Day Journals of James T. Redd - April 1878

M 1.

Fair/Fair/Fair/Fair Jas did not get home till evening. I went to Hewletts on Johns horse went to Bro Saml & sat a while horse got away at Bro S. [pup? put?] her in citchen I have been quite poly all day had a chil. A boy came to get Jas to hire him he hired him for $5.00 a month I saw Topsy at Huletts. saw Havlock

 

The following entries were written by Thomasia.

April 21st

The above lines were the last penned by that dear hand. Every ready to minister to my wants & to all who needed help. Though he was never well would do all & more than he was able to oblige others. For nearly 40 years he was my constant companion We seldom left each other not even for a week. until Llewellyn was sick in Gloucester. Then I staid there four weeks Seldom he ever spent the day from home on a visit, unless, I was with him. Always kind & gentle to me never spoke harshly or unkindly to me. Little did I think the day he last wrote in this book it was the last time he would ever hold a pen. As he lay on the bed Tuesday 2d day of April he asked for his book just wrote the above lines & said he could not write any more. He was dreful and going about all that day. Wednesday was taken with pain in his side. Sent for Linnaeus he was in Richmond I never thought of sending for another Dr but it will be a source of grief as long as I live I will always reproach my self for it There were many little things I might have done to add to his comfort I feel it now. If I could call him back how differently I would act I feel so lonely but would it not be selfish for me to want him to come back to suffer all he has done for I believe he is now walking the streets of the new Jerusalem. His poor weary feet will pain him no more will no more say “I feel so badly” I have wondered often in the last week if his children’s & loved ones spirits did not hover over him & bear his ransomed spirit home. He tried to do his duty to God & man. His bible was his daily & nightly companion read it through several times during the year Just before he died he said “Lord have mercy on me” I said to him He will have mercy on you He said yes. “I can trust him I can trust Him” April 21st This has been a sad day to me O! I miss Mr Redd so much. While I was about dinner I thought I heard him come home from Carmel. I feel that I can never go to Carmel again I did not go with him and cannot go without him.
Sweet Spring will visit hill & plain.
And Summer flowers will bloom
But he will not come again;
He slumbers in the tomb.
No more that dear voice to hear.
His smiling face to greet,
It makes me very sorrowful,
To see his vacant seat
Sacred to the memory of James Temple Redd –
                              By his wife Thomasia Redd
[verses are unattributed but similar ones appear in other memorials of the time]
[a glued-on, printed copy of the poem “Regret.” – I have typed text in a separate file
James Temple Redd Died April 11th 1878 about 5 O clock in the morning Thursay Born May 28th 1815 Died just one month & a half before he was 69 years old & one month before we had been married 40 years. It seems a short time that we lived togehter but the last week has been a month to me I want to keep His books while I live but want the children to destroy them not to let them fall into the hands of others to make remarks about them No one will prize them when we are gone

Thomasia Redd made entries into her husband's journal 3 years after his death.

 

May 1881

28th

This is Mr Redds Birth day, I am sad and lonely to day, I miss his step & voice, as much now, as I did three years ago. had milk and straw berries I used to surprise him with them for his dinner often if I could get them for him on his birth day Fannie sent me a letter from Harriet this morning She is very poorly I feel out of heart about her recovery She was devoted to her Pa will she be the first to meet him? I have always hoped she might live to close my eyes God! grant that she may get well and be a comfort to her husband & his children Thou! knowest best that we could say Sincerely Thy will be done We are poor erring mortals feel my unworthynes every hour of my life

The next entries by Thomasia were entered in 1887.

January 1887

Saturday 1st

Mr Smith Fannie Luty and Vernon dined with us to day commenced useing the first barrel of flour Xmas preasant from cousin William. Had snow hail & rain [“Sam”lined through] and child came to Hewletts for Lillie Trycle & Bob Christian did not come Jimmie dined here & took a load of hay home [Note: Bob Christian would marry Gwynette Redd on 20 June 1888]

Sun 2nd

Wind north cold disagreeable day Linnae & Gwynette walked to Mrs Southworths to get Otho to meet Lillie & Bob

Mon 3rd

Wind west & very cold Otho went to Hewletts for Lillie & Bob Lillie did not come Jimmie came & dined and took a chicken with him. Otho dined here also

Tus 4th

Wind north east very cold but a little warmer Fannie brought Nora & went back home Byron Otho & Leslie here to night stewed molases young people had fun pulling candy [Note: Byron Southworth would marry Linnae Redd 28 Nov. 1905.]

