The
The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and
Printed Ephemera
Henry Francis du Pont
5105 Kennett Pike,
302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883
OVERVIEW OF
THE COLLECTION
Creator: Markley, Julia E.
Title: Memorandum book
Dates: 1850-1852
Call No.: Doc. 322
Acc. No.: 86x189
Quantity: 1 volume
Location: 31 C 2
BIOGRAPHICAL
STATEMENT
Julia E. Markley resided in Greenville County, South
Carolina. Her parents were John H. and
Rebecca Markley; Julia was born around 1842.
Her father was a farmer, and in 1850 owned 13 slaves (5 adult men, 3
adult women, 4 boys, and a girl). She
had an older brother Henry (probably not living at home, possibly a
half-brother), and younger brothers and sister Thomas, James (Jimmy), Charles
(Charlie), John, Robert (Bobby), William, and Jessie. It is not known which village was the one
closest to their home.
SCOPE AND
CONTENT
This journal opens with a description of a trip Julia
Markley took from her home in Greenville County, South Carolina, stopping in
Columbia and ending in Charleston. She
stayed there for nearly two months.
While in Charleston, Miss Markley called on friends and relatives; went
to or hosted teas; attended Catholic, Unitarian, and Baptist churches; saw a
statue of John C. Calhoun in City Hall; and went to a fair at the South
Carolina Institute and commented on the Bohemian glass and chinaware displayed
there. Her celebration of Christmas in
1850 included attending both Unitarian and Catholic services, buying a book at
Mr. Russell's bookstore, eating dinner, having tea, and ending the celebration
with fireworks.
There is a gap in entries between December 28, 1850,
and August 11, 1851. By this time,
Markley was back with her family. She
made a vow to "keep a daily account of my life and hope that I may be more
careful to spend this year more faithful to God and myself ..." The brief entries continue until February 18,
1852. During this period, Markley
records such activities as teaching boys (her younger brothers), reading (both
for herself and aloud to other people), sewing for her family and a society,
doing needlework, quilting, attending church services, going to the village,
and visiting neighbors. Julia assumes
responsibility for the household when her mother is ill, which included getting
breakfast and doing some baking. The
Christmas celebration at home in 1851 seems to have been simpler than the one
in Charleston in 1850. Julia mentioned
fixing stockings for the children and that her older brother went out shooting.
ORGANIZATION
The entries are in chronological order.
LANGUAGE OF
MATERIALS
The materials are in English.
RESTRICTIONS
ON ACCESS
Collection is open to the public. Copyright restrictions may apply.
PROVENANCE
ACCESS POINTS
People:
Markley family.
Topics:
Manners and
customs - History - 19th century.
Voyages
and travels.
Young
women - Social conditions.
Home
economics - History - 19th century.
Christmas.
Church
attendance.
Sewing.
Knitting.
Home
schooling.
Young
women – Diaries.
Books
and reading.
Charleston
(S.C.) - Description and travel.
Charleston
(S.C.) – Social life and customs.
Greenville
County (S.C.) – Social life and customs.
South
Carolina \x Description and travel.
Diaries.
TRANSCRIPTION
OF THE DIARY
Location: 31 C
2
[note: some punctuation and paragraphs have been
added in order to make reading easier;
original spelling has been retained.]
Journal for 1850
[written in the margin:]
in Columbia Mrs. John Scot and Miss A.
Fleming called to see me and I returned the visit after Super.
I left home on the 6th of Nov at twelve
o clock and reached Laurence at 8 o clock, very tired; at supper met Mr. C. C.
Pinckney; slept all together in a very strange room; at 3 in the morning got up and got in the stage with a unpleasant
passenger; continued on our road untill 3 in the afternoon; arrived at the
railroad; after waiting an hour, got on the rail [this word is crossed out] cars
and arrived at Columbia; staid at the United States Hotell kept by Hunt; sent
for Tommy; he came after supper and stayed with us for a while; the next day we
visited the Coledge and the Asylum, also Rusels garden; the next day all
started for Charleston, wher arrived at 2 o clock, where were met by Dr
Monefeldt; got in an Omnibus, at [sic] arrived at Mrs Howlands; glad to get
home after a dusty travel.
The next day was Sunday [Nov. 10th]
and I went to Church with Brother H to St. Phillips; herd Mr Cammel and made a
visit to Mrs. Andrews; no fire but glad to see me; asked me to visit her often
and sit in her pew at Church; when we got home Mr and Mrs Barrow was waiting
for me; asked me to [sic] and Lony to tea with her the next week, which I
promised. Mr Hurlbut and Doct Monefedt,
Brother H dined with the H [Howland] family; none of us went to church in the
afternoon; after tea all sat arround the fire and separated at 10 o clock; the
next day I preserved Pears.
Tuesday [12th]:
Miss Justina and Sarah went down to King
St and Sarah lost a pair of shoes; then they went to Walterbourough to see her
relation. Lony and my self to tea at
Miss Mary Ann's; met the Bee's; Brother B came for us and walked home. Mrs. H was waiting for us; did not sleep well
at, had a bad cold.
Wednesday [13th]:
commenced to read Daived Copperfield; commenced
a pair of mats; in the afternoon called on Mrs George Brown and Criastianna was
pleased to see me; asked me to spend the day with her; asked after the family.
[David
Copperfield by Charles Dickens]
Thursday [14th]:
went to the Battery; called on Mrs
Willhelm; wa [sic, i.e. was] tired
when [I has been crossed out]we came
home; after tea read aloud the Nieghbours to Mrs H.; Mr W. Howland called on
his Aunt; spoke about the situation of the North and South.
[The book is most probably The Neighbours by Frederika Bremer.]
Friday [15th]:
Lony and I went to the Confirmation; 60 or 70 was confirmed by Bishop
Gadsen; after dinner we stayed home.
Saturday [16th]:
it rained and stayed at home and sewed
for Mrs H on pillow cases; after tea Albert Elfe called, and Dr Gillman also.
