn. Mrs. Beazley and Mrs. Downes came over and spent the day. Mrs. Downes remained all night. Billy Stewart came out from Crockett and remained all night. Weather variable and rather cool. 

Monday, October 10th, 1864

To day the boys are at work thrashing out barley. Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came up and spent the night. Bill is engaged filling up the little wagon to go to Prewitt's tan yard. Martin came up with his wagon loaded with beef hides to be taken to the tan yard. Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] still down at Mothers. Weather clear & cool.

Thursday, October 6th, 1864

To day John is at work hauling for Mr. Keen. Bill is engaged threshing out Rye. I finished weaving out my girths and surcingles. Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came up and spent the evening with the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. Weather clear 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.

Friday, September 16th, 1864

To day John is still at work hauling rails from the King house. Bill still repairing the fence. Capt. Peacock remained with me all day. Hicks ground 8 bushels of corn. Weather variable & warm. Ther: 82°.

Monday, August 29th, 1864

To day Bill drove the little wagon down to the mill carrying Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire], the children & I. we all commenced cleaning the house & putting it in order to move back into. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] rode down in the evening. Nellie then rode down to Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] to stay some time. The little [woman], children & I returned home in the little wagon. John got back from the saline all safe bringing 1000 lbs of salt, equal to five sacks. Weather clear & hot. Ther: 95°.

Thursday, August 25th, 1864

To day Bill finished thrashing out the wheat. Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] is still down at Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts]. I rode down to the mill. Wolf missed his chill & fever. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] finished the piece of cloth in the loom (c.c.) [???] wove it, and took it out of the loom, there was just 20½ yds in all. Weather variable & warm. Ther: 88°.

Wednesday, August 24th, 1864

To day Bill is still at work thrashing out wheat. Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] is still down at Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts]. All the children except Wolf missed their chills & fevers. I remained at home all day. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] is busily engaged weaving a piece of cloth. Weather variable and warm. Ther: 85°.