Day Journals of James T. Redd - October 1850

Tus 1st
cleaned out well at Ma
[bracket]

Fair cool Mr Hanes cleaned out the well at Mama, he is to come ditching in a day or two- finished the top stack at Mama, Lewis Redd came over to breakfast he is on his way to Fredericksburg halling fodder finished the stack at Mama, etc etc

W 2nd
Depot
[bracket]
tops

A few drops rain this morning I went to look for a squirl I went to the Depot for my papers & to see wood folk about marl [soil of clay & lime, used as fertilizer] etc saw Mr Fountain near Carmel Martin working on sextons house Cousin Mary Ann is at Mama, Mr Jones Bivcon came to Ma, for money
halling tops from new ground by Canfields to my stack frame by my barn commenced it etc Peter halled a log to mill diging potatoes at Mama

Th 3rd
Bro Saml
[bracket]
Mr Hanes ditching

Fair, a cool day. I went to Bro Saml carryed a letter & bundle for Bet & a bag of wool to swap Bro Saml expects to go to Richmond to morrow to sell Mama,  - my wheat Brol saml sowled some mutton for 3 - and $2.50cts a piece came by Linnaeus, Mr Hanes - came to Mama, to ditch commenced below the spring Finished my top stack - diging potatoes at Mama, Irish a poar turn out working on cart body Hackett went to Winstons & Cobbs etc.

Fr 4th
Hanes ditching
1 squirl
potatoes
cutting down corn

Clear a little frost this morning so says Mr Hanes he is ditching [a drainage system for wet land] above the spring I rode down to hickry woods killed a squirl at T.C. got some peaches off a tree Hackett & Roburt working all day on cart body Peter halled a load or 2 of wood etc
finished diging potatoes at Ma commenced cutting down corn by Mama, Hanes ditching - raking fallowed land etc etc

Sat 5th
went to Carmel
[bracket]
cutting downcorn
halling up etc

Fair I went to Carmel drove Mama, carriage Sister Emily & Sarah went we chose Bro Warlthall for pasture [pastor] Bro Fox preached Hackett went to Chiles Burg to muster - commenced cutting down corn around the house & halling it up to Mama, stack setting it up & ploughing for wheat in new garden & by mama, --

Sun 6th
Carmel
hail storm

Fair cool day I went to Carmel with Mama, Bro Fox preached a good sermon my paper has an account of an hail storm up the country some timesince the pieces fell weighed from 1 to 1 1/2 lbs, it tore the crops to pieces

M 7th
Bro Saml
$45.
$2.00 [bracket]
guano 1 tun

Fair a large frost it pintched topacco potatoe vines etc a cool day, north win Bro Saml came over to Mama, & brought the wheat moneyh - paid me 45 dollars owe me a dol - Mama, wheat came to 60 odd # Sister Emily spent the day at Mam, Finished beeting a tun of guano to day, ploughing front of Ma for wheat halling wood corn etc.

Tus 8th
guano
[brackets]
wheat 3 bu

Fair a large frost killed a great deel tobacco etc for many a person in the nabourhood commenced sowing guano in the field toward Canfields sowed 3 bags & ploughed it in etc. Mr Noel spoke for 5 bu wheat gully at $1.25 a bu
sowing guano ploughing etc - halling up corn at Mama sent a plough to shop faned out the ball head wheat 3 bu 1 peck

W 9th
I commenced sowing wheat
3 bu 1 p
[wheat sketch]
commenced shucking corn

Fair all most clear a frost small one. rather warm - I commenced sowing wheat sowed 3 bushels & 1 peck - of bald head wheat on the guanoed land sowed 3 bags guano & ploughed it in working my horse & Mama, together wheat 3 bu sowing wheat ploughing for wheat by the house at Ma, halling up corn cuttind own etc commenced stacking tonight at Ma.

Th 10 th
wheat sowed
3 bu w
[bracket]

Fair warm day sowed 3 bags guano & ploughed it in sowed 3 bushels Mammouth wheat on guanoed land raked it in commenced ploughing in black bottom & halling up the corn etc etc
Miss Mary Ann & Sister Sarah went to Bro Saml to day Mr Hill & girls went to Bro Saml to day Mr Hill & girls went to Richmond wheat 3 bu
sowing wheat 3 bu ploughing rakeing & halling up corn halled 2 or 3 loads to my stack the 1srt shucking corn to night

Fri 11th
wheat sowed
2 1/2 bu M
Bro S
dog
corn etc

Cdy rain a few drops this evening finished sowing the guano sowed 2 1/2 bushels mam - wheat in black bottom I went to Mr Gouldins to Bro Saml, for my gig carryed some chinkapens [chinquapins] to the children. Jasper died
wheat 2 1/2 bu
ploughing rakeing wheat in & halling up corn to my stack - halled a log or two to mill brought plank home shucking corn to night at Mama,