Sunday: 17 Nove[mber]:
Lony and I went to the Unitarian Church,
hered Mr Taggot from Kentucy; his text was from the Epistle of St John, a very
good sermon; in the afternoon hered Mr Spear in Grace Church with Debby Elfe;
in the afternoon, it turned cold, after tea, Mr Drummond and Carry and [sic] were
very pleasant, asked me to spend the day with them. Dr Monefeldt asked us to go to the lecture
delivered by Govenor J Lumpkin in the Theatre, which we consented to do with
pleasure.
[The governor is unidentified; Wilson
Lumpkin was a governor of Georgia.]
Monday 18th:
In the morning wrote letters home and
sewed after dinner. Mrs H, Lony and I
went a shopping; at dusk went to Doct M; he was not quite ready; waited for him; he came down and we went to theatre;
the doors was not opened; walked down to the corner of Broad St; returned; got
a good adress and was much pleased; returned to Mrs H; found Brother H, glad to
us; Doct M was hungry; cooked some eggs and chafed some mutton and was statisfied
[sic]. Brother H and the Doctor walked away together;
in the night a fire occured in the night [sic] at the end of Hazel and
Wentworth, near the Mckenebridges[?], but they were safe; the most loss was the
iron foundary; in the afternoon of the same day, we went to see the Statue of Calhoon in the city hall; were much
pleased.
[The Mckenebridges are unidentified; the Charleston city directory
lists a blacksmith named McElheran on Wentworth; possibly this is who is meant. The statue of John C. Calhoun is probably the
one by Hiram Powers.]
Tuesday 19th
In the Morning we to Hhibernian hall to see some Bohemian glass
and China ware, very handsome but to expensive; from their to the Military hall
to the fair of the South Carolina Institute; saw a great many things but not as
numerious as the year before; in the afternoon all of us went to the Unitarian
Church to the funeral of Mr Daniel Webb.
Wednesday 20.
Rained all day. I helped Lony on her chair; read to Mrs H at
night; Mrs Gilling and her daughter came to town for eys [i.e. eyes].
Thursday 21th:
The weather claired, and Lony and I walked
down to Dr Monefeldt to see Mrs Gilling; found her eys in a bad state; sat a
while, then down to spend the day with Mrs Barrow; in the afternoon called to
see Mrs Gerrard; met Mrs Duncan; spent a pleasant time; walked home; Dr M and Mrs
G. took tea with Mrs H. Albert Elfe
called and Brother H; about 10 o clock they went away.
Friday 22nd
Lony went out by her self to call on the bride;
after that dined with her Aunt Mary. I
stayed at home and sewed on her chair; after dinner Mary Gilling and I walked down to Dr M’s. Lony walked home with me; after tea ripped up
an old bead bag for the beads. Brother H
called in the evening, carried letters to the post office for us.
Saturday 23.
Mrs H and Lony, Willie and [sic] went to
market and to the fair and returned just in time for dinner. Miss Louisa Kerrison took tea with us.
Sunday 24 Nov
In the morning went to Grace Church, hered
Mr Spear; Mr Pinckney read the service; road home with Debby Elfe; Mrs Gilling
and Daughter, Dr Monefeldt, Mrs Wilhelme, and Brother H dined with us; in the
afternoon all took a walk out to the arsenal and Bennets mills; the same company
stayed to tea.
Monday, 25th
Sewed all the morning; in the afternoon
Lony and I went out, called on the Statue of Calhoon, then saw me to the Drummond,
where I took tea; after tea Vivian D and Brother H walked home with me.
Tuesday 26th
Sewed in the morning. Mrs Banks and daughters called, also Mrs
Robertson, in the afternoon; Lony and I went to find the Mantua Maker and after
a long walk found her; said she would make it for me by Saturday. Mrs Gilling came to tea.
Wednesday 27th
A very rainny day; moved into the Garret
while the men where [sic, i.e. were]
white washing the rest of the house; the mantua maker called, took a pattern
home with her; in the evening Brother H brought me a letter from home; finished
Copperfield.
Thursday 28th
Sewed in the morning; about 12 o’clock,
Mrs Gilling and Mary came to dine. Mary broke
my [written over the word our]
colgne [cologne] bottle, for which her Mother scolded her; in the
afternoon we took a walk. Dr M came for
her after tea. Brother H took tea with
us. Mr and Mrs J Bryan called.
Friday 29th
Lony and I went out shoping with Mrs Gilling; walked up and down King St
trying to match tings[?], but did not succeed very well; was very tired when I
got home. Mrs H waked [sic, i.e. walked] down after supper to see Mrs
Gilling as she is to start tomorrow for Walterbourough. Doct M walked home with her, eat some cold
mutton, then bid us good bye and walked home.
Saturday 30th,
Sewed in the morning; after dinner Lony,
Mrs H, Willie and I walked down to King St; purchased a cap for Willie. Mrs H & I then went to market, bought sausages
and fruit, then went to Millars for biscuits and a wig, then to Mr Porters for
a ham and water cracker, then to a bookstore for paper & envelops, then to
a grocers for a bucket, then came home after a long walk.
[Wigs, or wiggs, were a kind of bun.]
December 1st, 1850, Sunday
Very dull in the Morning but went to church.
Brother H, Doctor M came to dinner; in
the afternoon it rained very hard; all staid home; had a early tea then after
separated for the night Albert Elfe came
in the evening.
Monday 2nd
Heavy fog, then damp and dull; mid day it
cleared up; walked to Mrs Barow in the after noon, then went to see Mrs Colt[?].
Tuesday 3th
Stayed at home in the morning; in the afternoon
went to see the WiIkies; took tea with Mrs Barow; walked up with B.H.
Wednesday 4
Stayed at home all day and sewed.
Thursday 5th
Stayed at home in morning; in the
afternoon walked up King St to the collar[?] woman, then took tea with Mrs G
Brown; Miss Chapman was their, Mrs Beemer saw Gibbs Blacker[?] handed tea. B.H.
and Willie for us; spent a pleasant evening.
Friday 6th
Went to church in the morning; B.H. took
dinner; had hopping John; then we went to walk on the battery, then to the
warfs, then to Mrs Tunis, then to Jew Sinagogue, then up home; took tea, then
played cards till 10 o clock.
