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.

Saturday, January 28th, 1865

To day John is engaged hauling wood. Hicks ground 17 bushels of corn & 3 bushels of wheat. Richard Pennington came down and I paid him in full for the pork I purchased from him. at night, a soldier stopped with me. Weather changeable and cold.

Thursday, January 19th, 1865

To day the boys are still at work in the lower field. The guard is still at the mill. Dr. Murchison & R. Pennington spent the day with me. James Collins came out from Crockett & stopped with me for the night. Hicks ground 12 bushels of wheat. Weather cloudy and cool.

Wednesday, January 11th, 1865

To day Mr. Pennington came down and we weighed the hogs that the boys killed yesterday which amounted to 1060 lbs of pork. I paid him $42.50 and owe him $31.70, Father [Joshua James Hall] & Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came up & remained for dinner. Hicks ground 10 bushels of wheat. Weather changeable and cold with a hard frost and freeze at night.

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

Tuesday, January 10th, 1865

To day I sent the boys up to Mr. Penningtons to kill some hogs. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] finished the harness for Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and took it home to her. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] had a chill and fever. Hicks ground 10 bushels of wheat. Weather changeable 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 Nellie's mother-in-law.

Friday, June 24th, 1864

To day the boys finished setting out potato slips. Mr. & Mrs. Pennington came over and spent the day as also Mr. Thomas Keene. Hicks ground 10 bushels of wheat and 20 bushels of corn. Weather variable & warm. Ther: 82°.

Thursday, June 23rd, 1864

To day the boys are still at work setting out potato slips. Richard Pennington came over and spent the day. Hicks attended the mill and ground 8 bushels of corn. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] rode down to Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] & spent the day. Weather changeable, with a hard shower of rain in the evening. Ther: standing at 76°.

Wednesday, January 27th, 1864

To day the boys are still at work in the bottom field. Hicks is still covering in the cribs. Mrs. Bird came down to see us and brought home the piece of Jeans she has been weaving for the little woman [Margaret* Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. Mr. Pennington's next child to the youngest died last night. Father [Joshua James Hall] and Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came up but did not remain long. I ground 11 bushels of corn and 2 bushels of wheat. The bushing of the mill worked out and I had to send to the lower field after the boys to assist me in taking up the mill stone in order to rebush the mill. Weather clear and pleasant but rather cool at night with a light frost.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Margaret is her daughter, and is the wife as well as the step-sister of JMH.

Thursday, August 13th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work pulling fodder in the bottom field. John has at last found his oxen and commenced hauling. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] rode down to Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and back. Mrs. Pennington sent home the cloth she had been weaving for the little woman without having finished it. It appears she took some exceptions to the little woman and cut the cloth out of the loom, probably ruining at least one garment. I ground 5½ bushels of corn. weather clear and hot. Ther: 90°.

Monday, February 2nd, 1863

To day the boys are still at work at and finished the garden fence. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] finished the loom for Mother [Mahala* Lee Sharp Hall nee Roberts]. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] sent for and had her spinning wheel brought home. The boys commenced the house fence. I sent Mr. Pennington down to Mr. Beasleys after my glue kettle who succeeding in getting it and brought it home. I ground 1½ bushels of corn. Roberta [Hall] still here. weather clear and pleasant.

*This Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is his mother and is also the mother of Margaret aka the little woman which makes Mahala the mother-in-law as well as the step-mother of JMH.

Thursday, January 29th, 1863

To day Sam* Sharp is still at work making the loom. The boys are still at work on the garden fence. I ground 12 bushels of corn. I also paid Mr. Renfro 39$ for the fodder & peas purchased from him some time since. I also purchased from Mr. Pennington six hogs for which I paid him 3$ per head to be allowed in our settlement. Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] & Toby left for home, she however returned in the evening. Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] and the Major [James Hall Sharp] doing well. weather clear & cool, with a frost at night.

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

Tuesday, January 27th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work on the garden fence and getting on rather slowly. Sam* Sharp still at work making the loom. I ground 39½ bushels of corn and sold four bushels of meal in exchange for tallow. I also contracted with Mr. Pennington for his hogs & loaned him 2 bushels of meal. weather clear & cold with a hard freeze & frost at night.

*This Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog. He is also the step-brother as well as the brother-in-law of JMH.

Wednesday, December 31st, 1862

To day Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] & I cut up and salted down the porks that we killed yesterday. I paid Chester & Ann for their services in helping to kill & salt down the pork. Dr. Murchison & Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came to see Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] who is still very sick, but they did not remain long. Mr. Pennington's time as Miller having expired he surrendered the mill keys to me and left for his home. weather clear and cool. 

Thus I close my jottings of daily events for the year 1862 now past & gone and whether God will permit me to live to keep the events around me of the incoming year is more than I can know but trusting in his mercy I shall enter upon the duty which is pleasing to me and may be profitable to my family and myself hereafter.

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

Monday, October 6th, 1862

To day I finished copying the old field notes. In the evening William Leaverton and I rode up to the mill and divided the toll corn with Mr. Pennington. The little woman has entirely recovered from her attack of neuralgia. weather changeable and hot.

Monday, September 15th, 1862

To day I went up to the mill in the buggy in company with William Leaverton, and while there had a final settlement with Mr. Pennington. I turned my toll corn over to William Leaverton. we then returned to Father's. weather changeable and hot.

Friday, September 12th, 1862

To day I drove Hawk & Rob in the little wagon in Company with Wm. Leaverton & Bill, and after a great deal of difficulty with Rob succeeded in arriving at the mill. I gathered some of my tools up and had a partial settlement with Mr. Pennington in relation to toll corn. In the evening we returned to Father's and I picked cotton by way of amusement. weather changeable & warm.