Sat 12th
Depot
$2.50cts
wheat sowed 1/2 bu M
ploughing

Fair I went to Chesterfield Depot there was muster [civilian military muster] there to day I bought oil & tea 1 lb for Bro Saml I bought handkerchief $1.50cts makeing $2.50 cts laid out for self gathered some apples Hackett went to Jerico sowed 1/2 bu wheat wheat 1/2 bu
ploughing on the swamp cutting down corn & halling etc etc halled a log to mill

Sun 13th
Cty Line

Fair cool day I went to Cty Line Bro Allen preached Mr Gouldin dined hear home this evening my coal [cold] keeps me very poly

M 14th
wheat sowed
4 1/2 bu M
dug potatoes
Hanes the ditcher

Fair very dry weather I have had a coal for one month still poly --sowing wheat on the swamp & fresh land on the swamp sowed 4 1/2 bu Mam wheat Mam [Mam crossed out] dug my potatoes Irish at at new garden 10 or 15 bushels - dug sweet cart load 20 bu very small potatoes I paid Mr hanes 2 dollars 50cts for ditching for Ma. wheat 4 1/2 bu sowing 4 1/2 bu rakeing ploughing diging potatoes shucking corn to night etc etc

Tus 15 th
T.C. P & Mr B
got my pants
K 1sq 2 B
Swann 1 plank
seat to shop
[bracket]

Fair cool morning I went to T. Castle & Providence & to Mr Butlers for my pants got them from T Castle all gone over to E. Anderson, I killed 1 squirl & 2 birds - put up Mama, & my cattle in the pasture fromout of the road put mine in corn field Martin got a sash plant [plank] of me 15 in wide 7 feet 5 in long cattle out of the road sent the double ploughs to shop ploughing for wheat by coalt pen halling of the corn & dug Mama, potatoes sweet, cutting down corn shucking to night

W 16 th
I went to Richmond
wheat sowed 2 1/2 bu
ploughing

Fair warm I went to Chesterfield Depot & from there to Richmond went to Wm Dandridge, & to see Lucy Carter John T Anderson& Sady spent the night at Wm Ds, I paid $1.37 1/2 cts Fair [fare] Mr Hackett sowed 2 1/2 bu M wheat wheat 2 1/2 bu ploughing by the corn house cutting down corn halling it up etc Hackett sowed 2 1/2 bu wheat M

Th 17 th
Richmond
$35
wheat sowed 2 1/2 bu
Cobb Dr to saw
$2.25

Fair very warm day I spent the day in Richmond bought goods to the amount of 35 dollars bought V Cobbs a saw 2 dol 25cts  Hackett some clothes pants waistcoat & cap - 2 d 3c went tosee Thad Hackett sowed 2 1/2 bu wheat wheat 2 1/2 bu ploughing sowing wheat, 2 1/2 bu Mam cutting & halling up corn shucking etc

Fr 18th
From Richmond to
C.F. & home
wheat sowed 1 1/2 bu
[bracket]

Rain a pretty shower last night had none in Richmond I came up home & brought up a good many things I gave Uncle Billy a bu wheat gully Hackett sowed 1 1/2 bu wheat Henry from Mt Airy brought over a hamper bones wheat 1 1/2 bu ploughing sowing shweat 1 1/2 bu cutting down & halling up corn shucking etc etc

Sat 19th
bags to Depot
to Bro Saml
What sowed 4 bu

Cdy most of the day I sent 25 bags to Depot to got to Richmond for lime sowing wheat 4 bu Mammouth, we went to Bro Saml in the evening Molly complaining - wheat 4 bu Finished sowing my field till I got some manure to finish sowed 4 bu m sowed by my shop halling  up corn shucking etc etc

Sun 20th
Came home from Bro Saml
[bracket]

Cdy day rain a few drops I spent the day at Bro Sam he went to Carmel Bro Fox preached we came home to night Molly confined to bed - Harriett brought a pair pigeons from Bro Sams.

M 21st
owl
went to look for turkeys
1 squ
hog pens

Fair a large frost white cool day an owl came after the fowls last night. I made a neting - nedle [netting needle used to repair nets] to net a burd bag I went to Wares to look for the turkeys killed a squirl saw 3 ducks on the river - shot at them I met with Mr Tate by Cobbs [fence?] Kady laid up to day made 2 hot pens one for Mama, for wheat cutting down corn etc etc.

