Day Journals of James T. Redd - April 1850

M 1st
Bro Saml

Fair a pretty day a large frost we came over from Bro Saml this evening Edmond started to Richmond with 2 horses. Bro Sam went to Mr Gouldins to see Dr Gouldin bob ploughed Mr Lanes ground for him Hackett saw a [Sarid??] mockin bird

Tus 2nd
ploughed etc.
ploughing etc

Fair mild day I sowed the plant bed in the garden 3 kinds cabbage seed sowed some in box -naileed some slabs in front of arbour set black turkey on 20 eggs - saw 10 or 12 wood cocks b the spring
malling rails ploughing new ground burning brush halling up wood etc etc

W 3rd
3 benches
Canfield 1/4 bu potatoes

Rain most of the day very hard one the river is rising very fast I made 2 benches & a horse bench etc Canfield had 1/2 bu potatoes at 50cts ploughing new ground & grubing & burning brush
halling wood & rails etc from new ground finished halling off

Th 4th
Martin came today
manure

Fair mild & windy day we went to Mama, & dined with Louisa the Dentist McHenry came to Mama, pulling & pluging teeth for Louisa & Sister Sarah. I made 2 manure [falks??] Hackett helpeed (Saw Martin to day) set out some cabbage plants from Anna 1 1/2 rows halling out manure from Mama,stack 3 carts

Fr 5th
garden seeds

Rain a very heavy rain it commenced about 12 ock still raining hard north east win planteed snaps - cucumbers cymlings & pepper subsoiled [plowed into subsoil] the cymlings hills manureed them etc.
ploughing halling manure to potatoe patch at Mama, burning brush Roburt running chimney to Pabbys house

Sat 6th
Muster
Jerico

Cdy day, cool, I went to Chilesburg to muster, the roal was called but did no muster. Carryed a pedegree of Hanton Bro Saml horse. Hackett & I went to Jerico the officers were instaled this evening grubing on my swamp by the coalt pen carryed my rakes to Canfields to have some teeth fitted M sent to mill for chop etc

Sun 7th

Fair a pretty day Thomasia & I went to Carmel Bro Fox preached Dr Gouldin & Louise walked over this evening

M 8th
Boling Green
Dr Gouldin
Boulware
46 dollars
Thomasia & I went to Bro Saml

A few drops rain rained a little at night I went to Boling green carryed money for Swann to buy a pair of horses there were but few there for sale Dr Gouldin & Louise came down home I collected Allens bond of R E Bowler 49 dollars & pd him hire for Boy Jack for 3 months 3 dollars when he only stayed ther 1 month & 11 days I came back from Boling green & went to Bro Saml Thomasia went over this evening to see Sister Cornelia She is very sick she was a little better no night ploughing new ground grubing new ground & halling manure etc.

Tus 9th
[drawn bracket]

Fair cold day the ground had a crust on it I came home went back to Bro Sams in the evening carryed the Barouch over carryed cutting box handle finished ploughing by Canfields Mama, field rakeing corn bed by grave yard halling manure to potatoe patch etc

W 10th
spent the day at Bro Saml

Rain hail & snow it was cdy & disagreeable day at Bro Saml Mr Gouldin & Linnaeus came by Bro Sam makeing a new garden a peddler came to Bro Sams to spend the night got at note from J Hackett about my bond fencing by rock finished the fence halling out manure etc

Th 11 th
came from Bro Saml
commenced planting corn
pedler
corn

Fair we came from Bro Saml this morning by T Castle & home Mr Kean came to Mama, he is electioneering commenced planting corn by grave yard at Mama with Lucks corn sent Roburt to Mr Talleys with money to get Man, horses & I bought some shoes & buttons of the pedler 55cts for shoes & buttons planting corn at Mama- go to Dabs House rakeing halling rails wood & chops etc Scattering manure etc.

Fr 12th
owls nest
water mellon patch
Planting corn

Cdy rained last night cool day Lewis & I went to look for an owls nest one with 2 young ones set a trap for the old owl Peter makeing water mellon hills & putting in hogs manure
halling manure from cow pen by Jack pond etc ploughing rakeing planting corn by old orchard in front of the house at Mama in the corn - came from Turners

Sat 13th
planting corn
corn

Fair cold day & windy a west & north west win Lewis & I went to the owl trap brought a young owl home Anna sent 3 or 4 hands to help plant corn planted most of the field in front of Mama house planting corn 2 kinds rakeing with 3 rakes fencing with 2 ploughs part of the day halled a load straw etc got my yoke from Canfieleds

Sun 14th

Fair a very cold morning - the ground was frozen, saw ice on the swamp a cold west win - I spent the mostly at home Bro Saml came by from Cty Line went to Mama to dine I went to owl trap walked to Mama

M 15
sheep killed
corn planting

Fair a cold morning a large frost the ground crusted over I shot at a sheep myh ram 2 with 8 ?? Hackett show him with my shot gun thsi evening - Hackett has the chickel pock [chicken pox] complains a good deel, saw M Luck my potatoes are all rottin in deed
planting corn in my field the Burruss corn mostly raceing sheep & rakeing opened holes for Anna to plant corn putting guano in the drill

