JOURNAL OF HENRY HAMILTON FLOYD
OF
CAMDEN COUNTY, GEORGIA
FEBRUARY 1852 - MAY 1853 March, 1852. Mon 1st.
Clear and pleasant. I begun a towel stand for Mordina and a clothes rack for Mary D. Floyd. John G. Floyd commenced making a small sail boat. Sent Alonzo to Hermitage on his way to Jeffersonton for the mail. Planted corn in my large garden and begun to plant corn in the field North of the garden. Sammy and Harry had the fever today. Tues. 2d. Clear and warm. The wagon returned from St. Marys about 10 this morning,
and Alonzo from Jeffersonton (third page) at dinner time. I got a letter from Capt. Thomas Bourke wishing to get either John, Charles or Richard Floyd to live with him, it is very kind of Bourke but I know that Mary wont (sic) consent to part with either. John went to Fairfield in the morning an came back to dinner. He went again in the afternoon and returned in the birch bark canoe. John working at his beat and I finished the clothes rack. Planted Celery, Beets, Lettuce, Radishes, Egg Plants
Carrots &c. in my garden. Caroline C. B. Floyd if fifteen years old today. Wed 3rd. Cloudy, strong N. E. wind and cool. Sam'l A. Floyd, John G. Floyd and myself hunted this morning on our way to the Park field. I saw near the three mile post two deer cross out to the left. Sent the boy and the dogs in the Park field to drive this way. Six deer started and one came out to me and I fired at it
about 40 yards but the gun had such a small load that I had no hope of getting it as soon as I found the gun was so smally charged. I neglected examining the gun, which had been loaded some months, before going out. John Floyd went to Fairfield this morning and remained a short time. Today I had the stallion Taylor put in the buggy for the first time and he drew so well that I started Alonzo with him in the buggy for St. Marys this afternoon to remain tonight at Hermitage, I sent Mary D.
Floyd some plants for the garden in town. I sowed pepper seed today. Hands planting corn. Thurs. 4. Cloudy & damp day. John Floyd & myself walked to Fairfield this morning and got back to dinner. Brought over a work bench & placed it & all my tools in the cellar under my office. Hands planting corn. Mother sick last night & this morning with cold & fever. Friday 5.
Clear & warm. Mother sick with cold & light fever. Alonzo returned from St. Marys in the afternoon bringing me several letters, one from Col. I.W. Garnie, (fourth page) requesting me to meet him in St. Marys on Tuesday next. Sam A. Floyd's mare Mary died today. John G. Floyd & myself went to Fairfield this morning and returned to dinner. Satry 6th. Somewhat
cloudy & warm. Late in the afternoon it rained a little. Planted Seewee beans, some corn & okra & many melons water & musk. Hands planting corn. I had brought from Fairfield for Mordina a large prefs. It was in one of the upper rooms & I had to make Isaac take it to pieces before it could be got down. When made it was taken upstairs by a tackle and rope through one of the windows. Sun
7. Cloudy. Had N. E. wind and several showers. I left here long before light for Cabin Bluff where I had to remain until about 9 o'clock when the steamer Welaka came & I got on board and was landed in St. Marys in two hours after. I found the family well except Mary D. Floyd who had a very bad cough. Monday 8th. Cloudy & showery, I went to St. Marys
exprefsly to meet Mr. Isidore W. Garnie who wrote me that he would be in town on Tuesday, but I learned that Garnie pafsed through on Saturday last. Tuesday 9. Clear and warm. I left St. Marys near 2 P. M. Was landed at Cabin Bluff, from the Welika, in time to reach here an hour before sunset. Wed 10. Clear and warm. Early this morning Mordina,
little Harry, & John G. Floyd went to Cabin Bluff to meet the steamer, but as the boat did not come by 4 P.M. they returned. Mordina and Harry wished to go to St. Marys. John killed with my rifle today a large alligator and a wild cat. Last night Edward Hopkins daughter, Mary, was to be married in Darien to Col. (fifth page) Henry T. Titus, of Jacksonville, East Florida. Sister Susan & her daughter Mary went on last Saturday to attend the wedding. Hands bedding land for ground nuts.
My plants many of them are coming up. Thurs'y 11. Cloudy and a hard shower late in the afternoon. John G. Floyd & myself went to Fairfield this morning, loaded the cart with things & sent it to St. Marys: we got back to dinner. I killed and salted for the family in town a very large steer called King. Commenced planting ground nuts. Have now 16 acres of corn planted and most of it up. Fri.
