Saturday, January 7th, 1865

To day the boys are at work in the bottom chopping fire wood. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] & I are engaged trying to ferret out the persons who broke into & robbed the mill last night but without any success. Hicks ground 21 bushels of corn and 3 bushels of wheat. At night four soldiers made another attack upon the mill to rob it again but we detected them in the act not being successful at the mill they rode over to Mr. Leaverton's and robbed Mr. Mitchell's negro man of a sack weighing about 160 lbs so much for the soldiers of the Confederacy. Weather changeable and rather cool.

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

Friday, January 6th, 1865

To day the boys are at work in the bottom field. Hicks ground 13 bushels of wheat. I am engaged in making ? harness for Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts]. At night the mill was broken open and two sacks of flour stolen out by the soldiers belonging to Hardeman's brigade. The two sacks weighed about 150 lbs. Weather cloudy & rather cool.

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

Thursday, January 5th, 1865

To day the boys are at work in the lower field. I am at work making harness ? for Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts]. Hicks ground 9 bushels of wheat. Weather cloudy and rather cool.

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

Wednesday, January 4th, 1865

To day the boys are at work in the little field. Billy Stewart left for Crockett. The mill is engaged grinding for the Government and ground 10 bushels of wheat. Weather changeable & warm with a light shower of rain.

Tuesday, January 3rd, 1865

To day the boys are engaged hauling fire wood. Billy Stewart came out from Crockett and stopped with us for the night. Hicks ground 6 bushels of wheat and 20 bushels of corn. Father [Joshua James Hall] & Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came up & spent the day. Weather clear & rather warm.

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

Monday, January 2nd, 1865

To day the boys are at work in the bottom splitting rails to reset the fence around the bottom field. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] is engaged weaving and wove one yard of linsey. Hicks ground 6 bushels of wheat. I sent Billy Stewart his negro woman America & her child Claudine who have been staying with me some time. Weather changeable and rather warm for the season.

Sunday, January 1st, 1865

Today I commence my notes of daily events that may happen immediately around me during the current year just began. Though they are of no interest to any one safe my own family. Nevertheless I cheerfully enter upon my task. 

We all left home and rode down to Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] where we spent an agreeable day, returning home in the evening. A sick soldier stopped with us for the night. Weather clear and rather warm for the season of the year.

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