Saturday 7
Rained all day untill near night; then
Lony and my self went to walk to King St to Marians; in the morning helped Mrs
H to make pickles
Sunday 8th Decem
Quite cool in the morning; went to the
Baptist church in Church St with Mr Brown and Anna; hered Mr Kendric;
delightful singing; came home to dinner, then in the afternoon went to Grace
church; hered Mr Pinckney, then home. William
Howland came to tea, then Mr and Mrs Brease to sit in the evening, then Mrs
Barrow. Maun Amy bought me some Groundnut cake.
Monday 9th
Willie and I walked to King St to get some
thing to send home by Mr Mooney; wrote home in the afternoon; took tea with
Miss Kerrison.
Tuesday 10th
stayed at home in the morning; took a walk
in the evening.
Wednesday 11th
Went to see Mrs Barrow; got morracco to
make a needle book.
Thursday 12
Went to call on the Mckneleges; met them
in the street; then called on Miss Sarah Powel, found her at home; then to Mrs Mulling,
saw her and her daughters and son and she asked me to come and spend some time
with her; in the afternoon Lony fixed my hair, then I went to Mrs Tunis, took tea,
met Mrs Shackelford, Miss Elfe, Mr Sutton, Col A[illegible]; then walked home
by the bridge.
Friday 13th
Sewed in the morning; Miss Jessie and the
rest came from Walterbourough. Dctor M
dined the family and stayed to tea. Brother H came up in the evening; all went to
bed quite tired.
Saturday 14th
Lony and Laurar went out in morning; in the
afternoon 'Miss Jessie and I went out a shopping for her Aunt Mary; returned
home quite late, retired early.
Sunday 15th December
In the morning I went to church to St
Peters with Miss Kerrison to hear Mr Miles but heared Mr Pringle; liked him
pretty well. Mr Stewart dined with the
family; did not stay to tea; we were glad to get rid of him.
Monday 16th
Miss Jessie and I out a shopping and
stayed out quite late; stoped in the oyster Saloon, got a tart, then home; the family
nearly done dinner; in the afternoon all stayed at home.
Tuesday 17th
Stayed at home in the morning; in the afternoon
Miss Jessie and Sarah went out a shopping and returned home. Mr. Elfe came in after supper and stayed a
while. Mr H was to sick and tired to
come up.
Wednesday 18th
Quite a beutiful day. Mr H came about 12 o’clock in the morning,
looking quite well, and all glad to see him; mad[e] us all a present of a pot of
pomatum; in the afternoon, Miss Justina and I went out to pay visits, got home
quite late.
Thursday 19th
Stayed at home all day; in the evening Mr
Auray came; in the evening we had a dance, then the girls played on the piano, B
H came too; at 12’o clock we separated, quite tired.
Friday 20th
Stayed at home all day and sewed; spent a
pleasant evening.
Saturday 21th
Miss Jessie and I went to dress the church;
met Miss Eliza Gillman, Miss Willson, Miss Gibbon, Miss Cooper, and other;
stayed quite late; did not go out again that day.
Sunday 22nd
Brother H came for me to go to St Phillips
with him; Sarah went also; we were pleased, heared Mr Waggner; returned home to
dinner; went to the Unitarian church with Mr Howland, hered Dr Glllman;
returned home to tea; seperated at 10 o’clock.
Monday, 23th
In the morning in company with Miss Jessie,
returned to the church; met the other ladies; finished dressing [the church for
Christmas]; then went in to King St; made some purchases; returned home to 3 o’clock
dinner; then went to Mrs Barons to beg for natural flowers to dress the alter
[altar], but did not get any; in the evening made some preparations for Christmas;
sat up late.
Tuesday, 24th
In the morning made
pies of mince meat that came from
Baltimore and a Sponge cake; done up some muslins; after dinner worked a book
mark for Laura, finished a needlebook, helped dress dools [i.e. dolls] for the negrows. Brother H came, & Mr Hurlbut, spent a
lively evening; went to bed at 12 o’clock.
Christmas day
Got up early in the morning; dressed; B.H.
came to breakfast; heared the alarm of fire; all rushed to see where it was; soon
put out; after breakfast all went to the Unitarian Church, heared Dr. Gilman. Miss Jessie, Jilione, Sarah, Laura, Brother H
and me went down to the Roman Catholic church, stayed about an hour; then to
King St; stoped at Mr Russels book store; bought a book; then home to dinner. Mr and Mrs Barrow was at Mr H for a short time;
after they went away, we had dinner: all of the family, Mrs Wilhelme, Dr Monefeldt,
W Howland, Mr G Hurlbut, Brother H and my self; quite a merry party; all
remained to tea but W Howland; in the afternoon Mr H and Mr Hurlbut, Jillion
and I went to walk by Bennitt Mill pond and rice mill; got into a schooner; saw
some works on our way home; after tea the presents were given, then fireworks
in the yard; at 10 we separated.
26 Dec
I spent the day with the Drummonds; walked
In King St with Mrs Bonnel; then dined, stayed to tea, then went to the Cuba Panorama
by Loomis; was not much pleased. Brother
H walked home with me.
[Osbert Burr Loomis was the artist of the
Cuba panorama.]
27, Friday
Lony worked on her hats I on my mat; in
the evening we all danced.
Saturday 28
all stayed at home
[gap
until August 11, 1851]
August 11th, 1851
Journal
I purpose to keep a dally account of my
life and hope that I may be carefull to spend this year more faithful to God
and myself and that may enable me to reflect more, on the shortness of life.
Aug 11th, Monday.
A very hot day. Father made me a present of a beauro [bureau]
and I moved into my new room down stairs; made a bonnet for Jessie, and worked
on the stool for the Society; wrote a note to Miss Hen[?] Stone in answer to
one of hers, went to bed early.
Tuesday, 12
Helped Mother about breakfast, sewed on woostard
[worsted] work all day; hered Robby read and fixed my beura; after supper wrote
to Mrs Hoaland [probably Howland], then fixed my frame with Fathers help.
