Thursday, January 4th, 1866

To day I am at work at the store house. Albert the negro boy that I hired on the first has been sick all the week and not a lick of work has he done as yet. Hicks lost the whole day in hunting up Rob. He got out on yesterday through the negligence of some of the children leaving the yard gate open. Frank walked out and succeeded in killing a couple of squirrels. Weather clear & cold with a hard frost at night.

Wednesday, November 22nd, 1865

To day I am still at work at the warehouse. Frank [Stewart] & Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] still continue to improve. Frank walked down to the warehouse, being the first time since his arrival in Liberty. I loaned Ed. Jones my horse & buggy to go out ducking and for which he presented me a fine duck of mallard. Weather clear and rather cool.

Saturday, November 18th, 1865

To day I am still at work in the warehouse. Ed. Jones went out hunting, but with poor success. Frank Stewart and Roberta are little better. I spent the evening very pleasantly playing chess. Weather cloudy & cold with a strong north wind blowing all day and all night.

Sunday, October 1st, 1865

To day I remained at home writing up this journal. I loaned my horse and buggy to Ed. Jones to drive out after chinquepins. Mr. Haggart came over and spent the afternoon. Weather variable and a little cool.

Tuesday, June 13th, 1865

To day I am still at Booths, and went out hunting with Capt. Harrison, in order to pass away the time, until my little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] comes down, which I hope will not be much longer. Weather cloudy & warm. Ther: 84°.

Monday, June 12th, 1865

To day I am still at Booth's and in order to pass the time I went out squirrel hunting with Capt. Harrison. we had tolerable success. Weather cloudy and warm with a very hard rain at night. Ther: 80°.

Friday, June 9th, 1865

To day I went out hunting with Capt. Harrison & succeeded in killing a few. I am still at Booth's. I received a letter from home, which gave me much pleasure in learning that all were well. yet it produced some sorrow, that the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & children had not as yet left to join me at this place. However, it will not be long before they come & I must be patient. Weather clear & hot. Ther: 90°.

Thursday, June 8th, 1865

To day the Steamer Ruthven arrived from Galveston with Wrigley & Doland on board. they confirm the news that the Yankees has taken the Island into possession. I went hunting with Capt. Harrison but with poor success. I am still at Booths'. Nothing as yet from home. Weather clear & hot. Ther: 91°.

Monday, June 5th, 1865

To day the trains on the T.&N.O.R.R. commenced making regular daily trips from Houston to Beaumont. I went out hunting with Capt. Hanson & succeeded in killing several squirrells. Weather clear & hot. Ther: 90°.

Wednesday, May 31st, 1865

To day I am still at Booth's. Capt. Harrison and I rode down to gum lake fishing, but with very poor success. we killed some squirrels however. According to the account furnished me by the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp], The mill ground for the current month 316 bushels of corn and 49 bushels of wheat. Weather clear & hot. Thus I close my jottings of current events around me for the month of May.

Tuesday, May 30th, 1865

To day I am still at Booths. Capt. Harrison and I rode out squirrel hunting with tolerable success. The crowd left Booths on the cars for Houston giving us a little more room. Nothing from home [Houston County]. Weather clear & hot.

Monday, May 29th, 1865

To day I am still at Booth's. Capt. Harrison and I took a long hunt after squirrels. In fact I am now willing to hunt all the time in order to occupy my mind and keep it from dwelling all the time upon home. A large party of gentlemen came over on the cars from Beaumont and put up at Booths, entirely crowding us out. Be it remembered that the President of the United Sates (Andrew Johnson) issued his proclamation liberating and freeing all the negro slaves in the south. and by this high handed and unlawful act I am deprived of nearly all my property that I have been working for for the past 30 years nearly all the Capital that I had being invested in that species of property. Weather clear & hot.

Saturday, May 27th, 1865

To day I am still at Booths. Capt. Harrison and I went out squirrel hunting with pretty fair success. The excitement produced in the community by the lawless acts of the soldiers is now subsiding a little. Nothing as yet from home. Weather clear and very hot.

Saturday, April 22nd, 1865

To day I am still in Liberty and went out dewberry hunting in company with the Misses Peacock & Mrs. Bolling. we were partially successful. at home Hicks ground 24 bushels of corn. Weather clear and pleasant.

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.

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.

Tuesday, February 14th, 1865

To day John is at work in the garden. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] planted english peas. I am at work repairing my saddle. James Roberts & John, early in the morning again went to the pidgeon roost & killed 22 of them. Roberts, Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire], Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] & Toby [Horace Oscar Hall] are still here. Weather variable & rather warm.

*This Nellie is a 2nd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Burt and Toby are half-siblings to her husband, Sam Sharp, AND to JMH.

Monday, February 13th, 1865

To day John is at work on the levee. I am engaged making a bridle. James Roberts, Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire], Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] & Toby [Horace Oscar Hall] are still here. we all went out to the pidgeon roost and succeeded in killing 42 of them. Hicks ground 12 bushels of corn. Weather cloudy with occasional showers of rain.

*This Nellie is a 2nd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Burt and Toby are half siblings to her husband (Sam Sharp) as well as to JMH.

Sunday, February 12th, 1865

To day early in the morning I again visited the pidgeon roost and succeeded in killing 61 of them. James Roberts, Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire], Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] and Toby [Horace Oscar Hall] came up and spent the day. Mrs. Bird also came up & spent the evening. Weather variable & pleasant it clouded up in the evening and rained nearly all night.

Saturday, February 11th, 1865

To day early in the morning I went out to the Pidgeon roost, having found it the evening before, and succeeded in killing 30 of them. The boys are still at work on the mill levee and got it repaired sufficiently to raise a small head of water, when Hicks ground 12 bushels of corn. I washed and put out to dry 8 bushels of wheat, and then made myself a good bridle. Weather clear and cold.