Saturday, January 16th, 1864

To day I am still in Crockett and Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] is still in confinement and as I said in yesterday's notes on no charge but mere suspicion that he is liable to conscription. 

The reign of Military despotism is now complete, and a man not in the army dares not say that his life is his own or that he owns one dollar's worth of property. 

I left Crockett late in the evening after having failed to obtain Sam's release. upon my arrival at home I found as I had previously expected that Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] had miscarried. this catastrophy was hastened by the cruel and brutal arrest of her husband. 

If the agents of the Government think this is the proper way to make good soldiers for its armies by dragging husbands from wives who are almost at the point of death, I must humbly beg leave to differ with them. 

Dr. Murchison and Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] were in attendance upon Nellie. At night Sam came home to see his wife having been released upon his parole to return on Monday next. Dr. Murchison & Mother remained all night. Weather changeable & cold with a hard frost at night.

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

Thursday, January 14th, 1864

To day the boys are at work covering in the stables. I rode my horse Rob to Crockett and while there was again arrested by the conscript officer. when they will get through conscripting me God only knows for one set of officers pulls down as fast as the others set up. I however after much difficulty attained another discharge, but how long it will last I cannot say. 

When I returned home I found Dr. Murchison and Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] in attendance upon Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] whose symptoms are more aggravating. Weather changeable and rather cold.

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

Wednesday, January 13th, 1864

To day the boys cut up and salted down the hogs that Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] killed yesterday that is one half of the 3 that was cleaned down at Father's [Joshua James Hall] they weighed 205 lbs. Sam is at work making a pair of shoes. I ground 7 bushels of corn and 1 bushel of wheat. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] was taken very sick, with threatening symptoms of miscarriage. Weather clear & rather warm on the pork salted down.

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

Thursday, December 17th, 1863

To day the boys and I worked on the mill in order to make it grind but only succeeded in grinding 4½ bushels of corn. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] rode out hog hunting but had no success. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] is doing very well after her confinement. Mother** [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] is still here attending to the new responsibility whom we have this day named Josephine Martha Hall. Weather clear and cold with a hard freeze and frost at night.

*2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog
**3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog

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.

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.

Monday, January 19th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work getting out garden posts. Sam* Sharp, Hicks and myself are engaged in pecking the mill rocks and putting the mill in good running order, after which I ground 17½ bushels of corn. Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came up to see the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp], but returned in the evening. Sam Sharp went up to Mrs. Bird's to take a draft by which to make a loom for Mother. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] has entirely recovered from her indisposition. weather changeable and cold with a hard freeze & frost at night.

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

Sunday, January 18th, 1863

To day I had the mill rocks taken up. I remained at home writing up this journal. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] still sick but is improving & bids fair to recover from her present attack without injury. weather cloudy, warm and a drizzling rain throughout the entire day which made it very disagreeable. at night it rained in torrents, swelling the Elk Hart creek very high almost to overflow.

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

Saturday, January 17th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work on the garden posts. I ground 46½ bushels of corn when the balance iron of the mill stones gave way thereby preventing me from grinding any more. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] was taken sick again with one of her spells and with strong symptoms of a miscarriage she being well advanced in a state of pregnancy. weather clear and rather cool.

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

Thursday, January 8th, 1863

To day Thomas W. Reed and Capt. Stubblefield came to see me & remained for dinner. From Mr. Reed & his wife I purchased a likely negro man of black color about 34 years of age by the name of Bill a slave for life and for whom I paid $1800. Mother [Mahala* Lee Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came up and her & the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] went to see Mrs. Bird. I ground 18 bushels of corn. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] is now entirely recovered from her late indisposition and is now up attending to her usual duties about the house. weather clear & rather warm on my pork.

*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.

Tuesday, January 6th, 1863

To day I finished the temporary stable that I began on yesterday for my horse Rob. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 19 bushels of corn. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] is still improving and now bids fair to be up in a day or two if she has not back set. weather clear & cool. the wind blowing from the South almost a perfect gale.

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

Sunday, January 4th, 1863

To day I remained at home writing up this journal. I had some of my pork resalted & sold one bushel of Meal for 2$. Roberta [Hall] & Toby [Hall] came up to see the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and returned home in the evening. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] is still quite sick although she is still improving. weather changeable and cool.

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

Saturday, January 3rd, 1863

To day Sam* and I are both very busy in the Mill. we ground 35 bushels of corn. We also resalted the pork that I purchased from Mr. Dailey. Nellie* is still quite sick, although she is still improving. weather changeable and warm with occasional showers of rain.

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

Friday, January 2nd, 1863

To day Sam* Sharp and I resalted the pork that I purchased from Mr. Bird. Sam went down to Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and got a little tallow for the use of the mill. we then took up the Mill rocks and rebushed the spindle. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Hall nee Lemaire] is still quite sick but improving a little. I ground 14 bushels of corn. weather cloudy and warm with occasional showers of rain.

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

Thursday, January 1st, 1863

To day Sam* Sharp went to Crockett for the purpose of hiring a negro boy but returned home without doing so. Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] sent Louisa up to assist the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] in preparing and putting up her sausages as I have now got the entire control and possession of my mill I contemplate jotting down her earnings and out lay for the current year it is agreed however between Sam Sharp & I that he shall act as the miller I attending only during his absence. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] is still sick but improving. I ground ten bushels of corn. weather cloudy & rather warm on my pork with a shower of rain at night.

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

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.

Tuesday, December 30th, 1862

To day I hired Chester & Ann to salt down the pork we got from Dailey on yesterday. after that was done we killed ten other hogs which weighed 1480 lbs of pork. Mrs. Bird came down to see Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] who is still very sick so much so that Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] was compelled to go after Dr. Murchison but he did not come down. weather clear & cold with a strong North wind blowing and a hard frost at night.

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

Sunday, December 28th, 1862

To day I employed two of Mr. Leaverton's boys, one of Mr. Bird's, Chester & his wife Ann, to salt down the pork purchased from Mr. Bird on yesterday, which they did and for their services I paid them 6$. Nellie* is still quite sick. Dr. Murchison, Mrs. Bird & Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] left for home. Nellie's sickness resuming a more alarming character, Dr. Murchison was again sent for but did not come, thus leaving us to manage the care as best we could. In justice to the Doctor I must here state that he was not at home when the messenger arrived there & hence he could not come. weather clear & cool.

*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.

Saturday, December 27th, 1862

This morning I sent down after Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and Mrs. Bird to attend Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] in her sickness, and Sam* Sharp went after Dr. Murchison all of whom came to attend Nellie. I purchased from Mr. Bird 1100 lbs of pork for which I paid 15&#162 per lb. Mr. Leaverton's boys hauled another load of fodder from Mr. Renfro's weighing 1028 lbs. weather clear & cold with a hard frost at night.

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

Friday, December 26th, 1862

To day I am engaged about the mill and rode down to Father's in the evening. Mr. Leaverton's boys hauled me from Mr. Renfro's 1034 lbs of fodder. at night Nellie* was taken very sick with strong indications of her confinement. weather cloudy & warm with occasional showers of rain.

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