Friday, May 18th, 1866

To day the steamer Indian No. 2 arrived from the upper [Trinity] river, with Capt. Thomas Stubblefield on board. he brought several packages and letters from Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] to the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. The Sheriff arrested negro man Henry off of said steamer for theft at my in[si]stance. The Str. Indian No. 2 left for Galveston. Col. Wrigley arrived on the cars from Houston. In the evening I prosecuted the negro boy Henry for theft & succeeded in binding him over to the District Court. I loaned Asa Abshear 10$ to pay Mrs. Stanwood a medical bill. Capt. John W. Redmond is still at work painting the house. Weather clear and pleasant.

Monday, September 25th, 1865

To day Hicks and John are at work repairing their wagons and getting ready for a trip up to the mills [Houston County]. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove up town and purchased a few articles to send up to her Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] by the wagons. Weather cloudy & warm with occasional showers of rain.

Thursday, June 1st, 1865

To day I rode up to Jose bayou in company with Capt. Harrison & John Booth on a fishing excursion but was rather unsuccessful. We however killed some fine squirrells. Capt. Cameron & Miss Adelia Wrigley were married at night. nothing yet from home. I am still at John Booths. At home the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] went down to Mothers [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] to spend what time she remained up the Country, and consequently quit keeping the opperations of the mill. As this is the first day of summer I shall give the state of the thermometer noting it each day at 3 o'clock P.M. Weather clear & hot. Ther: 90°.

Sunday, April 2nd, 1865

To day Mr. Haden & Mr. Driscol left for Crockett. Frank Stewart came out & went hunting. he killed a fine turkey and a deer. Frank then rode down to Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and thence to Crockett. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] is quite sick. Weather variable & pleasant.

*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.

Friday, March 31st, 1865

To day I am still in Crockett and cannot get away as my [mule] has not yet been found. Billy Stewart tried to get my money from the negro boy York which he had stolen and succeeded in getting 30$ in new issue. The balance he had disposed off. at the mill Hicks ground 41 bushels of corn. Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] got 13 lbs of cotton. Weather changeable & pleasant. Thus closes my notes for the month of March.

*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.

Tuesday, March 28th, 1865

To day Mrs. Byrd came down & spent the day and I cut out for her 2 sets of bridle fittings. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and children came home from Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts]. The mill done no grinding in consequence of the high water. The Elkhart creek is looming full and still rising. Weather variable & pleasant but there was a very hard rain at night.

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

Monday, March 27th, 1865

To day Emily Peacock & Jane Milford left for their respective homes. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] & William Roberts came home from Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove down the(re) and spent the night. My poor old horse Hawk after a lingering illness of several months laid down and died, he had been a faithful and serviceable horse to me while living, poor old horse. I regret his death but as all must die let him go. Weather clear and pleasant.

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

Saturday, March 25th, 1865

To day the boys took up the mill stones & re-bushed the mill after which Hicks ground 30 bushels of corn. Nellie's little mare, Pidgeon folded a female coalt. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] still down at Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts]. Josephine [Josephine Martha Hall] had fever. Weather variable & cool with a hard rain at night.

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

Thursday, March 23rd, 1865

To day Billy Stewart and Billy Roberts went out hunting and killed a fine turkey. Father [Joshua James Hall] & Mr. Crow spent the day with us. John worked in the field. Hicks ground 7 bushels of wheat & 12 bushels of corn. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] rode down to Mothers [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] & spent the night with her. Weather clear and pleasant.

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

Friday, March 17th, 1865

To day John is engaged in hauling wood. I worked a little on Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] loom. Hicks ground 6 bushels of wheat. Wm. Roberts left for Father's [Joshua James Hall]. Billy Stewart came out from Crockett and stopped for the night. Weather variable & pleasant.

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

Thursday, March 16th, 1865

To day John is at work in the field. I worked on Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] loom. Hicks ground 34 bushels of corn. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] drove my buggy & horse down to Mothers and brought little Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] up home with her. he has been down there since Sunday last. Wm. Roberts came up & remained all night. Weather variable & pleasant.

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

Tuesday, March 14th, 1865

To day John is at work plowing in the point field. I am still at work on Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] loom. Hicks ground 1 bushel of wheat & 1 bushel of corn. at night Tom Neely & 5 other men attempted to assassinate me. The men who were with Neely were unknown to me. Weather variable and rather warm.

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

Monday, March 13th, 1865

To day John finished planting corn in the little field. Sam* Sharp left for the army. I commenced making a loom for Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts]. Hicks ground 9 bushels of wheat. Weather cloudy and warm with occasional light drizzling showers of rain.

*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, as well as the mother-in-law AND the step-mother of JMH.

Sunday, March 12th, 1865

To day I rode my mule John over to see John Wortham and spent the day with him. I found poor John perfectly demented. In the evening I arrived at home & found Father [Joshua James Hall], Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts], Mrs. Byrd and Miss Wilson all there and had spent the day with the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. Weather variable & warm with a very high wind blowing.

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

Friday, March 10th, 1865

To day the boys are engaged washing some wheat and in hauling wood. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] & Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] rode down to Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] & spent the day. Mr. T.R. Dailey & I rode around to war widows and settled with them the amount donated by the County Court. I paid Mr. Dailey $246$ in new issue in full payment of the amount I borrowed from him on the 20th of December last. Hicks ground 2 bushels of wheat & 12 bushels of corn. Weather clear & cold with a frost & freeze at night.

*This Sam and Nellie are 2nd great-grandparents to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma, and is Sam's mother, as well as the step-mother AND the mother-in-law of JMH.

Monday, March 6th, 1865

To day the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] rode up to Richard Pennington's and purchased 5 bushels of seed potatoes & one bushel of ? She then rode down to Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts]. John is engaged in bedding out the seed potatoes. In the evening the little woman returned from Mother's and James Roberts came up with her. He remained all night. Hicks ground 11 bushels of corn & 4½ bushels of wheat. I wrote a letter to J. Richardson at Austin. Weather variable and cold.

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

Sunday, March 5th, 1865

To day Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] and Fannie in company with James Roberts came up from Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts]. James Roberts remained until after supper when he returned to Mother's. Weather clear and very cold.

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

Saturday, March 4th, 1865

To day John is at work on the fence. Mr. Hays came up from the boat yard and took Tubbs back with him. Mr. Boon, Mr. Grammar and James Roberts left for Crockett. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] and Fannie rode down to Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and spent the night there. Hicks ground 27 bushels of corn. Weather variable and cold with a hard frost and freeze at night.

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

Thursday, March 2nd, 1865

To day the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & John worked in the garden. Hicks ground 8 bushels of wheat & 3 bushels of corn. I commenced a pair of shoes for Jimmy. Mr. Boon, a soldier belonging to Lieut. Wharten's head quarters came out to the mill with 10 bushels of wheat to be ground. I let Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] have 16 lbs of cotton and Mrs. Goodwin have 22½ lbs of cotton. Weather cloudy & cool with occasional showers of rain & a hard rain at night.

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

Wednesday, March 1st, 1865

To day John is engaged plowing in the little field & working in the garden. Hicks ground 8 bushels of wheat & 4 bushels of corn. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] rode down to Mothers [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] came up with her but did not remain long. Weather cloudy & cool with occassional showers of rain and a hard rain at night.

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