Thomas Rigmaiden's Diary 1847 Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana File submitted by Carlton R. Adamson, Stuart MacKillican, William Quick and Clyde Vincent. File prepared by Connie Wise NOTE: If you have information about any of the people mentioned in this diary, please contact Jan Craven at jcraven@usunwired.net ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ JANUARY 1847 1. Very fine cool day. Beckey and Sukey paid us a visit. I passed last night with very little sleep, the thought of home occupying my mind, which I could not eradicate. *2. Fine cool day. Ed and Adolph went to the gunsmith's and returned at 10 P.M. Eliza, Mary Ann and myself spent the day at Jacob's. Cut a few corn stalks. 3. Cloudy, with some rain. At home reading. Eliza and Mary Ann went to Olezime's. 4. At between 3 and 4 A.M. severe gale from SW with rain. The river rising. Jacob sent Edward to work a week. Adolph and him splitting rails. Cutting corn stalks. *5. A very hard frost and pleasant day. Hands splitting. Employed as yesterday. Wrote Neal. 6. Cloudy with a little drizzle. Hands employed as yesterday. Myself cutting cornstalks. 7. The hardest freeze we have had this winter. Killed the two hogs got from Francois Vincent- 250 lbs. 8. Another hard freeze. Hands employed as all the week. Cut up and salted meat. 9. Cloudy all day with a little rain at night. Hands splitting rails. Cutting corn stalks. 10. Rain most of the day and very cold. At home reading the newspapers. 11. A very hard freeze. Adolph and Edward splitting rails. In the forenoon, cutting corn stalks. E. and A., planting. *12. A very severe frost. Eliza, Mary Ann and Adolph went to Jacob's. Lastee Reon married today. Cut corn stalks. 13. Cloudy with a little sprinkle. Adolph went to the Post Office and brought me & letter from my Sister Lucy. He paid 2 quarters postage on my papers to the 31st March. 14. Continues cloudy. Found the two missing sows with pigs. Could not drive them home. 15. Warm and cloudy. Found the two missing sows, caught five pigs. Killed mine and Adolph's got away with two pigs. 16. Turned cold in the evening. Got up the old white sow and wild one. They have nine pigs between them, six bores and 3 sows. Edward and Olizime killed 2 large hogs of Jacob's. 17. Cloudy, cold day. Eliza and Mary Ann went to Jacob's. Edward and Adolph hog hunting with Jacob. 18. Cloudy, drizzly warm day. Adolph and Olezime cutting house logs. Cut wood in clear a little. 19. Rain last night and a freeze. No work done today. 20. Cloudy and frost all day. Cut wood. 21. Frost and very cold all day. Went to William Bilbo's, respect to buy his place. Hauled wood. *22. Hard frost. Eliza had a quilting. Gave William Bilbo my joint note with Adolph, payable in one and two years, one for $80.00, the other for $100.00. Hauling logs in evening. 23. Cloudy with rain in the evening. Mary Ann's quilt finished. Olezime helping to haul logs in the forenoon. Cut a few logs. 24. Cleared off warm. Took dinner at William Bilbo's. Thence to Jacob's with Eliza. 25. Cloudy. Olezime helping to haul logs in the forenoon. In the evening he went below. 26. Cleared off cold. William Bilbo's negro assisting in hauling logs. Got a very finger. 27. Cloudy and cold. Hauling logs. Cutting corn stalks. 28. Rain all day. 29. Fine day. Isaac came to assist hauling logs. 30. Frost. Eliza at Beckey's quilting. Edward and Adolph helping Jacob to daub. 31. A little frost. Eliza, Mary Ann and Adolph went to William Bilbo's. FEBRUARY 1847 1. (Monday) Frost and cleared up. Hauling rails. Ed marked and altered spotted sow, gang and pigs, 9 barrows and 12 sows for myself, 3 of each for Edward. 2. Rain; the sun shined at 1 P.M. Ear marked and altered the black sow's gang of pigs, four barrows and two sows for myself,- 7 sows for Adolph, 1 barrow and 6 sows. Olezime 1 sow. 3. Freezing all day. Adolph and Isaac putting up fence. Edward hauling rails. F. at William Bilbo's, washing. *4. A very hard frost. Eliza and the girls went to William Bilbo's quilting. Putting up fence. Ed got a pup at J. Dison's. 5. Cloudy. Edward putting up fence. Adolph helping William Bilbo to kill some hogs. 6. Rain all the afternoon. 7. Fine cool day. Edward got 1/3 of a hog killed by William Alston. 8. Fine day. Putting up fence and hauling rails. 