Wednesday 13th
Made arraingments to go to the village;
started about 9 o’clock. Society met as
[sic, i.e. at] Mrs Beatties; carred my stool; Mrs T Loundis comparied ours
together, suited well. Sallis T was their, called on Miss Corrie; saw her frame;
dined at Uncle Toms; went to Aunt E's; saw Grandmother, all was well, then came
home; got a litter [sic, i.e. letter]
from Touny [? perhaps Tommy is meant].
Thursday, 14th
Before breakfast took a dose of slalts
[sic, i.e. salts]; helpe[d] Mother with a matrass tick, then sewed on my stool,
read the Paper and walked in the afternoon.
Friday 15th
Took Salts; taught the boy untill dinner
time; after dinner went over to Mrs Thompson, saw Mrs. Dr Gantt [or Gault];
passed a pleasant visit; Sallle was not at home; read to Mother the Pioneers
Daughter; did not feel very well.
[The
Pioneer’s Daughter, by Emerson Bennett.]
Saturday 16th
Altered a dress for Venus; Preserved
Peaches; made cake and read to mother; weather quite hot; negres had a prayer
meeting, at night, felt better.
Sunday 17th
Father, Charlie and me went up to the
village to Church; Mr. Aurther preached from Proverbs 28, chap 26, verse
[number omitted], a good sermon; found Aunt E very sick, all the rest well and
at church; dined with Mr Watson; Jane Dyer came home with me to pass a few days.
I received a letter from Carry Drummond;
went to Dr Crooks, got some medicine too, a dose of calomel at night
Monday, 18th
Felt badly in the morning, the effects of
the Calomel, but worked on my stool; Father made the wool matrass; Jimmy went
to the village with wheat; found Aunt E quite sick; the weather looked cloudy
and quite hot and dry; laid down and slept in the mid day; at [sic] Jane told
my fortune in the Sybal; got a bundle from Mrs H of seeds
[Jane was perhaps using something like
“The Sybil’s Leaves” to tell Julia’s fortune; see Doc 63 at this repository.]
Tuesday 19th
Quite a dull morning; Jane & me walked
down to the lower place for figs but was disappointed; got Quinces; got home in
time for breakfast; Father thrashed wheat until dinner; after dinner I laid
down; the rain commenced and continued; Jane fixed my hair and I fixed
hers; after tea we begun a mosaic cushion out of silk pieces, then went to bed with
a dose of Pills
Wednesday 20th
Very rainy and dull all day; finished too [i.e.
two] cushions; helped about dinner; sewed on the stool till night; played with
the boys, at night, read some, then to bed; filt better than usual
Thursday 21th
After breakfast Mother and Jane D up to
the village; I preserved some Damsons over, then made Quince Jelly; Mother
returned by dinner, then saw about the clothes; at night it looked dull and
cloudy [word is completed on next page] and lightened excessively; retired quite
early; took pills
Friday, 22nd
A most beutifull day; sewed constantly on
my stool; heared some lessons; went to bed early
Saturday 23th
Got up early, helped about breakfast;
afterward made a Sponge cake and crackers for Sunday; had dinner late; Jimmy
went home with Mr Hill; Mother and me fell out but soon got over it; I much out of houmour without a cause, God
forgive me; at night it look rainy; Bobby slept with me; took pills
Sunday 24th
Rained all day, hard, and blew all the
corn down; hered the boys read in the morning; after dinner read for Mother;
saw about tea; wiped the things; read out of Jeremiah to Mother, then to bed. Quite cool
Monday 25th
Taught the boys in the morning and sewed. Jimmy returned to dinner. Father went to the poor house. I took a warm bath. Weather pleasent
Tuesday 26th
Finished the stool, all except filling up;
taught the boys; wrote a note to Sallie; Drank Cherry tea. Looked like rain at night
Wednesday 27th
Quite a cool day; I went up to the village
to the Socity; met at Miss McBees, only three present; dined at Mrs Townes; met
Mrs John Roberts; call at Aunt E; found her better; then came home; there was a
ball given to the Govemer (Means) at night
[John Hugh means was governor of South
Carolina, 1850-1852.]
Thursday 28th
Taught In the morning and filled in the
patterns; very cool all day; read the papers to Mother.
[added in margin above:]
Betty Garrison was marred to Mr Acre, a
widoer, quite a private weding.
[Mary Elizabeth Garrison married Peter
Newton Acker.]
Friday 29th
Helped Mother to make an overcoat for
Jessie, then taught; after diner went down to Mrs Charles Garrison’s, saw Mrs
and Miss Westfield; passed a pleasant visit; then to Mrs Turners; Frances was
sick, all the rest well; got home late; knit on Jimmy’s sock; Charlie read the
Old Englies Barrons to us.
[book not identified]
Saturday 30th
Helped about the house; received a letter
from Miss Jessie; made cake after a new reciete
Sunday 31st
Brother Henry came down to breakfast;
Father and me went up to church; Mr Aurther gave us one of his best sermons;
Miss Louisa played the organ; dined at uncle T’s; Grandmother came home with us;
Brother H stayed all night; went up early in the morning; I slept up stairs and
was suffering from a bad cold.
[September
1851]
Monday 1st Sep,
Taught in the morning and sewed on the
society work; wrote a note to Sallie about work; read; walked with Grandmother;
Weather Quite cool
Tuesday 2ond
Jessies birthday, too years old; sewed all
day; Aunt H, Uncle T came down, in the afternoon, I received a note from Miss
Hen. Stone to pass the rest of the week with her, which I accepted; Sent
the stool by Aunt H; wrote a note to Mrs Towns; was suffering from a bad cold.
Wednesday 3th
Made pickles in the morning and got ready
to go to the Stones, after dinner, accompanied by Grandmother, drove there; was
pleasantly received; all home but Miss Mary; commenced a needle book; took tea
in the entry; slept with Miss Hen
Thursday 4th
Got up early; after prayers had breakfast;
then sewed untill dinner time; then helped make a sponge cake; learned how make
boiled Iceing, then got ready for company; all the Smyths were to tea, also
Sallie and Mrs Dr Gault; passed quite a lively evening; Sallie stayed all night
Friday 5th
Mrs Stone early in the morning went down
to her sister; the roads was lined with people going to see a man hung for murdur;
Margaret and Henry Smyth, also Mrs Sam Townes and Miss Hurt[?] call on us and
we rode home part of the way
Saturday 6th
Mrs Davis and family went to the village
shopping; Mrs and Miss Mcbee and Mrs Carson called; Mrs Stone came, in the mean
time, brought the fan Father had made; it was much admired; drizzly by day;
Miss Hen and Eugenia rode to the village to singing; Mrs Butler went home
Sunday 7th
all went to the Presbyterian church, hered
Mr Gailiard preach; ate dinner at the church, stayed to afternoon service;
Sallie dined with us; had a very hard rain. Mother talk with us at the carriage.