Wed 5th

Wind South East not very cold Harriet, Annie Gwathney, & Mamie came up this morning commenced snowing about 12 oclock I never saw snow get deep so fast H, A, & M left while it was snowing very fast. Byron came this evening & cut us a good pile of wood sat until after 7 oclock

Thursday 6th

S. west wind clear & beautiful Snow six or 8 inches deep thawing most all day freezing to night John Minor cut wood 3 hours Byron hauled two loads pine wood. Otho got the broom he left at Hewletts Byron gave me two quarters for 50 cts Nora went with Otho to Mrs Lambis Bob Christian still here Had some cream to night. cold night

Friday 7th
Henry came to day

A very cold morning moderated during the day. Mr Smith came to see about hireing Henry did not come back by here. John Minor came at three OClock & cut wood until night I paid him 25 cts owe him 10 cts more for his work yesterday & to day

Sat 8th

Cold day cooked breakfast this morning Was taken with sick stomach & headache very chilly Cousin William came took dinner brought me a letter from Johnie

Sun 9

cool day Sue Buckhannon & son spent the day got a bonnet Otho sat until 11 Oclock tonight

Mon 10

not very cold. Fannie & Nora came this morning F left this evening Nora here John Minor cut half a day, paid him all I owed

Tus 11th

cold Otho took Bob Christian over to Hewletts Jimmie came by from [warrant trying?] Redd Chewning took dinner left (Alec Rose brought me letters from Texas Tom & Garland) in the evening Henry cutting wood all day Nora & Gwynette went to Mrs Lambies Nora on her way home

Wed 12th

Cool day I fixed comfort for Henry. Gwynette came home this evening stopped Jimmie’s chickens up

Thurs 13th

Thawing all day Fannie came while we were at dinner brought me some turnips & apples. Jimmie came for his fowls corn etc etc took them home Cousin William & Harriet came this evening & brought me a pig Took dimensions of my garden Jimmie took dinner brought me 14 dollars and 50 cts change

Friday 14th

Foggy morning. Beautiful evening The last of T J Cluverius (Claveres) [Thomas Judson Cluverius was a lawyer in King & Queen County. Through circumstantial evidence presented at a month-long trial,he was convicted of having murdered his 23-year old cousin Fanny Lillian Madison, then 8 months pregnant. On January 14, 1887, he was hanged in the presence of more than 300 witnesses.]  Otho came for bill for lumber for garden I am not feeling well today

Sat 15th

A bright day We have been beading on Lucys dress. Henry cutting wood on the road & bringing it up in wheel barrow

Sun 16th

Cloudy – Jimmie came up this evening met Gwynette going down to see her Byron took tea with us left about 10 Oclock

Monday 17th

Rained some Byron hauled 3 or 4 loads of wood had to leave to move Sue. Johnie came this evening

Tus 18th

Very cold, Cousin Wm came for Linnie to stay while Harriet is in Richmond Johnie went to Mrs South worths for Gwynette came back about 10 Oclock brought letter

Wed 19

A very cold day Johnie with us Leslie came in the evening staid until 10 Oclock Very entertaining

Thurs 20

More pleasant Johnie left for home Linnie came to spend the day Jimmie took dinner with us both left in the evening Gwynette writing to Bobbie

Friday 21st

Maria Tyler came to see about washing says she will come Tuesday & wash for 25 cts a day cows got out

Sat 22n

A warm day [“cows” lined out] Henry & I fixed the fence on Mrs Lambies side Jimmie came over for boxes out of his Pa’s [ruller? roller?] wheels got them & left for home after dinner

Sun 23rd

Warm spring day Luty & Verna came about 11 Oclock Mr Smith & Fannie came by from County line They all left this evening & took Willie with them. Gwynette quite sick with sore throat she got letter from Nora

Mon 24

Rained very hard last night – Raining all the morning cleared off about 2 Oclock

Tus 25

Beautiful day Maria Tyler washed I paid her 25 cts Edmund Redd came for Fathers chair for Lucy Holliday Took it home Took dinner here. Cousin William came after dinner brought me some oat meal. Jimmie Cobb came to get timber I did not let him have it

Wed 26

Cloudy Jimmie came hauled me two loads of wood carried hay ploughs etc

Thurs 27

Got Byrons horse & sent to mill did not get the meal Linnie came this evening Gwynette went to see Mrs Lambie about Oats can get them for 45 cts 6 bushels

Fri 28th

A good day sent Henry to Hewletts brought card for Jennet Baber brought meal

Sat 29

Raining all day Jennet brought the rest of my meal & got suga sugar [ol?] for meat Hewletts

Sun 30

A nice morning. Fannie came with a pair shoes Sandy sent Lutie too large for her I took them for $1.00 Mrs Southworth Raymond & Audly came this evening Mrs S & Otho staid until bed time. Jannie came this evening She & Fannie left

Mon 31st

Lance & Mamie came this morning left about 12 Oclock Jimmie came hung up my meat got oats from Mrs Southworths carried grind stone & fodder home with him F & G went to Golans Ville

February 1887

Tues Tues 1st

Raymond & Audlie came to see if I wanted hens got brown straw Emma came told me Camilla’s house & every thing she had was burnt yesterday we sent her a few clothes George brought Gwynette two letters.