9. Pleasant. Cutting logs and rolling them. 10. Cold. Finished rolling logs. Put fire to them. 11. Freezing all day. Olezime had his log rolling. A. and E. there. 12. Very hard frost. Putting up fence and hauling rails. Cutting corn stalks. My fences and . . . . . better. 13. Another severe frost. All hands employed as yesterday. Potatoes finished yesterday. 14. A light frost. Went to William Bilbo's. Took dinner there, and thence to Jacob's and home. *15. Cloudy. Took my plough to Garret Welboan's to be repaired. Thence to Mrs. Ryan's. 16. Rain. Went to Lambert's. Settled with him, he owing me $45.00. Thence to Pujo's. 17. A very hard rain. Returned home with Olezime and got very wet. Edward as far as Pontal's. 18. Some rain in the evening. Edward came home. Adolph working at the old place. Reading. 19. Cloudy with a little rain. Adolph employed as yesterday. Edward started for the race at Austin's. 20. A very hard rain in the evening. Hands at the old place. Trimming the peach trees. 21. Cleared off cool. Planted some nectarine seed and a few peach trees. 22. Cold day. Hands at the old field. Burning log heap and planted a few more peach trees. 23. A smart frost. Hands at the old place. E. and Olezime came home in a pirogue last night. 24. Rain last night and a little today, then cleared off pleasant. Cleaning up the old field and burning log heaps of pines. Hands at the old place. Edward and Olezime brought the pirogue up. 25. The day fine. Rain at night. Burning log heaps. Eliza went to William Bilbo's. Hands here at work. 26. At one this morning a severe south wind, accompanied with rain, thunder and lightening. The day fine and cold. Hands down at the old place cutting corn stalks. Finished at old place. 27. A very cold day. Planted sugar cane. 28. A white frost. Killed a barrow out of the spotted sow's gang. MARCH 1847 1. (Monday) A little frost. Adolph rolled logs in the small field at the old place. Cutting corn stalks. Finished planting corn. Edward went for my plough and James brought 25 lbs. cotton from Needham Coward's. 2. Cloudy with some rain. Adolph ploughing in the rice patch. Cutting corn stalks. 3. Rain all day. Edward, Jack and Olezime killed a bear yesterday. No work today. 4. Cloudy with a little rain. Cutting corn stalks. Hauled boards and rails out of the field. 5. Cloudy all day. Scattered some manure in the old ground. Planted some popcorn. 6. Cloudy with a little rain. Hauling manure in the old ground. Adolph and Edward rolling logs at Pontal's and Jacob's. Girls at Christeen's spinning. Cutting corn stalks. 7. Cloudy and drizzly. Broke the Sabbath by stacking boards. 8. Still cloudy and warm. Adolph laid off a few rows in the old ground to plant. In the morning went to William Bilbo's and took dinner. 9. Continues cloudy. Adolph planted Olezime's cane. In the evening planted ten rows of corn. 10. Cloudy. Planting. 11. Rain last night and most of the day. William Bilbo started. Edward killed a large buck. 12. Rain before day and cleared off cold. Mary Ann quilted a quilt. Adolph hog hunting with Jack. Cutting rails, etc. 13. Some frost. Edward at Jack's, helping him to kill some hogs. Planting corn all day. *14. Another frost. At home all day. Beckey and Armstrong here. Speckled gang of sows and pigs up. 15. A hard frost. Finished planting the old ground. Edward went up to Mr. Alston's. 16. A light frost. Breaking the middles. Edward caught & wolf in the trap. Cutting stalks. 17. A little frost. Finished harrowing. Planted a few hills of potatoes yesterday. 18. A fine day. Adolph moved a few things to his residence and commenced ploughing. 19. Cloudy with a little drizzle. Assisting Adolph to plant his corn. Olezime brought me 4 lbs. tobacco. 20. Very hard wind and some rain. Could not plant today. Sukey and Pontal here. 21. Frost this morning. At home all day. Eliza went to Christeen's. 22. Rain. Edward and Adolph rolling logs at Jacob's. Killed the blue headed barrow, very fat. Armstrong here. *23. Rain most of the night, and cleared off cool. Eliza delivered of a little boy at 8-1/2 P.M. Attended by Sukey. Cutting corn stalks. 24. A smart frost. Adolph finished planting. Edward at Mr. Alston's. Sukey sent for to the Lake. 25. Cloudy and rain most of the evening. Planted a few hills of cotton and cut down corn stalks. 