Wednesday, June 17th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work chopping out the bottom field. John is still over at Mr. Keen's shop with the wagon. Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came up & remained to dinner. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] rode up to Mrs. Beasley's to weigh some cotton. In the evening the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] rode out after blackberries and succeeded in getting a considerable quantity. Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] & Jim [James Wrigley Hall] are confined with severe colds. I ground 3 bushels of corn and worked around the house. weather clear & hot. Ther: 88°.

Sunday, January 25th, 1863

To day at 8 o'clock A.M. Sam* H. Sharp's wife Mary A. Sharp familiarally called Nellie* was delivered of a male child which weighed 7¾ lbs. which said child was by his parents named James Hall Sharp in honor of the writer of this journal, and at said delivery there was present Margaret A. Hall [aka the little woman], Mahala* L. Hall [aka Mother], Mrs. S.A. Bird, Sam H. Sharp & myself assisted by two negro woman both by the name of Louisa. Nellie sustained herself very well under the circumstances and had rather an easy time than otherwise. The child aforesaid by way of nick name we dubbed & created "Major" in order to distinguish him from the little woman's child James alias Jim. Mrs. Bird returned home in the evening. Mother however remained. weather changeable and warm with occasional showers of rain, rendering it very disagreeable.  

*These new parents, Sam and Nellie, are the 2nd great-grandparents to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is Sam's Mother, and is the step-mother as well as the mother-in-law of JMH. Margaret is Sam's sister, and is the step-sister as well as the wife of JMH.