12. Cloudy morning & rainy. Clear afternoon. Beets, Carrots & other vegetables coming up. Hilling Irish potatoes, they are nearly, on an average, a foot high.. I had a new cow pen made & in the old one I will plant melons. John Floyd & myself fire hunted as far as the Park field and back without seeing an eye. Saty 13. Clear
and warm. In the afternoon, Mordina, Harry, John G. Floyd & myself went to Black Point, and after supper John & I fire hunted but saw nothing. Hands finished ground nuts, have one acre, and preparing land for cabbages. Sund'y 14. Cloudy & a good shower. Hard wind in the afternoon. Before light we left Black Point for Cabin Bluff and at 8 A M. the Welaka came & Mordina, Harry & Patty got on board to go to St.
Marys. John & I reached here at 9 A. M. The Wagon got back from town this morning bringing me a letter from Mary D. Floyd and one from Rosalie; each contained a beautiful book marker worked with the hair of these ladies; they are, of course, highly prized by me. Mary wrote me that on the 11th inst. she was quite unwell. The steamer I. Stone on her way South Wednesday last broke a part of her machinery & went back to Savannah, consequently no Northern mail. I (sixth page) employed
myself today overhauling papers. Destroyed many letters & old papers. Mon 15. Cloudy & pleasant day. John G. Floyd & myself rode to the Satilla steamer, Sam Miller, to meet Mr. Paxton, the receiver of tax returns, but as he did not come by noon we left and reached here by dinner. I had, near the boat house, over one task of cabbages set out. All the hands, but one, minding birds. Tues. 16. A very rainy day and wind N. E. Doing but little. Put together the towel stand that I made for Mordina. Wed 17 Clear & pleasant. After dinner John Floyd & myself went to Fairfield. I brought over the two secretaries that stood in the painting room and started them off in the buggy for St. Marys, by Alonzo, who
goes as far as the Hermitage tonight. Sweet potatoes & melons in the potato patch coming up. Manured my garden corn and planted snap beans in the missing places. Planting early peas in my corn. Some of the grafts which John Floyd & I put from an old pear tree in the young pear trees are putting out. On Monday last I planted arrow root. This is my son Sammy's birth day. He is six years old. Thurs. 18. Cloudy,
& in the afternoon quite cool. John Floyd went to the Hermitage to hunt. He saw 4 deer but had no shot. Quash, who was with him, jumped a deer and his gun snapped. The cut worms are now numerous and doing great injury to the vegetables. I planted some snap beans & cucumbers. Finished planting all the peas I had nearly 7 tasks planted in the corn. Friday 19. Cloudy rain & sleet this morning till about noon
when it cleared off. This has been a very cold day. I covered all of the cucumbers, melons & squashes in my garden with boxes barrels, cups, soup plates, & in fact every I suitable that could find I used. Had the Irish potatoes hauled up again today (seventh page) & I don't think they will require any more work. laid off a piece of land, where the old cow pen was at the end of the avenue, & it is 4 task poles each way making 4/5th of a task; as soon as I can fence it I will
plant melons. The ground is very rich. Saty 20. Clear & cold. Much frost this morning. Alonzo got back from St. Marys about 10 A. M. & after dinner I sent to town again to carry letters that I wish to go to Florida tomorrow I started two toys with the oxen and cart to carry a book case to St. Marys for Mary D. Floyd; they go as far as Hermitage. I received a letter from the Rev. N. A. Pratt, of
Roswell, Cobb County, Georgia, in answer to mine relative to his taking John G. Floyd. He is willing to take John, provided John will be governed by his rules. Planted corn between the Irish potatoes. Also sowed radishes in the flower garden. Sowed Cleamo seed. I pafsed a very dull day without being able to afsign any cause for it. I got from St. Marys two fine drum lines. Drum, I am told have been taken in St. Marys. Sun.