26. Cold and hard N. wind. Adolph and Edward drove up the white sow and pigs. 27. A white frost. Rolled logs in Adolph's big field. In the evening cut corn stalks. 28. Fine pleasant day. At home reading. Adolph brought the spotted sow's gang up. 29. Partially cloudy with hard south wind. Commenced laying off to plant the new ground. Finished cutting corn stalks. Planted and made a few potatoe hills. 30. Today similar to yesterday. Sent Edward for Mrs. Moss. Eliza very sick. He started before day and returned with Mrs. Moss about 1-1/2 P.M. 31. Somewhat cloudy. Mrs. Moss returned. Eliza better. Commenced planting new ground. APRIL 1847 1. (Thursday) Cloudy with a little drizzle. Finished planting new ground. Edward returned as far as Olezime's. 2. Very warm. Adolph ploughing and harrowing corn. 3. Cloudy, wind south all day. Reading. 4. Cloudy and warm. Reading. 5. Still cloudy and warm. Finished making potatoe hills and planting. 6. Very warm today. Commenced planting old ground. Killed the barrow got from William Bilbo. 7. Threatening rain. Finished replanting. Edward went in the Big River with Olezime. 8. Rain last night and today. Hoeing in low ground. Edward returned. Adolph burning logs in his field. 9. Cloudy with a little rain. Planted some pea seed in the garden and doing other jobs. Adolph making potatoe hills and planting them with my horse. 10. A little rain before day; cleared off. Assisting Jacob to plant his field on this side. E. at Jack's. 11. Very warm day. Adolph and myself drove up the spotted gang. Could not get Edward's sow. 12. A very pleasant day. Commenced a letter to my Sister Lucy, dated 14th inst. Adolph planting potatoes. 13. Continues pleasant. Finished my letter. In the evening hoeing corn at the old place. 14. A smart shower. Adolph commenced ploughing the big field. Cutting sprouts and grubbed. 15. A warm day. Employed as yesterday. 16. Very cold, approaching a frost. Work as yesterday. 17. Another cold morning and a little rain. Adolph was to commence planting. 18. Fine pleasant day. At home. Beckey here last night. Catharine's leg still very bad. 19. A very hard rain in the . . . . Adolph ploughing. Feloneeze and myself grubbing and cutting sprouts. 20. A hard rain. Replanting corn and planted some tobacco. Feloneeze and James at the old place. 21. Fine day. Replanting corn. 22. Pleasant. Took my letter to the Post Office. Paid my postage of papers to the 30th Sept. Edward below for his stud. 23. A very warm day. Returned home and replanted corn in the evening. 24. Cloudy most of the day. Finished replanting corn. Edward returned bringing his stud. 25. Very pleasant day. At home reading. Eliza went to Jacob's. 26. Fine pleasant day. Commenced hoeing and thinning corn by myself. Edward worked a little at the cow penn. 27. Very warm and cloudy a little. Employed as yesterday. 28. Threatening rain. Thinning corn. 29. Adolph commenced planting. Made 20 tobacco hills. 30. A very hard rain with hail at 1-1/2 A.M. Adolph planting. Thinning corn. Planted my tobacco. MAY 1847 1. (Saturday) Fine day. Hoeing corn. Adolph ploughing over the corn first time. 2. Cloudy and cold. At home. *3. Cool. Hoed over the pop corn and planted four rows crowders. Adolph and Olezime went to Meyers'. 4. Pleasant day. Hoeing. E. and Mary Anne went to Jacob's. Adolph and Olezime returned. 5. Continues pleasant. Went to Needham Coward's. Borrowed 15 lbs. Coffee and 5-3/4 lbs. for Christeen. *6. Very fine day. Went to look for my lost hogs. Stopped at W. Myers'. Tom Goins with us. 7. Warm. Returned home. Unable to find the hogs. Stopped at Olezime's. 8. Fine day. Adolph hoeing. Edward made cow penn. 9. Very warm. At home reading. 10. Warm. All hands hoeing. Adolph ploughing. George hoeing corn. 11. A little rain. All hands hoeing. Adolph ploughing in the new ground. 12. A fine shower at 1-1/2 A.M. Olezime and Edward went to work on the road. Hoeing. Feloneeze ploughing. 13. & 14. Very pleasant days. Finished ploughing and harrowing. Hoeing in new ground. 15. Warm and dry. Finished hoeing all but seven rows. 16. Warm. Eliza at Jack's. At home. 17. Very pleasant day. Hands hoeing at Adolph's. He ploughing. 18. Fine day. Finished ploughing . . . . potatoe hills. Eliza warping a piece cloth. 