Monday 8th
Mrs Davis and family went to chick springs
to spend the week; croched [crocheted] on a purse; paid a visit at Mrs, Smith;
returned and had supper by candelight, then prayers
Tuesday 9th
Very clouday and dull; kept us from paying
visits. Mother came for me in the
afternoon. I returned with her after a
most delightfull visit of a week; found all well but Father, Myself nearly well
of my cold
Wednesday 10th
Felt badly all day and very weak; sewed on
my quilt, made great progress with Mother’s help; took pills at night,
Thursday 11th
Got up very sick, had to go to bed again;
felt badly for some time, but sewed on the quilt all day; read the papers to mother;
took a walk in the afternoon with Mother and Grandmother; Charley read at night
Friday 12th
Commenced to write a letter to Tommy
before breakfast; made Jelly and citron mellon preserves; Sewed on the ribbon
to the bookmark; Sallie Thompson came over in the afternoon; Grandmother and me
walked home with her; Felt quite sick, at night, Charlie read to us; took Pills;
Col Townes begun work at the old [illegible]
Saturday 13th
Father went to the village; I made citron
preserves and read Now and Then to Mother; Sent some over to Sallie; hered Uncle
T was going, made up a bundle for him to take to the city; wrote to Tommy and
Mrs Hooland [sic, i.e. Howland]
[The book is possibly Now and Then by Samuel Warren.]
Sunday 14th
Charlie, Robby and me went up to the
village; hered Mr Aurther; dined at Uncle, all of his family were out; Aunt E
dined out in the country; returned early
Monday 15
Finished some mats; in the afternoon
walked down to Mrs. Turners; had quite a pleasant visit; walked home, did not feel
so very tired as we expected; went early
Tuesday 16th
Helped about the house and finished a doyley
[sic, i.e. doily] for Mother; commenced a pair of suspendrs for Father; walked
down to Mr Langer[?]
Wednesday 17th
Rode in the wagon to the village; went a
shopping and paid a visit to Mrs Turpin; dined at Aunt E on Beef soup, then passed some time with
Aunt H; borrowed some papres then rode home; read out loud at night
Thursday 18th
Helped about the house, then knit and read
the Regicide’s Daughter to Mother; drew molasses; at night read again
[The
Regicide’s Daughter, by W. H. Carpenter.]
Friday 19th
Finished reading; done up some collars and
fluted them; in the afternoon paid a visit to Sallie Thompson; saw Mrs, James
Gault; walked by the road way home
Saturday 20th
In the morning fixed my dress to go to
stay in the village; after dinner grandmother helped me to make some rabbits for
the fair; made seven[?]; fixed my baket [sic, basket is probably meant] at night for the village
Sunday 2lth
Jimmy, Charlie, and I went up to the
village; the Bishop preached, and confirmed 12, then administered the communion;
dined at Uncle T; went to church In the afternoon, hered Mr McCoulough; stayed
at Aunt H's
Monday 22nd
Made a basket out of cruel [crewel]; Miss Corry
spent the day; at 4 o’clock Mrs Hingsland [possibly Kingsland] came down, was
making emories for the fair; took a short walk to the falls; Mrs. Benedict
house was burned up; I went to the Presbyterian church with Brother H; heared
Mr Wills preach
Tuesday 23th
Paid a visit to Aunt E, then walked to the
Powels; bought the muslin in for my spencer and commenced to make it.
Wednesday 24
Finished the spencer and fixed the Rabbits
and read Lewis Arundle; did not feel well
[Lewis
Arundel, by Frank E. Smedley]
Thursday 25th
Walked up to the fair room, no body was
their; then went to Miss Corry’s, had a piece of cake. Mr Croft was to be buried at 12 o’clock; went
home for Aunt H to help with the music; copse [corpse] came sooner than
expected, not many people at the funeral; his wife’s body was removed from the
garden to the grave yard, also his grandchildren; then to dinner; after, Aunt H
fixed my hair, took tea with Miss C and went to the fair with her; stayed
untill eleven; Brother H won the stool.
Friday 26th
Walked to the fair room, stayed a while,
then had dinner. Wrote to Miss Hallonquist;
knit at night.