21. Clear & pleasant. Alonzo returned from St. Marys in the afternoon, and, by a letter from Mordina, I learn that Jessinda went to Jacksonville to be hired. John Floyd walked to Fairfield this morning & got beck to dinner. I had the boat, which I painted for Sister Julia some months, since, launched today, as John wishes to fish for drum tomorrow. None of my plants appear to be killed by the late frost. Quash was quite
sick last night & today. Mon. 22d. Cloudy morning & rain 'till about 10 A. M. Clear and pleasant afternoon. John went to the creek's mouth this morning to fish. He hooked two drum & __________ one. Nothing caught but a shark. John got back after dark. I planted in the orange grove some crowder peas which Mary D. Floyd sent me the (eighth page) other day. I also planted 4 qts. of snap beans & sowed
tomatoes as those I sowed some weeks ago are not up. I "begun making a towel stand for Mary D. Floyd. My vegetable gardens are in excellent order & I commenced working in my flower garden. Tues. 23. Clear & cool. Samuel A. Floyd ripped his violin, The Black Joke, and glued it all together again. This old instrument has "been "behaving "badly for some time, and Sam'l supposed there was
something wrong in the inside, which proved to be true. The strip fastened to the top as a strengthener was split, which, no doubt, caused the jarring sound which was the fault. I glued a violin for Sam'l. which Dr. Francis W. Sams sent him some time ago. My son Sam'l got several splinters in his hand today from a fence he was climbing & one of the splinters was very hard to be gotten out as it ran nearly through his little finger. I worked at Mary D. Floyd's towel stand & when nearly
completing two feet for it they split & I had to make others. John Floyd caught at Horse Pen Bluff 10 small fish. Wed 24. Cool in the morning. Clear. Wind very high from S. W. & has done more injury to my crop & gardens than the late frost. This morning Sam'l A. Floyd, John Floyd & myself hunted in .the Park drive. Two deer were started. No shots. Next drove the Far point & Bar drives
without starting. I sent Alonzo to see what had become of my boys & cart. He returned about 2 P. M. stating the oxen were tired out a little way beyond the Hermitage. Alonzo brought the letters. I finished the towel stand today. I am very low spirited today, and have been so for several days past. (ninth page) I wrote the Rev. George White, Marietta, Cobb County, Georgia, asking him to recommend a suitable school that I might send John to. Thus. 25.
Clear and pleasant. John Floyd started for St. Marys on horse back this morning. Late in the afternoon Sister Sarah paid us a visit and left after an early supper. Sam'l A. Floyd and myself hunted this morning and near Shelby a deer was started which came within 40 yards of me and stopped. I fired one barrel and as it passed Sam'l in 40 or 50 yards he fired one barrel. Plenty of blood was seen from the place where I shot it and I think if
the boy had followed the dogs it might have got it, but he mistook the run of the hounds and ran in an opposite direction. The boys that I sent to town with the wagon came last night reporting that one of the oxen, Berrie, had given out at the Hermitage. I sent them back this morning and they brought one ox, the other being unable to get up. In the afternoon I sent the buggy for the freight and it got back at dark. I commenced whitewashing my office, cleaning up, &c.
Friday 26th. Clear and pleasant. John G. Floyd returned from St. Marys a little before 4 P.M. I sent the boat to Cabin Bluff this afternoon expecting to meet it there early tomorrow morning and go to St. Marys. Satry 27. Clear day. Before light this morning I was at Cabin Bluff and from there went to St. Marys in a boat. Reached town at 9 A.M.
Sun 28. Clear morning and cloudy afternoon. I accompanied the ladies to the Episcopal Church, both in the morning and afternoon. Mr. Purdy preached two very good sermons. Mon 29. Cloudy 'till afternoon when it cleared. Went to walk with Mordina, Mary and Rosalie late in the afternoon. Spent a very agreeable time. My daughter, Susan was
elected "Queen for the approaching May." (tenth page) Tues 30. Clear and pleasant. Mordina, Harry, Charlie Floyd and myself left St. Marys on the Steamer Welaka and in two hours were landed at Cabin Bluff where we met John Floyd with a conveyance to bring us here. John caught a drum at Cabin Bluff last Saturday and one again this morning. While I was away my old hound, Bounce, died and
the ox, Berrie. Wed 31. Cloudy and several light showers. John Floyd and myself walked to Fairfield this morning and there took a boat for the creek mouth to fish for Drum. At the 1st quarter flood they began to bite and John hooked three and caught one. I hooked 2 and got 1 and Ned hooked 3 and got 1. A boat with 3 persons from the high point of Cumberland was also fishing near us and they caught 5 drum and lost many. When the drum were biting well a shower passed over and they stopped biting; they did not beat while we were catching them. We got back at 3 P.M.
| 