Tus 22nd
went hunting
1 squ
1 bu gully 2
W.Taylor

Clear day mild I went to look for Turkeys in - Tribbles saw there tracks went to Eyeland by Tates - I killed a squirl let Uncle Wm Taylor have 1 bu gully wheat. ploughing by Mama, ploughing cutting down corn halling corn & shucking corn

W 23rd
went hunting
killed 9 b 2 hairs
went to Depot for
sugar etc
5 bu wheat
Rose  cow from ET
Ma, wheat 4 1/2 bu

Fair mild Edmond Redd came over to hunt. he went home to night Sister Sarah is makeing or netting a burd bag for me, sent to Depot got salt sugar & molaces left my shot & leather in Richmond - Mama had 5 bushels Mam wheat to sow sowed 4 1/2 bushels rakeing it in etc. Rose cow came home Peter pd 1 16 leather 20 cts. Dr Joh 12 1/2 cts wor ploughing by hen house at Ma, dug irish potatoes 13 bu 6 1/2 my part sowing wheat 4 1/2 by Mam shucking corn tonight etc 4 1/2 bu wheat

Th 24th
bird bag
wheat
3 bu M for Mama

Rain showery evening it thundered a good deel I have been working on myh bird-bag left it at Mama, Sister Sarah is to net a top piece for it Sister emily is at Mama, [Sarah Taylor Redd, 1808-1886; Emily Harris Redd, 1806-1881] sent some Mammouth wheat to the mill to grind ploughing rakeing in wheat 3 bu mammouth for Ma, sent the ploughs to shop put the corn under the shelter at my stack halling up etc etc 3 bu wheat

Fr 25th
bird bag
Bro Saml & Edmond
2 squirls
5 bls corn
4 1/2 bu wheat

Rain a shower thundered put straps to a bird bag for Sister Sarah, Bro Saml & Edmond came over to look for the turkeys started one I killed 2 squirls, Bro Saml 6 or 7 - saw a good many in Mr Harris,s woods - brought the flour home from mill A smokey day - measured up 5 bls corn to feed on sowing wheat at Ma, 4 1/2 bushels rakeing it in ploughing & halling up corn at Mama, 4 1/2 bu wheat

Sat 26 th
went hunting
killed a turkey
4 birds
1 hair
Frank 25 cts
[bird sketch]
Ana wheat 1 bu

Rain a little cloudy I washed my guns & went hunting with Edmond & Hackett I killed a turkey gobler 4 birds & a hair Edmond crossed the river at west field & went home Frank came up from Richmond I paid Henry 25 cts. for bones ploughing rakeing in wheat1 bushel [?] cutting down & halling up corn etc 1 bu

Sun 27th
Bob
$1.00
Frank
50 cts

Fair cool windy day I gave Bob 1 dollar Frank came over to see me about [ab?] on his sale, sent a letter down to Barbara & 50cts. I gave Frank 50cts I went to Cty Line Bro Cabbin preached Bro Allen spoke for some wheat

M 28th
birds bag
1 killed 3 ducks 1 B
3 bu wheat

Fair a very large frost, saw ice cool finished my bird bag & went hunting I killed 3 ducks & 1 bird killed 2 ducks atone shoot saw 8 or 10 ducks Billy Fox came to see about ditching Malery is at work for Anna. sowing wheat showing wheat 3 bu Mam ploughing by Dabs old house halling up corn shucking to night 3 bu

Tus 29th
went hunting killed 3 squirls & 2 hairs
S 3 H 2
Bro Allen got 2 bu mam
F. Farish $22.-
put up 6 hogs
Ditching [sketch]
wheat sow Ma 2 1/2 bu

Fair large frost caught a hair in the bed had a race Bro Sl went with me I went hunting this evening shot at a gobler in Mt Airy killed 3 squirls hair saw some ducks in [Jask hole] Bro Allen sent for some wheat 4 bu gully 2 mammouth Mama had 4 bu mammouth to sow Mr Fleming Farish came to get me to send for some guano for his mother 22 dollars worth pd me the money put up Mama,s hogs 6 in no Fox the ditcher commenced ditching for Ma above the spring 3 cts a foot for that part
sowing wheat by old barn Swann sowed 2 1/2 bu w ploughing cutting down & halling up corn, shucking to night 2 1/2 bu

W 30th
sent to Depot
for lime etc
[brackets]

Fair, cold morning, a large frost. Ma had a small beef killed, I took a quarter of her, it is to be weighed it weighed 35 lbs I sent to the Depot for lime it did not come brought up a bag of shot & sole leather, sent a letter to Dandridge for Farish I went hunting for the turkeys did not start them. commenced on the new corn shelled a turn to day ploughing by fish pond laying of the land to sow lime & shucking corn to day at my stack shucking to night

Th 31st
Cty Line
$10.00

Fair mild we went to Cty Line Bro Cabbings exibited his gods etc Bro Allen  pd me $10 for 5 bu wheat the ditcher got up to the fence to day ploughing by barn at Ma, halling up corn shucking etc 2 pens corn at myh stack Ma went to meeting