Tues 16th
planting corn
bundle goods
Bob broke a plough

Fair cool morning the ground had a crust on it a large frost finished planting corn in my field all that was ploughed used a part of a bag guano in the hill by out gate halling manure to the corn field 2 carts sent to mill for meal I went to Mr Lucks to swap some corn got a bundle from Richmond rakeing ploughing planting corn halling manure etc Bob broke a double plough --

W 17th
Wm  Talley
planting corn
plough

Snowy till evening fair evening cold & windy - for the season saw Wm Talley & Charles Gouldin at Mama Ann Talley was at Mr G - saw Wm Swann over at Ana- finished ree ploughing the bottum land by out gate and planted it Lucks corn planting at mama sent to shop for my plough had a new moal board pu on rakeing manured land at Mamas halling out manure from my stack pen halling wood

Th 18 th
E R
corn manure etc

Fair a cold morning the ground frozen ice on the roads Edmond came over to look for an owl we went to Mrs Lucks woods & to the slash planting corn by old barn swamp ploughing there etc halling out manure by land corner of Anna, fence

Fr 19th
2 sheep belled
manure

Rainy day cool day Edmond & Hackett went to look for an owl Edmond went home to night Lewis came over this evening went back to Mama, we3 caught 2 ewes - tied their legs & beled them
halling out manure with 3 carts etc etc

Sat 20th
cow died

Rainy day it rained a good deel last night still raining Hackett handled several hoes to day Bob working on fish trap
halled w loads wood a cow died at Mama to day -

Sun 21st

Cdy day I went to Carmel no preaching I saw Winstons wife at meeting Dr Anderson went to Anna, this evening

M 22nd
T C
Ms Bs & to Bro Sam
potatoes 50cts
$2.25 cts

Rain a little a shower or two Thomasia and I went to T Castle in the gig I went to Mr Butlers to have a coat made by Mrs. Eliza Chiles & dined I bought 1 bu of potatoes of Mrs Butler pd 50 cts halling out manure & cleaning up the coalt & cow shelters etc etc
I paid Mrs E Chiles 2 dollars & 25 cts for makeing a coat & wais coat Lewis Redd pointing Anna, house

Tues 23rd
summer birds
1 bu potatoes in hot bed
corn

Cdy day warmer day than usual warm last night a good many summer birds whippowhill & ? martons [martins] & other kins etc caught 2 sheep put them out I put 1 bu sweet potatoes in hot bed got my papers from Depot planting corn in field on the river by Canfields planted 1 bu seed burrus corn

W 24th
corn planting

Cdy most of the day cool finished planting corn in the field by Canfields - I caught a ewe & took a block that was on his leg planting corn ploughing by barn at Mama, scattering manure & ploughing sweet potatoe patch at Mama

Th 25th

Rainy day I went to Taylors ville [in Hanover County] & voted for Wickham - went to Golans ville [in Caroline County]  & voted for John V Kean Linneaus came by to night - Uncle Wm D Taylor has been very sick though better [William Day Taylor, maternal uncle, 1781-1858] scattering manure ploughing etc

Fr 26th
sowled 2 turkeys
& hans for 2 dollars
manure etc

Rain a part of the day the election is going on at Golans ville Canfield voted to day Buckner is 28 ahead I killed a large snake shot him on the swamp made a duck pen etc. Uncle Wm Taylor sent for 2 Turkeys 5 hens 4 of Anna at 25cts halling out manure cutting and malling rails halling by my shop & sent to mill for [san??] etc it thundered to day

Sat 27 th
50cts
it lightend etc

Fair very warm day I went to Jerico pd 50cts dues Harry Vass joined the Sons to night Mr Vass was there to day Lewis dinedhear to day it lightened a good deel to night at the north
halling rails & fencing by my shop malling rails scattering manure etc etc

Sun 28 th
Cty Line
Dr A

Rain a hard shower warm weather we started to Cty Line went to T Lucks & came back the trees have put out more to day & yesterday than - I most ever saw them Dr A came by this morning Pd Robinson 25cts for shop account

M 29th
Planted water mellon seed
ploughing the new ground

Fair mild pretty day Edmond Redd came for some nails & seed spent the night I planted one row of water mellon seed ploughing at the new ground and nearly finished brakeing out balks ploughing by stack & corn house finished halling out the manure from the stack

Tues 30th
Bro Saml 16 lbs nails
guano on water mellon hills
sitron seed
[from citron melon not eaten raw, candied for fruit cakes]
John in shop 6 lbs iron
Hackett a powder
ploughing halling manure

Fair warm day lent Bro Saml 16 lbs nails 8 d Edmond went over this morning with the nails Bro Sam & Mr Gouldin wer at Mama this evening I manured my water mellon hills 2 rows with guano planted musk mellon seed [similar to canteloupe] 11 hills gave Bro Saml some water mellon seed John worked in my shop for Mama on carreage used 6 lbs of my iron Edmond borrowed a cap? shot of me Hackett a horn powder 1 dozen Anna had 1 1/2 bu coal ploughing for corn on the swamp & manured lot by the corner of Anna, fence halling out manure at Mama to cornfield & cotton patch