Saturday 27th
Wrote to Carry D; went to milleners; also
begged so Backlors from Robbersons; dined at Aunt H; went to Aunt E, sat a
while, then to Mrs, Hokes; took tea; borrowed a book, Dombey and Son; then back
to Aunt H; received a letter from Tommy
[Dombey
and Son, by Charles Dickens]
Sunday 28th
Went to Sunday school; borrowed some
books; Mother came to church; Mr Aurther preached on church government; went
again in the evening
Monday 29th
Had some meshes made, then went to Mrs
Hokes; from their to Mrs Robberts; she was out; saw Mrs Elford and Ellen Robberts;
went back to Mrs H; commenced the cap; knit and talked
Tuesday 30th
Went to Mrs R and stayed untill dinner
time; net in the afternoon; learned Susy how to do mats; Venus came up with Jessie;
Mr Green stayed all night; had talk with her
[the order of the last phrases is unclear
since some of them were written above the line]
[October
1851]
October 1st [the word October
is written on top of the word September]
Susy and me went to walk and called on Mrs
Davis and got book out of the library and a strange conversation with Mr Green;
called on Mrs R Smith
Thursday 2ond
Went to Mrs Robberts with my netting; Met
Mrs Maulding, Miss Croton and other ladies; stayed a good while; Miss Bezalue
dined with Susy; a Mr Ward took tea; spent a pleasant evening
Friday 3th
Net in the morning; early dinner, then paid
a visit to Carry Goodlette, Mrs Crook and Mrs Acer; found all at home; saw Mr Towns
at the window; all pleasant visits; then took tea with Miss Bezalue; got home
early
Saturday 4th
Went to Mrs Robberts to finish my cap; had
company; did not stay long; came home and finished it; then stuffed a cushion
for a needle book; Mrs. Hoke, Susy and me went out visiting to Mrs Footers, Mrs
Lynch, Betty Rowland; had a most pleasant visit; stayed longer than we wanted
to; then to Mrs Bobberst Duncan’s, then to Mrs Hokes; after tea walked to the falls
with Dr Crook; had a talk with him at Mrs Hokes; went to bed at 10 o clock
Sunday 5th
Went to Sunday school, then to church;
dined at Aunt H; Grandmother came up and I returned home; saw Aunt E; Dr W Smith
preached in the Methodist church; found mother looking for us; quite cool
Monday 6th
Quilted all day; felt well; talked with
mother; verry cool; read Dombey and son to self
Tuesday 7th
Quilted in the morning; after dinner, Miss
Mary Stowe and Hellen Davis called and stayed sometime; had to finish her needle
book; read Who is the Greatest by Miss Howit aloud
[Who
Shall Be the Greatest, by Mary Botham Howitt]
Wednesday 9th
Mother and Father went to the village; I
sewed on needle books and finished, then sent it over to Sallie; got some roses;
had a sore toe; Lidy went home; Folks got home quite late; all well
Thursday 9th
Quilted all day; read Patronage, Edgworth,
and knit at night; very lame; braided a cap front for Grandmother
[Patronage,
by Maria Edgeworth]
Friday 10th
got the quilt out and read in the evening
Saturday 11th
Read and knit all day and helped about the
house
Sunday 12th
Mother and Charlie went up to church. My toe was very sore; read Lady of the Manor; Grandmother
came home with Mother to stay with us
[probably The Lady of the Manor by Mrs. Sherwood, but possibly the same title
by James Hook.]
Monday 13th
Braided a cap for Grandmother and made it
up. Frances Turner came for me to go
home with her; promised to go the next day; weather pleasant but dry
Tuesday 14th
Charlie and me rode to Mrs T’s on Old Buck;
helped with the dress; spent a pleasant day; Mother came for me; had a nice
ride in the carriage; put in the comfort
Wednesday 15
Quilted in the morning; Grandmother and me
walked over to the Thompsons; out some time; Sallie walked part of the way home
with us; took her Who is the Greatest
Thursday 16th
Quilted in the morning; afternoon Sallie
came over; found out an enigma to gather [probably means together]; walked home with her; wrote to Tommy
Friday 17th
Mother quite unwell; got up and got the
breakfast. The Smiths spent the day with
us, very pleasant. Jimmy came home; received
a letter from Cary Drummond, quite kind one, it was
Saturday 18th
Attended to the house all day; read in the
afternoon aloud; wrote a note to Susy Hoke
Sunday 19
up to the village to church; got up late,
hered Mr Depone; returned quite early; got tea; read aloud to the boys; talked to
Brother Henry who stayed all night; called on Jane Anderson
Monday 20th
Put out Breakfast; after, sewed all day; read at night a Indian
Story aloud; hered the boys the lessons; wrote a note to Sallie
[book not identified]
Tuesday 21
Quilted out the quilt; Grandmother bound it; walked out
Wednesday 22nd
Commenced a shirt for Charlie and kept house; heared the boys and
read aloud Home Influence
[Home Influence, by
Grace Aguilar]
Thursday 23
Wrote a letter to Mrs Barrow in the morning; went to see Sallie,
she was out; saw Mrs Dr Gault, passed a pleasant time.
Friday 24th
Mother took a dose of oil. I sewed and kept house. Jimmy came home and brought a letter from Miss
Hallonquist; all will [well] in the
village.
Saturday 25th
Fixed about the house all day and helped cut out a packet for
Jimmy; Grandmother fried marels; Father read to us after tea; John and Boby
slept with me
Sunday 26
Mother went to the village to church chore [sic, perhaps choir was meant] and Bobby; Grandmother
stayed with me; I read to her Elisama; read aloud at night; Mother came home in
good spirit
[Elisama, or, the Captivity
and Restoration of the Jews, by Jarvis Gregg]
Monday 27th
Heared the boys read; Father went to the village; Mr Watson left
for Charleston; Aunt quite sick; Father got home late; Mr Wilson came to make
shoes
Tuesday 28th
Sewed on a shirt for Charlie, finished it; heared the boys and
read aloud and knit,
Wednesday 29th
Father commenced to dig Potatoes; about 12 o’clock, it commenced
to rain; had to stop; rained very hard; at night riped up my Alpacca dress to
make it over
Thursday 30th
Grandmother, Father, and me went to the village; returned
some books to Susy Hoke, also Mrs Dyers and Aunt H; tried to get a dress, did
not succeed; went to Mr Pick[?], brest pin was not finished; returned home early; Sallie rode over to see me;
Brother [or Mother] entertained her;
passed a pleasant time; Uncle T came home
Friday 31th
sewed on my dress all day; read at night Patronage, and knit;
weather quite warm and pleasant
[November 1851]
Saturday November 1th
Quite unwell all day; fluted some frills; helped about the house;
read in the afternoon; Mother cut out clothes for the boys and got ready for
Sunday
Sunday 2on
Mother, Charlie and Jimmy went up, saw Uncle T, looked well, got
home quite late; I read and wrote; fixed dinner; Becky came at night
Monday 3
sewed on my dress and read Patronage aloud; hered the boys their
lessons
Tuesday
Father went to a trial at the poor house; finished my dress and
knit on a sock
Wednesday 4
Spent the day with Sallie; commenced to braid a cap; made Candy;
Bobby with me[?] came home just at night; read at night; lerned Sallie to mat
Thursday 5th
Mother was in bed all day; had all the house keeping; cut her
skirt; wrote a note to Mrs. T; Sallie came in the evening with her mat,
helped her to finish it
Friday 6th
Mother still unwell; had soup for dinner; Mr Langer dined
with us; praised the soup highly
Saturday 7
Mother better; made some potatoe pies; fixed for Sunday
Sunday 8th
Jimmy, Charlie and [sic] went up to the village to church; hered