20. Continues dry and pleasant. Employed as yesterday. All hands hoeing at Adolph's. 21. Very warm day. A little rain and hail. Went to the Post Office. Received a letter from my brother with a draft for $20.00 lbs. sterling. 22. Still warm. Finished hoeing my potatoes and doing several little jobs. 23. Cool and pleasant. Sukey here. At home reading. 24. Threatening rain. Went to Jacob's. Took dinner there. Hoeing in the turning rows. 25. A very fine rain. Planted out some tobacco. Eliza and James went to Jacob's. 26. Very warm day. Went below. Gave Pujo my draft for $20.00 sterling. 27. Still warm. Took dinner at Melio's. Thence to Pierre's and Mrs. Lyon's. *28. Dry and warm. Went to Pujo's. Took dinner at Mr. Hampshire's. Thence to Mrs. Ryan's. 29. The morning fine. Returned. Had to remain at Olezime Vincent's in consequence of rise of the gully. Armstrong in company with me. 30. Fine day. Returned home. Took dinner at Jacob's. Mr. and Mrs. Alston there. 31. Very warm and dry. Adolph ploughing. Hoeing in the sugar cane. Commenced school with only two of Jacob's children and three of my own. JUNE 1847 1. (Tuesday) Fine day. Adolph ploughing in the old corn. Finished ploughing the potatoe patch. 2. Very warm. Could not find the horses. Hoeing in the stubble cane. 3. A little shower. Adolph went to Cole's for Edward's horse. Could not find him. 4. A warm day. Finished ploughing old corn and commenced sowing peas. 5. A little shower. Finished sowing peas and harrowing. Hoed a little sugar cane. 6. Very warm. At home reading. Mr. Alston paid me a visit. 7. Still warm and dry. Commenced ploughing new ground. Got 1/4 quarter of meat from Mr. Alston. 8. In want of rain. Feloneeze ploughing. Adolph went to Cole's. Feloneeze hoeing. Edward looking for doctor. 9. Threatening rain. A little shower. Adolph ploughing. Edward and Feloneeze hoeing. Hoeing sugar cane. 10. At 1-1/3 A.M. a hard wind and rain. Finished ploughing old ground. Edward sowing and covering peas. Made a few tobacco hills and planted them. Feloneeze making potatoe hills, planting them. 11. Fine pleasant day. Got 5 gallons lard from Pontal. Feloneeze making potatoe hills. Edward sowing peas. 12. Very warm. Sowing peas in the new ground. Adolph ploughing and sowing peas in his small field. 13. Continues warm. Commenced a letter to my brother James, dated 14th inst. 14. Threatening rain. Finished sowing peas. Took dinner at Adolph's. Hoeing in peach orchard. 15. Appearance of rain. Edward and Feloneeze hoeing cotton at Adolph's. Myself employed as yesterday. 16. A fine shower in the evening. Adolph commenced ploughing in his big field. Took dinner there. 17. Rain most of the day. Planted what potatoe hills were made and some tobacco. 18. Very hard rain last night. Cleared off. Killed big head at Olezime's. He took a quarter and Jacob 1/2 a quarter. 19. Fine day, but very warm. Edward and James made a few potatoe hills. Wrote 1/2 sheet of my letter. 20. A very hard rain in the evening. Finished my letters. Planted what potatoe hills were made. Dined at Jacob's. 21. Fine and pleasant. Finished making potatoe hills in the old ground. Ploughed up the cow penn. 22. A very pleasant day. Adolph ploughing and hoeing in his big field. Edward ploughing for potatoes. 23. Very fine day. Hoeing in the orchard. Edward finished ploughing at Adolph's. Sukey here. Took dinner at Jacob's. 24. Much appearance of rain. Had a little. Edward took my letter to meet Post. . . . .William Bilbo brought 4 pairs shoes. 25. A little rain and very warm. Finished hoeing the orchard. 26. Some rain. Hoeing my tobacco. 27. Very warm day. At home reading. 28. Much like rain. Took dinner at Adolph's. Eliza there. 29. Rain morning and evening. Adolph finished ploughing over his big field. Planted a few hills of tobacco. 30. A very wet day. JULY 1947 1. (Thursday) Some rain. Edward got the hooks cut from Sorrel, and Olezime bled Doctor. No work today. Too wet. 2. Very hard rain in the forenoon. Edward made a few potatoe hills. 3. Fine day. Made a few hills. 4. A hard rain in the evening. Took dinner at Adolph's. Thence to Jacob's. Then home. 5. Appearance of a hard rain. Had very little. Edward made a few potatoe hills and planted them. My spotted shoat had three pigs the 14th inst. Feloneeze making potatoe hills at Adolph's. 6. Very fine day. Feloneeze employed as yesterday. Edward hunting all day with Olezime. They killed nothing. 