Wednesday, August 17th, 1864

To day the boys are at work in the field stocking fodder. Jemima again missed the chill. Rachael left for home. I rode over to Mr. Keen's to see the old gentleman who is sick and confined to his house. Weather cloudy & hot with light sprinkling showers of rain. Ther: 90°.

Tuesday, August 16th, 1864

To day the boys are busy saving the beef. Dr. Murchison came to see Jemima. Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] also came up. Rachael is still here. Jemima missed her chill. Florence [Florence Mahala Hall] also missed her fever. Mrs. Keen, Mother & Dr. Murchison all left for their homes. Weather variable & very hot. Ther: 94°.

Monday, August 15th, 1864

To day the boys are engaged in killing and saving a beef. To my great detriment my little wagon was sent to Crockett, which prevented me from getting my beef until nearly night. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] rode down to Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] & spent the day. Florence [Florence Mahala Hall] still has fever. Jemima was taken with a congestive chill which lasted about two hours. Mrs. Keen & Rachael came up and remained all night. Weather clear & very hot. Ther: 94°.

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.

Friday, September 11th, 1863

To day the boys are at work putting up the Cotton house. Dr. Murchison came over to see Carroll who is still quite sick. Clara is recovering from her sickness slowly. Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] had another fever and is very much reduced from her sickness. Rachael and Roberta [Berta Downes Halyard nee Hall] came up to see the sick. weather hazy and very hot. The mill done no grinding.

Friday, August 28th, 1863

To day the boys went with the wagon to get a load of pine to run some tar. Mr. T.R. Dailey delivered 1385 lbs of lint cotton. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground two bushels of corn. I went fishing but had no success. Rachael came by on her way from Crockett with her cart broken down. I had to loan her my horse Hawk to ride home upon. weather changeable and warm. Ther: 91°.

Thursday, April 30th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work hoeing & replanting corn in the bottom field. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp], children & myself drove down to Hall's bluff to visit Mrs. Stubblefield. we spent the day there & returned home in the evening. Rachael rode my horse Hawk to Crockett & back to purchase some 10 lbs coffee for which she paid $3.18 for it. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 2 bushels of corn. weather cloudy & warm with occasional light showers of rain. Thus closes the notes for the month of April.

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

 

Saturday, October 20th, 1860.

To day Mrs. Bird, Mrs. Leaverton, Father and the 2 children came to see the little woman and the new responsibility. all remained to dinner, after which they all went home & Rachael came to to nurse the little woman. Still at work on the garden screen. weather clear & warm in the day but cold at night with a hard frost.

Friday October 19th, 1860

To day the little woman after much difficulty, tribulation and vexation was delivered of a female child at 7 o'clock a.m. weighing 10½ lbs. there being present Mother, Mrs. Bird & myself, assisted by Rachael & Louisa. hands still at work on the garden screen. Mr. McDaniel & Jo Wright came to see me, and participated in a social glass, the toast being the new "responsibility." Mother remained all night and the rest left for home. weather clear, but rather cool with a frost at night.

Friday, July 6th, 1860

To day I settled with Wrigley for negro woman Rachael the property of the little woman, and upon said settlement Wrigley paid me $1100 ~ which puts me in debt to her in the sum of $1300. I left Liberty at 2 o'clock P.M. for Galveston on board of the steamer Swan and had a very pleasant trip. expenses of the day $3.50. weather clear & pleasant, but rather warm.

Thursday, February 9th, 1860

To day the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] received from Crockett by negro boy Dick a deed of gift from her mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] for negro woman Rachael. Still at work in the clearing. weather pleasant & clear with the wind rather fresh from the North.

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

 

Thursday, February 2nd, 1860

To day I loaned to L. E. DOWNES [$_____] in cash, he going to Galveston. I also wrote to Mr. WRIGLEY at Liberty to send negro woman Rachael home, and I returned home in the evening finding all well and Albert at work in the clearing. The weather had moderated considerably but still cold & a frost at night.