Mr Aurthur; dined at Uncles T; Grandmother came home with us; read a sermon at
night
Monday 9th
Hered the boys; Father went to the village; bought some muslin for
me; sewed on a Shirt for Charlie; read the papers at night; finished Lewis
Arundel
Tuesday 10
Hered the boys; sewed, knit, and read
Wednesday 12
Hered the boys; commence my body to a muslin dress; mother fitted
it for me; read at night; very rainy day
Thursday 13
Sewed on dress; hered the boys read
Friday 14th
very cold, sewed all day, knit at night
Saturday 15th
Jimmy came home; brought an invitation to Mrs Turpin’s party; in
the afternoon walked with Sallie
Sunday 16th
Father and me went to the village; dined with Aunt; Mr[?] Watson
quite sick; Aunts E and H, uncle T went out to Mrs Stokes to a funeral; got
home early
Monday 17th
Finished my dress early; fixed some other things for the village
Tuesday 18th
Fluted collars; got my things packed up; started at 2 o’clock; got
in time; went out, bought Gloves, belt, Ribban, shoes; dressed at Aunts and
went round to Uncles T, then to the party; enjoyed my self verry much; got home
about 12
Wednesday 19th
Sewed all the morning; after dinner called with Mrs Hoke and [illegible]
on the Turpins, Crook and Bolings and Walkers; bought the ribbon for my bonnet
Thursday 20th
Dull weather; bought a pair of Gaiters, then went round to Aunt H;
got her to trim it; commenced to rain; had to stay to dinner; walked home with
Uncle T; read Toon Racquet to her
[book not identified]
Friday 21th
Very dull, sewed all day, read at night, quite cold
Saturday 22ond
Got up early; fixed my room; dressed; after breakfast spent the
day with Betty Roland; went over to Mrs Brooks in the afternoon, had quite a
pleasant time
Sunday 23thd
Went to church; dined with Aunt; rained after dinner but came home;
Brother H stayed all night
Monday 24th
Sewed on Mother’s Brown dress; hered the boys; commenced to read
Hawkstone
[Hawkstone, by William
Sewell]
Tuesday 25
Sewed all the morning; hered the boy; paid Sallie a visit in the
afternoon; found she was to leave for the city soon
Wednesday 26 [this entry written in the margin]
Sewed all day
27 Thursday
commenced a chushion and hered the boy read and knit
Friday 28
Finished a dress; Grandmother sick; took a dose of oil; fluted
some frills for Sallie and took a walk with[?] her[?]
Saturday 29th
Helped about the house; fluted frills again
Sunday 30th
Rained all day. Brother H and
Uncle T came down; read a sermon at night; slept with Grandmother
[December 1851]
Monday December 31th [sic,
i.e. Dec. 1]
Cut Candle Papers and made a pair of under sleeves to send to the
city; made up a box to send down and a slip lining for a buggy
Tuesday 2ond
Hered the boys their lessons and cut papers; read Hawkstone and
knit; felt much better
The day is done and the darkness falls
From Wednesday 3th
commenced the purse for Aunt H; worked on it all day; boys said
their lessons
Thursday 4th
Worked on the purse. Killed
the meat; very cold; moved all things out of the spring house
Friday 5
My parent [sic] Wedding day; Mother and I went out in the yard and
attended to it; finished about 7 o clock, quite tired; still cold
[part of this entry seems to refer to killing the meat or moving
the things out of the spring house]
Saturday 6th,
Mother sick; I had to attend to all kinds of work; made Molasses
candy for the boys; went to bed early
Sunday 7th
Charlie, Bobby, and I went to church; came [home omitted?] without stopping; Brother Henry came to stay all
night; made eggnog for them at night
Monday 8th
went to work on the purse; boys said their lessons; read aloud at
night
Tuesday 9th
Croched [crocheted] on the purse; after dinner went to see Sallie;
all sick, did not see Mrs T; wrote to Tommy at night
Wednesday l0th
At the purse again all day; read at night; Father went to the
village with his buggy
Thursday 11th
Fluted and ironed all day; at night, read the paper aloud and knit;
Jimmy went to village
Friday 12th
Made the fringe for purse; hered the boys and read Tales of the
Village alloud; knit at night
[Tales of the Village,
by Francis Edward Paget]
Saturday 13th
Kept house all day; Mother sewed
Sunday 14th
Looked dull; stayed at home and read; after dinner Uncle T and
Aunt H, Lulu, Mary, and Brother H drove down for a while; when they went home,
we went to take a walk
Monday 15
finished the Purse fringe; it turned quite cold; knit at night
Tuesday 16
Still cold; read Woman’s Friendship
[Woman’s Friendship, by
Grace Aguilar]
Wednesday 17
Verry cold; sewed and knit; days very short
Thursday 18
Father went to the village and bought a stove and brought home a
jacket to make
Friday 19th
Helped mother all day on the jacket [two illegible words, one
above the line]
Saturday 20th
Finished the jacket; made a sack for Jessie
Sunday 21th
Verry dull; none of us went to the village; Mother and Father went
to Mr Langor; Brother H came down to stay all night
Monday 22ond
Jimmy went to the village; also Father brought home a present of a
piece of carpet for me which I was quite delighted with; Uncle T sent Mother a
brass bound pail and sundries
Tuesday 23th
Sewed all day and read and knit; made a frill for Aunt E
Wednesday 24th
Made things for the Holidays; took a walk after dinner; fixed the
stockings for the Children
Thursday 25th
Brother Henry came down to breakfast with us, then went a gunning, but
it rained, and they came home and spent the day with us. I wrote to
Ilione but did not finish the letter; at night made Egg nog for the men; slept
with Grandmother
Friday 26th
Father and Brothers went a gunning; Mrs
Langor paid us a visit; had a
Turkey for dinner; commenced on book mark for Carry D; made Eggnog again
Saturday 27th
Rainy; Brother H stayed to breakfast, then carried his game home; I
finished the bookmark
Sunday 28th
Quite dull; Father and all the family read the morning service, then had dinner; after dinner went to ride horse back but it rained so hard that we had to return; then finishd my letters
and commenced
another
Monday 29th
Sewed all the
morning; in the afternoon wrote to Tommy and Carry D; read at night
Tuesday 30
Sewed on my Quilt
with Grandmother all day
Wednesday 31th
Kept house all day and cooked; hemed some
Handkerchiefs and marked them
[January
1852]
January 1, 1852
Thursday 1st
Grandmother and I
went to the village; roads
bad; dined with Aunt E; called on Betty Rowland; Went to see Aunt H; commenced a Quilt; was quite sick at night; had to go to
bed right off
Friday 2ond
Helped with the meat; stuffed the Sausages;
and read the Papers to Mother at night
Saturday 3th
Commenced Jessie’s frock; Mother so unwell
that she could not leave her room; I minded the children and kept house; turning very cold
Sunday 4th
Fine day; Mother sick in bed; all stayed
at home; Father went to see Mr Smith
Monday 5th
Finished Jessie dress, and kept house, and
commenced Guy Mannering aloud, went to soon
[Guy Mannering, by Sir Walter Scott]
Tuesday 6th
Made Venus Sack, then sewed on my Quilt,
and read, in the evening, knit on socks
Wednesday 7th
Sewed on my Quilt and knit on Charles’
sock and finished it
Thursday 8th
Went to see Mrs Thompson; took Jessie with
me; came home to dinner; sewed on the Quilt
Friday 9th
Sewed on the Quilt all day; knit at night;
all well; wet day; read papers, and dressed a doll for Sis
Saturday 10th
Cooked all day; fixed my things; at night made
Alumets;
turned very cold
[Alumettes are a
kind of pastry.]