7. Some rain. Hands employed as yesterday. Elano came to school. 8. Rain. Feloneeze sowing peas. 9. Rain in the neighborhood. Not much work done at home today. The squirrels commenced on the corn. 10. A hard rain. Planted a few potatoe vines. Did other jobs. 11. A very hard rain. Got 1-1/2 quarters of a fat cow from Mr. Alston. Planted a few hills with vines. 12. Another rain. Planted what hills were made in the cow penn. Took dinner at Adolph's. 13. A very hard rain. Could not attend school in the evening. 15. Another hard rain. Eliza, Mary Ann and Edward went to the prairie. Took Albert with them. No work done today. 16. & 17. A hard rain both these days. The former could not attend in the evening. 18. Rain today. Eliza returned from below. At home minding my field. Got my papers. 19. A little drizzle. The black sow and blue one came up with pigs, but did not get them in the penn. 20. Threatening rain. Commenced pulling fodder. Only pulled in the forenoon. The black and blue sows brought their pigs up. The black sow, 8, the blue, 6. 21. Rain in the evening. Pulled fodder in the forenoon. Part of the fodder got wet that was down. Adolph sick. Water high. 22. Threatening rain. Pulled no fodder today. Brought in most that pulled. Adolph went home. 23. A hard rain in the evening. Got wet going to school. Took in all the fodder that was pulled. 24. No rain. Tied up fodder. Pulled some in the forenoon. 25. A little rain. Dried the fodder tied up and put it away. A poor week's work. Only got about 180 bundles. 26. Rain in the evening. Got in fodder without getting wet. Cut some tobacco. James sick. 27. The day fine. At night some rain. Took in all the fodder that was pulled and tied some up. 28. No rain today. Feloneeze pulling fodder. She commenced at the bottom of the clearing. Ed at Jack's. 29. Very hard rain in the morning. Some fodder got wet. Tied up some. Pierre paid us a visit. 30. A little rain. Feloneeze pulling fodder; drying and tied up what was pulled yesterday. E. still at Mr. Alston's. 31. A very fine day. Pulled a little fodder in the back of the clearing. Edward returned from his cow hunt. AUGUST 1847 1. (Sunday) another very fine day. Tied up what fodder was pulled. Eliza went to Adolph's. 2. A very fine day. Olezime assisting pulling fodder. Brought in what was dry. Edward went a fire hunting with Jack. 3. Very warm with a little drizzle. Some hands employed pulling fodder. Edward killed a very fat deer. 4. Another fine day. Filled the corn crib loft with fodder, 630 bundles. Olezime pulled fodder in the forenoon. 5. A little rain in the afternoon. Got in all my fodder before getting wet. Edward went with Olezime to make penns. 6. Very fine day. Feloneeze pulling fodder two days at Adolph's. Tied up what fodder was pulled. 7. Fine day. Pulled some fodder. The listed sow came up with six pigs. Tied up some fodder. 8. A very pleasant day. Minding the cows in the field. Edward with Jack to kill wild cattle. 9. Continues fine. Put away the last of the fodder. Got about 900 bundles in all. Feloneeze went to pull fodder at Adolph's. Got a quarter of a yearling from Olezime. 10. A warm day. Edward returned without killing anything. Hung up some tobacco in the crib. 11. A hard rain in the evening. Olezime starting for his last cow hunt. Eliza. . . . a piece of cloth for dresses. No work today. 12. A little shower. Adolph finished pulling fodder. Edward minding the field. Feloneeze came home. 13. Cloudy and very warm. Edward set fire on the other side of the bridge gully. Eliza went to Jacob's. Beckey sick. 14. A very hard rain in the evening. Bending corn in the new ground. 15. A little rain. Profaned the Lord's day by bending corn. Edward killed a der fire hunting. Cart went below. 16. Another hard rain and continued from 10 A.M. until 4 P.M. Ed did not attend school in evening. 17. No rain and very warm. The cart returned, bringing my sack of coffee. Adolph repaired my cart. 18. A very warm day. Cut some tobacco. In the evening a very hard wind with rain. Laid my corn flat. 19. A very fine day. Repaired the field fence that was injured by fallen trees yesterday. 20. Rain in the evening. Could not get to school. Jacob's children came to stay until their father's return. 