Wed 2nd

Rain all day no person here to day but homefolks I patched bags for beans & fruit

Thurs 3rd

Cloudy. Sleet all melted Been a busy day various pieces of work. Otho brought a load of lumber for garden

Frid 4th

Clear Otho brought two loads of lumber Jimmie came & took all of his part of the corn left me three sugar barrels ful of corn. Set a hen on 13 eggs to night.

Sat 5th

Linnie came home this morning Mamie came with her sent 1/2 bushel of dirty corn to mill Henry went to Hewletts.

Sun 6th

Fannie Lula & Vernon [Lizzie’s eldest son] spent the day with us Jannie came in the evening

Mon 7th

Beautiful day all three of us here have been beading all day

Tus 8th
Set Pet

Foggy morning bright evening Otho & Byron brought a load of straw Raymond & Audlie came this evening Wilson Quarles here to night came to see the girls about helping him about his commencement Set little Pet on 19 eggs

Wed 9th

Gwynette went to Mrs Lambie Sue Buckhannon spent the night

Thurs 10

Sue went home Otho came to fix the garden. Jannie sent for Otho to send a tramp off. Henry grubing around the garden

Friday 11th

Otho let me have his mule to send to mill did not get the meal Henry brought a bag of bran from Hewletts Sat 12th

Sat 12th

Otho hauled posts for garden let me have his mule to send for meal Sent to Hewletts for oil

Sun 13th

Cold Linnae & Gwynette went to Mrs Lambies spent the day Luty & Vernon came Vernon left this evening Byron sat until bed time

Mon 14

We were beading all day Lulie [Lutie?] spent the day Vernon came for her in the evening

Tus 15th

Rainy morning good evening Shelled corn [“Tolson Quarles came this evening” lined through]

Wed 16th

Otho working on the garden let Sue have the quilting frames Gwynett in bed sick

Thurs 17th

Otho working on the garden Henry cleaning up & burning brush

Friday 18th

Jimmie came & brought my bran took his ploughs etc home Henry carryed corn to mill got half bushel of meal. Gave Jimmie five dollars to change

Sat 19th

Otho at work Fannie & Vernon came this evening Gwynette went back with them. Fanny went to Landora

Sun 20th

Rained all day Linnie Willie [Lizzie’s son, born 1881] & I here all day alone

Mon 21st

Otho at work took dinner with us Wilson Davis came for Jimmies taxes $2.99

Tus 22nd

Linnie went to Mrs Lambies Harriet & Gwynette came & spent the morning Otho brought the last load of lumber

Wed 23rd

Henry & I piling up posts and [Ofol?] pailings [palings are stakes] this morning Snowed hailed & rained all the vening Byron put new helve in the axe

Thurs 24th

Otho & Mr Dugins at work on the garden Edmund Redd came to see me about chair for Lucy Holliday wants me to pay freight for it

Fri 25th
set brown hen

Otho Mr D & Leslie working on the garden. Henry cut the walnut tree down by the garden wind shaken not fit for lumber Little Pet hatched 11 chickens

Sat 26th

Raining all day Put little Pet in the kitchen with chickens

Sun 27th

Cool windy day

Mon 28

Otho at work on garden Mr Smith Fannie & Gwynette came this evening drove Maud & Lelan

March 1887

Tus 1st

Otho finished hauling pailings [palings]

Wed 2nd

Otho finished the garden D Lewis came over & set out grape vines in the garden

Thurs 3d

Otho ploughed the garden & commenced ploughing for corn moved hay for us (Snowed all day last day of March)

Fri 4th

Otho ploughing

April 1887

Fri 1st

Snowed all day yesterday Otho came sat until bed time

Sat 2nd

Good but cool day Byron brought Gwynettes shoe he half soled

Sun 3rd

Fannie & Vernon came to day lovely day

Mon 4th

Planted onions that Fox brought cow calf pretended to fix fence calf went back to Langaus cow got as far as
[This is the last entry by Thomasia]