Sunday 11th
Mother and Charlie went to the village;
Brother H and Mr Watson dined with us; Mother stayed in the village; very cold and winday
Monday 12th
Wrote a letter and
finished a book mark and sent them to the office; made a Rabbit after dinner;
knit at night; still cold
Tuesday 13th
Sent for Mother; Sewed
on a needle book; Mother came; brought a quantity of work home
Wednesday 14th
Began a pink dress for Jessie; knit at
night
Thursday 15th
cut candle papers; sent them home; sewed
for Father; made all the boys say their
lessons
Friday 16th
Helped Mother sew on pantaloons; read the
papers; made some new cake; succeede well
Saturday 17th
Made a bonnet for Jessie and made other
thing; went to ride in the afternoon; weather warm
Sunday 18
Rained all; stayed home; read to my self
Monday 19
Sewed on a Jacket for Charlie; made cake;
in the evening read; received a letter from llione
Tuesday 20
Very cold; sewed on Jacket and made fire
Wednesday 21
Finished the Jacket; commenced a waist
coat for Jimmy; Knit at night; still cold; plenty of [illegible]
Thursday 22
Made a Waist coat for Charlie; Father went
to the village; still cold; Jessie not well
Friday 23th
Made another Waistcoat for Jimmy to go to
school; knit at night; heared the boys regular all the week
Saturday 24th
Made a cap for Grandmother and a pair of
under sleeves for my self; very tired at night, wrote to Tommy
Sunday 25
Jimmy, Charlie and I went to the village; got up in time for church; their was lay reading; dined at Uncle T; left Jimmy to go to school; got home in time; Brother H spent the day and stayed
all night
Monday 26
Wrote for Father and hered the boys
Tuesday 27
Charlie and I went to the village; bought
a dress for my self; dined with Mrs Hascot; all the rest in the country; got my
dress fitted; came home early
Wednesday 28
Helped on a Jacket for John and helped to
keep house; knit at night; Uncles T’s meat killed
Thursday 29
Planlattoons [sic, i.e. pantaloons] for
John; finished his Jacket; took a walk; knit at night
Friday 30 Finished the panlatton;
Jimmy came down; Mother and I walked to Mrs Langors; had a pleasant visit; very
cold[?]
Saturday 31
Made a Set of curtains for Father; Made
cake; wound cotton
[February 1852]
Sunday Febuary [sic] 1
Mother sick in bed; Father went to the
village, took John; spring day; read the book of Proverbs aloud to Mother
Monday 2on
Kept house; mother still in bed; commenced
my dress; quite tired at night; Boys commenced school
Tuesday 3rd
Mother still sick; sewed on the dress
Wednesday 4
Mother better; nearly finished my dress;
cold
Thursday 5
Finished my dress in the morning; called
on Mrs Thompson, found her out; came home and sewed on the quilt
Friday 6th
Mother pretty well; Charlie drove to the
village; took Jessie; dug up some flowers; brought Jimmy home
Saturday 7
Finished some jobs; baked some cacks
[cakes]; read; helped Venus to make a Sponge cake for her self,
Sunday 8
Brother Henry dined with us; Aunt H came
down after dinner to spend
some time; Mrs Hascl also came but left soon
Monday 9th
Made a bonnet for Jessie; Commenced, a
boosom for Tommy; took a walk; slept up stairs
Tuesday 10
Sewed on bosom; helped mind the children
Wednesday 11
Finished my work; walked and read; helped
with dinner
Thursday 12
Hemmed some handkerchiefs; Stiched collar
and wristbands for a shirt; walked out
Friday 13th
Sewed on a needle book; read in the
evening
Saturday 14th
Did up some frills, in the morning, read
aloud; Aunt H went home after dinner; spent a pleasant week; Mr & Mrs H
came for her; she was very sick
Sunday 15
Went to the village with Father; quite
cold; Grandmother came home
with us; Aunt E sick; dined with Uncle T; Tommy sent a bundle home with preasants
for all
Monday 17
Helped Grandmother with her dress; too[k]
a walk down to Mrs Turners; rained; walked home
Tuesday 18
Finished the dress; made a Shirt boosom
for Tommy; went to Mrs Thompsons; paid a pleasant visit
How pleasantly my hours pass. Do I improve them or not; do I waste my time,
for I ought to remember that it was given me to improve and my advantages have
been great but I have not been
[written on inside back cover:]
Lonys birthday = 13 of March
Sarah birthday - 5 of Feb
Miss Jessie - 21s May