21. Another wet day. Doing several little jobs. 22. Rain in the morning. At home reading. 23. A very warm day. Edward and Adolph pulling logs. Gave Feloneeze a dose of Ipecac . . . . . 24. A very hard rain in the evening. Hands unemployed. Jacob's children went home. 25. Much appearance of rain. No work done today. 26. A very hard rain in the evening. Adolph and Edward drove Jacob's sows up with three pigs and nine of the spotted sow's gang of shoats. 27. No rain today. Jacob got his sow and pigs. 28. A hard rain. Cut some tobacco. 29. A very fine day. At home reading. Edward caught Jacob's other three pigs. 30. Threatening rain - some rain. Planted a bed of onions. E. up at Mr. Alston's since Saturday. 31. Some rain. Took dinner at Adolph's. Wrote a few lines to Pujo to be sent by Adolph. SEPTEMBER 1847 1. (Wednesday) A very warm day. Rain in the evening. Lewis spayed 11 shoats for me, 5 for Edward and 11 for Adolph. Adolph went below. Edward returned, had killed a buck and a wolf. Got wet going home. 2. No rain today. Edward minding Adolph's field. 3. Fine day and very warm. Adolph returned. 4. A very warm day. No work done today. 5. Cloudy with a little rain. At home reading. 6. Rain. Got wet going home. Edward penned his mares. Only the colt with them. Sukey here. 7. Rain. Edward not at home today. 8. A very hard rain in the forenoon, which rose the gully. 9. A very fine cool, pleasant day. 10. Another fine day. Adolph commenced breaking corn in the big field. 11. Very pleasant. Edward and Feloneeze assisting Adolph. Pulled 6 of the last rows of corn in my field. 12. A very pleasant day. Adolph pulling corn assisted by Jacob and James. Edward not there. 13. Cool and pleasant. Edward and Feloneeze assisting Adolph getting in his corn. 14. & 15. Each day fine and pleasant. Adolph pulling corn. Stacked what corn I had pulled. 16. A warm day, the morning cool. Edward pulled a few rows of corn. Adolph finished on his big field. 17. Continues warm and dry. Edward assisting Adolph getting in the last of his corn. Took dinner at Jacob's. Landry brought Croob home. 18. Pleasant. Doing little jobs. 19. Warm day. Made a . . . . Made out my school account yesterday and gave it to Jacob amounting to $40.00 to the 30th inst. 20. Cool. Made a (ceonmenert?) to break in my corn and began doing so on the new ground. 21. to 25. These five days very favorable for getting in my corn which we finished on Saturday, hauling 12 good loads which stacked. Cut some tobacco and the children gathered some peas in the meantime. Got 1/2 of a large beef from Jacob. 26. A little rain. Finished stacking corn. Adolph taken sick at home. E. went to William's. *27. Fine day. Jacob Lane came to school. Feloneeze pulled a few peas. 28. A very hard wind and some rain. Adolph went below in company with Jacob. Took dinner at Adolph's. 29. A very pleasant day. James picking peas and got snake bit. Got on very slow picking peas. 30. Another pleasant day. Adolph returned. Hands picking peas. Threshed some and put away in the crib. OCTOBER 1847 1. (Friday) Continues cool and pleasant. Did not attend school today. Picking peas. 2. Dry and the day warm. Hands picking peas. 3. Still dry. Eliza went to Jacob's. Feloneeze and James picking peas at Adolph's. Edward at Mr. Alston's. 4. Another warm dry day. Edward picking peas. Feloneeze at Adolph's. 5. Continues dry and warm. Edward and Feloneeze picking peas. Olezime brought me the gray horse from Lambert's for which I gave up his note. The horse is about eight years old but poor. 6. & 7. Dry and warm. Edward and Feloneeze picking peas. 8. Still dry. Eliza went to Adolph's. Very few peas picked today. 9. Fine day. Earmarked spotted sow's gang of pigs - eight barrows and seven sows. *10. Still dry. Mary Ann delivered of a little girl at 1 P.M., attended by Mrs. Alston and Mrs. N. Coward. 11. A little cloudy. Cut some tobacco. Earmarked the black sow. Mr. James Perkins brought me my newspapers, the last no. 860. 12. A hard rain. Killed a cow got from Mr. Alston for six barrels of corn. It was dark before cut it up. 13. Cleared off pleasant. Let Olezime and Jack have each a quarter of meat. No peas picked today. 14. This morning cold. Edward and James picking peas. 15. & 16. Both days dry and pleasant . . . . .peas, etc. 17. Pleasant. Caught a wild shoat, altered it and put it in the penn. 18. Still dry. Looking for beeves. 