JOURNAL OF HENRY HAMILTON FLOYD
OF
CAMDEN COUNTY, GEORGIA
FEBRUARY 1852 - MAY 1853 March, 1853. Tu. 1st. Clear and warm. Sent Ned to St. Marys with letters.
Wed. 2. Clear and pleasant. Caroline C. Floyd is sixteen years old today. Ned returned (sixty third page) and I hear that Charles R. Floyd left for Savannah on Tuesday last; the object of his visit is to have his teeth fixed by Dr. Parsons. Thurs. 3. Clear and cool. Dr. Delaroche was here this morning for a short time. I
went hunting this morning and started a deer in Bear Drive and as my dogs got away, for which I made Quash whip Ned in the woods, I returned home. Fri. 4. Clear, windy and cool. I sent my boat to St. Marys and in it a box of strawberries for Capt. N. King, of the Welaka, and a box of flowers to go by the Planter to Mifs Mary King, at Kings Ferry, in Florida. Jimmy had fever today.
Satry. 5. Clear and cool and a very high S.W. wind. Sister Mary Ann and Carrie started for St. Marys, by land, after breakfast. After night it rained hard, accompanied by sharp lightning. I commenced reading the novel, "Uncle Tom's Cabin", by Mrs. Stowe. This absolution work, altogether a pack of lies, has caused more excitement than any work that has been published for years, and has bee translated in more
languages. We Southerners call it a novel, as it is nothing less than a tale of fiction, but the authorefs has written it to expose the treatment of our slaves and it is believed to be a true statement in our free states and non slave holding countries. Sun. 6. Clear and cool. Quash returned from St. Marys about 11 A.M. He brought me a letter from Sister Mary mentioning that Charles F. Hamilton's
son, Charlie, died on Sunday last. Sister Sarah got back from Savannah this morning, and in the afternoon Dr. Delaroche and herself came here and spent an hour or two. I finished "Uncle Tom's Cabin," and a poor story it is. It is entirely void (sixty fourth page) of truth or merit. Mon. 7. Clear and cool. There has been white frost for the last three mornings. The boat returned from St. Marys today and
Will and Ned both sick, the latter with the mumps. Sister Susan is 49 years old today. Tu. 8. Clear. I sent Elbert to St. Marys with a trunk for Mifs Mary D. Floyd, and letters for the mail. Jimmy sick with the fever. Wed. 9. A little cloudy and a light shower. Quash was sent to Jeffersonton.
Jimmy had fever again today. Quash got back after night. Thurs. 10. Cloudy and foggy. Elbert returned from St. Marys and brought me a note from Mary D. Floyd saying that Dick has been sick with fever and if he is well enough for her to leave him that she will come out tomorrow in the steamboat. I got a letter from Major B. A. Putnam, with a copy of a letter from Mr. John Wilson, the Commissioner of the Land office at
Washington. Mr. Wilson has directed Major Putnam to give me 750 miles to survey, provided I take no steps hereafter against the Government to recover the amount of the last contract. Mr. Williams has gone to Savannah to consult Judge Berrien about it, and if there is a probability of our recovering from the U.S. what we would have made in our last contracts we won't accept this now offered. All depends upon the advice Mr. Williams receives in Savannah. Jimmy and Harry both sick with fever
today. Fri. 11. Cloudy all day and showery. I went to Cabin Bluff this morning to await the arrival of Mary D. Floyd, who came out on the Gaston about 4 P.M. I shot at an otter today. Mary and I reached here near sunset. (sixty fifth page) Satry. 12. Clear. Doing nothing. Harry very sick. Sun. 13.
Clear. Doing nothing. Harry very better. Mary D. Floyd weighed yesterday, 143 pounds. And Mordina weighed yesterday 128 pounds. Mon. 14. Cloudy and a good deal of rain. Mary and I rode on horse back this morning. Tues. 15. Clear, windy and cool. I sent Will to St. Marys. Wed. 16. Clear morning. Cloudy afternoon and a little rain. Will returned near noon. Thurs. 17. Cloudy all day and a shower in the afternoon. Sammy is 7 years old today. Fri. 18. Cloudy and windy. In the afternoon Mary went with me hunting. Started a
deer in the Bar Drive which escaped by running out near Clarke's Bee Run. Next, put in the margin up to the Park field and made no start. On our way home sent Quash with the dogs to the Cypress (sic) and he started two deer, one of which I killed, a yearling buck. Got back near sun down. Satry. 19. Clear and very pleasant day. Mary and I went hunting this morning and got back at 10 o'clock. Only saw one deer. Bourke had
fever today. Sun. 20. Clear and pleasant. In the afternoon Mary, Mordina, (missing, Sammy and I walked to the Cottage Creek in Stone's field. Mon. 21. Cloudy and rainy day. Will returned this morning. Tue. 22. Clear and pleasant. Mary with me
this morning and on the ma(missing, space for two words) the three mile post two deer were (missing) had two fair shots at one abo(missing) the dogs took at the one (missing) not shoot at and I could (missing) to pursue the other which (missing) have been wounded as the (missing) complete and the chance fair (missing) (sixty sixth page) (Not sure what's going on with the day numbering here – Tara) Mon.
21. Cloudy. Mordina and Mary went to Black Point this morning and got back in the afternoon. Tues. 22. Rainy day. Will returned from St. Marys. Wed. 23. Clear day. I hunted this morning and Mary went with me. I first drove the Far Point Field. Made no start. Put the dogs in
the Bar Drive and opposite the 3 mile post 2 deer came out and I fired twice at one in 35 and 40 yards, but all the dogs got at the other and I could not tell whether I hit the deer or not, although I judge it was wounded by the distance and my aim, which was good. Thurs. 24. Clear and pleasant. Mary and I left here early for Cabin Bluff where we got in my small boat and reached St. Marys at noon. Found Charlie there.
He returned on Wednesday last, looking badly, having been sick in Savannah. Dr. Parsons fixed Charlie's teeth very nicely and charged $37.00 for it. On the 22d inst., Sally, the house servant, had a son, who is called William Robertson Gantt (Gault?). Fri. 25. Clear. Doing little or nothing. Mrs. Phillips, formerly Mifs Kate Smith, died in town this morning. She was married not quite 2 years
since. Sat 26. (Missing) and rain after night. Sent the boat (missing) and Charlie Floyd went in it. (missing) Phillips was burried (sic) at noon today. (missing) Rosalie and I took tea at Mrs. Clark's. (missing) I left St. Marys near noon and in two hours (missing) ded (sic), from the Steamer Planter, at (missing) Bluff and in another hour was (missing) my dogs killed a raccoon on my (missing)
(sixty seventh page) Mon. 28. Clear and cool. I hunted this morning and started 3 deer, but had no shot. This afternoon I hunted again and started 2 does in Peru Drive. They came out to me in 40 yards and I killed one with each barrel. Got back one hour and a half from the time I left the house. One of the deer was uncommonly large and had three fauns in her. Tues.
29. Clear and cool. I hunted this afternoon and started a deer near where the wagon was burnt on the Shelbine Road (same as Shelby Road?). Sent Will to St. Marys. Wed. 30. Clear. I took a hunt in the afternoon and started a deer in the Orchard thicket. It escaped without being fired at. Thurs.
31. Clear and pleasant. Will returned about noon and left the buggy, the horse, Taylor, having run away with it in the yard in town while he was taking out the things I sent. Jimmy had fever today. | 