19. Very pleasant. Put the pumpkins together and put the horses in the field. 20. Still dry and pleasant. Turned the pigs out on the penn. Cut some tobacco. 21. Threatening rain. 22. Rain at noon. Could not get to school in the evening. 23. A very cold rain. Olezime and Adolph cut their cane. We cut part of our stubble. 24. The first frost and very light. Edward killed two bucks. 25. No frost. Adolph and Edward with Mr. Alston to kill wild cattle. Jacob had what cane cut he wanted. 26. Cold, pleasant day. Adolph and Edward returned, having killed a few cattle, but got no meat. 27. Still cold and dry. Got a forequarter of a cow from Olezime. Edward gave chase to a bear. Cut some cane. 28. Continues cool and pleasant. Eliza picking cotton. Adolph put the horses in his little field. Took dinner at Jacob's. 29. Very pleasant day. Hauled pumpkins. 30. A little cloudy. Wrote to my Sister Bess of this date and gave it to Jacob to be sent to the office. Took dinner at Jacob's. 31. Somewhat cloudy. Went with Eliza to Jacob's. Returned by way of Olezime's. NOVEMBER 1847 1. (Monday) A warm day. Commenced digging potatoes. Edward hunting all the evening. 2. Another warm day. Very few potatoes dug today. 3. Fine day. Digging potatoes. Adolph went home. 4. Continues warm and dry. Employed as yesterday. Feloneeze went over to Olezime's at night. *5. Appearance of rain. Christeen delivered of a little boy. Edward and James digging potatoes. 6. Threatening rain. Finished digging potatoes and housing them. Killed a gentle shoat. 7. Appearance of rain all day with some at night and very hard wind. At home all day. 8. Partial showers all day and very hard south wind. Got a forequarter of cow from Jacob. 9. Showers most of the day. 10. Rain the greatest part of the day. Took dinner at Adolph's. 11. Cloudy and cold. 12. Turned warm. Went to the prairie. Stopped at Melea's. 13. Some rain. At the race run by Pujo and George, won by the former. Went to Mrs. Ryan's and stopped there to take my rest. Bell at Pujo's. The following inserted in the diary following November 13, 1847: On presentation you will please pay to Mrs. James F. Lee or order, the sum of five pounds sterling, which I have this day advised you of having drawn on you form Yours, etc. T.R. JR - & Harley Place, Regent Park, London Postage 20 cents Mrs. James F. Lee Madam - I have received a letter from your husband soliciting me on your behalf, to procure you a little present pecuniary relief, which I cheerfully do --although he is an entire stranger to me; I feel safe in conforming to his request, and have a feeling of sympathy for the distressed. Above you have an order on my Brother James for L5 ?? sterling which I make no doubt on its being presented will be duly honored. You will please to acknowledge the receipt of this to your husband, or myself, as soon as possible; he has probably made you acquainted of my intention. Accept my kind wishes for your future welfare. T.R. Mrs. J.F. Lee, at Mr. James Wilkinson's Breastfield Iron Works Walverhampton Staffordshire Cattle received from Olezime Roya 1 cow and calf 1 barren cow & 1- 2 or 3 year old heifer 3 head 3 cows & calves 3 barren cows 2 yearlings 3 Copy of a letter from John A. Wood. Mr. Rigmaiden: Sir: I will settle twenty dollars with you in a few days for Mr. Alexander Ledoux. I have a fifty dollar United States note that came from Middleton Veyland, as soon as I can get it changed I will pay you the twenty for . . . . .as he is not willing to take United States money. Yours respectfully (signed) John A. Wood cr. By . . . . . .November 19, 1839 $3.17 Cash $20.00 14. Fine day. Went to Pujo's. Got a few articles. Thence home without getting any dinner. 15. The second frost. Not very well. Did not attend school. Eliza went to Jacob's. 16. Cloudy and warm. Cut some tobacco. At school. Adolph digging potatoes. 17. Threatening rain. Edward and Olezime went a bear hunting. James and Henry at Adolph's. 18. Very hard wind and rain. Mr. Moss and William Bilbo paid me a visit. Cold evening. *19. A fine day. Edward returned. Received a letter from Mr. Smith and Mr. Reeves. 20. A hard frost. Troubled with a very bad bile. 21. Turned warm and windy. 22. Rain most of the day. Edward with Mr. Alston since Saturday hunting wild cattle. 23. A very fine day. Commenced on the corn in the crib on Sunday. Edward returned. Brought some deer meat and grease. 24. Cool, pleasant day. Killed a fat cow got from Mr. Alston. Eliza put up a piece of cloth yesterday. 25. Frost and very cold. Edward went a bear hunting with Olezime. Jacob and Olezime each got a quarter of meat. 26. A hard freeze. Discovered two teeth little Jacob has got. Eliza went to Jacob's in the evening. 27. & 28. Both these mornings a hard freeze. Commenced cutting corn stalks. Edward returned. 29. Another frost. Mr. Adolph and Edward sawing blocks for the new house. 30. A light frost, clouded up and rain at night. Edward and Adolph employed as yesterday. DECEMBER 1847 1. (Wednesday) Rain all night and cloudy all day. Eliza went to quilt at Jacob's. Finished sawing blocks. 2. Cleared off. Edward and Adolph went to look for his shoats. They killed one. 3. A severe frost. Eliza went to Jacob's to a quilting. 4. Another hard frost. Edward and Adolph looking for his shoats. 5. A very hard frost. Eliza and Mary Ann went to Mrs. Alston's. Got a quarter of meat from Olezime. 6. A light frost and clouded up. Adolph and Olezime went to Jacob's to grind broad axe and other tools. 7. Rain today. Olezime hauling sleepers for the new house. Adolph got what logs were wanting. 8. A very hard rain at night. The boys commenced writing. 9. Rain. No work done today. 10. A hard rain and cleared off. Edward, Adolph and Olezime looking for Adolph's shoats. 11. A light frost. Eliza, Elizabeth, Edward and Henry went below. Cut some corn stalks. 12. Wet, disagreeable day. Wrote a letter to Mr. Smith dated yesterday. 13. Little snow and cleared. 14. A hard frost. Adolph cut and hauled some wood. 15. Frost. Edward bear hunting. 16. Another hard frost. Eliza returned. Left Elizabeth at Mr. Moss's. 18. A hard frost. Jacob assisting me to place the sills of the new house. Cut some sills. 19. A very hard frost. Edward brought a hind quarter. 20. The seventh frost. Eliza and I took dinner at Jacob's. Needham Coward there. 21. A hard freeze and very cold all day. 22. Another freeze. Adolph cutting rafters. 23. The 10th frost and cloudy in the evening. Hauling logs. Wrote to Andrew McMahon and enclosed $10.00 for the subscription to my papers. 24. Rain in the evening. Went to the Post Office. Took my letter. Settled with James Perkins to the 31st inst. Stopped there at night. 25. Very fine day. Took dinner at Needham Coward's. Thence home. 26. A little frost. Edward went a bear hunting. At home all day reading. 27. Warm day. Hauled some house logs and cut some corn stalks. 28. Pleasant. Hauled some rafters and peeled some. 29. Rain all day. 30. and 31. Some rain these two days. Put up a few logs at the new place and hauled the logs to their places. FOOT NOTES JANUARY 1847 2. Gunsmith - Francis Seecher, b. ca. 1805, Maryland. 5. Neal - Mitchel Neal, b. 16 Apr. 1791, Washington Co., Ga., d. 1 Oct. 1855, Rapides parish, La. Previously lived near Rigmaiden in Calcasieu Parish 12. Lastee Reon - Lastee Reon, b. ca. 1820, md. Adeline Benoit, bapt. 3 Oct. 1830 at age 1 year, dau. of Michel Benoit and Lisa Grange. 22. Gave note - Thomas Rigmaiden and Adolph Escoubas purchased property from William Bilbo, evidently as a residence for Adolph and Mary Ann Rigmaiden Escoubas. (See march 18th) FEBRUARY 1847 4. J. Dison - Jesse Dison, b. ca. 1805, La. 15. Garrett Wilboan -b. ca. 1820, La., Occupation: Blacksmith. MARCH 1847 14. Beckey and Alcendor -Alcendor St. Germain Ellender and Rebecca Ryan Ellender. 23. Little boy - Identity unknown. MAY 1847 3. Mr. Meyers - Possibly Rease A. Myers, b. ca. 1825, occupation: Saddler. A resident of Jefferson Co., Texas in area that later became Orange Co. 6. Tom Goins - b. ca. 1820, La. 28. Mr. Hampshire - unknown SEPTEMBER 1847 27. Jacob Landry (?) OCTOBER 1847 10. Little girl - Mary Escoubas. Mrs. N. Coward - Elizabeth Ann Perkins, dau. of Rees Perkins and Martha Morgan, md. Needham Coward. She b. 1818, East Feliciana Parish, La., d. 5 May 1869, Harris Co., Texas. NOVEMBER 1847 5. Christeen - Christeen........wife of Onezime Royer. Little boy - Jean Baptiste Royer. 19. Mr. Smith - Unknown Mr. Reeves - Unknown DECEMBER 1847 23. Andrew McMahon- Unknown