FRANKLIN COUNTY, TN - MISCELLANEOUS - John Oliver’s Notebook ----¤¤¤---- December, 2003 In December 2003, I received from Hubert Oliver (b. 1912), who lives in Wilder’s Chapel, in northern Franklin County, a black book in poor condition. The book measures 3 inches by 5 inches and is about ½ inch thick. Hubert pointed out that the book belonged to his great grandfather, John Oliver, who lived in Hawkersville (now Alto), Tennessee. Research shows that John Billips Oliver moved from Virginia to Franklin County about 1835. He operated a cotton gin in Hawkersville. Reading the handwriting has been a difficult task. Where entries were made in pencil, I have transcribed them in italics. Several pages contained calculations, which were not transcribed. The entries were not made in chronological order. The contents of each page are listed below in paragraph form. A symbol that looks like and was transcribed as the word “to” was entered often, apparently to indicate an item purchased. Another symbol seems to indicate the beginning of a list. For most pages, my comments are included. Inside front cover: Zeb Dartes & calculations Comment: Zeb Dartis was a black man who was listed in the 1880 census, age 45. John Oliver Book I gote from Zeb Dartes 94 railes (unclear) Lady gote with calf the 8 of Dcmb Rosey gote with calf 22 of Febur the year 1889 Comment: This entry was apparently made long after John Oliver’s death (ca. 1868). Dasey Stud to the horse (?) on the 16 May 1889 Comment: This entry was apparently made long after John Oliver’s death (ca. 1868). Rachal Marys Daughter was Born the 18 of July 1860 Servent John son of Mary was Born the 20 of May 1862 Comment: These slaves are unidentified. Caroline Servant Daughter Nancy was Born the 8 of July 1859 Eliza Daughter of Carroline was Born the 25 of May 1861 John (marked out) Dan son of Carroline Servant was Born the 15 of Jany 1864 Comment: These slaves are unidentified. Carroline Collard Woman son Alexander Newbern (?) was Born the 3 day of September 1867 Comment: These slaves are unidentified. October the 12 – 1863 Pork Walls (unclear) to 1 Bushel corn $1.00 to 1 Bushel of S. Patatus $0.50 1864 11 lb pick cotton at 20C 2.20 to 2 ½ Bushel Corn 2.50 Comment: Probably James K. Polk Walls, otherwise unidentified. Sept 29 1868 A.R. Oliver (symbol) To Mary Hancock Singleton $00.50 Comment: A. R. Oliver is Armistead Rogers Oliver, son of John Oliver. Mary Singleton is unidentified. Three Robbers came in to John Olivers house on the 29 of October 1863 at midnight and searched his house for money finding 6 dollars in Confderate money but did not take it swearing that I had other money and if I didn’t get it they would kill me in a secant like I Could get that for I had nary dollar of any other money but Confederate Money then swore they would burn up the house took a shovel of fire and swore they would Burn up the House and me in it then said we wont Burn your house so close your dorse and go to bed and say nothing about it. John Oliver they would not let me put on my close took my Panterlers a way from me. holding me by the arm most of the time. John Oliver Comment: Such events were not uncommon in Franklin County during the latter part of the Civil War. 1864 March 19 Daniel Champin to John Oliver (symbol) to 5 lb pick cotton $1.50 Settle in full Comment: Daniel Champion may have been a black man. He was not listed in the 1870 census. Brinkle 1755 Hill 2002 Comment: “Brinkle” is probably Brinkley. The meaning of the numbers is not clear. Pork Walls Just work the 25 of December 1863 and began to work a gain the on the 4 of January 1864 Quit work on 16 of Jany 1864 to work (?) on the Rode with D. S. Long Comment: David S. Long was an administrator of the Ikard estate in 1870. Jany the 1 1864 Pork Walls (symbol) to 1 pair of shoe lether $2.00 to 3 Bushel corn $3.00 to 1 ½ Bushel Corn – 1.50 to 2 Bushels C 2.00 to 1 pound (unclear) 0.25 unclear 1868 to John Oliver Martha Walls (symbol) To Money lent $6.00 To 1 Quart Brandy 1.00 (calculations) Isac Rutled 34 (unclear) A R Oliver (unclear) F M Hill (unclear) Wm Hill 21 G W Rutledg 19 Zeb Dartes (unclear) 22 Comment: Martha Walls is unidentified. Isaac and G. W. Rutledge are probably former slaves from Rutledge Hill. Isaac and George Rutledge are listed in the 1880 census, ages 48 and 30, respectively. F. M. Perry/Hill lived with William Hill (my great-great-grandfather) in 1860; he was probably a nephew of William’s wife, Malinda Perry. 1868 to John Oliver Sary Walls (symbol) To Money lent $2.00 To Coffee 1.00 To Sugar 1.00 To Rice 1.00 To 8 lb Salt Comment: Sarah Walls is unidentified. 1868 to J. Oliver John P. Willey (symbol) To 2 Barrels of flour Bought from G. Brannon To $6.00 To G. W. 1868 (symbol) Nead Champin to John Oliver (symbol) to Order $2.50 to Order 1.50 to 5 yards of Domestic 1.00 Comment: John B. Wiley is listed in the 1870 census, aged 68. Comment: George Brannan was a 36-year-old merchant in Alto in 1870. Ned Champion, a black man, is listed in the 1870 census, age 22. Jany the 1864 John Oliver to Elizabeth dun (symbol) To 50 lb Bran at 15 cents per lb $7.50 The a bove is settle in full Comment: Sarah Elizabeth Ellison married Michael Dunn in December 1863. He was a northern soldier from Pennsylvania. 1864 Elizabeth Dun to John Oliver (symbol) to mony lent to By apple (?) Balance $00.60 to 7 lb Bacon 00.70 to 1 Bushel corn (unclear) 1.00 to 18 days Bord 3.00 5.30 The a bove is setle in full Febury the 22 1864 Ras Walls Began to work with John Oliver at 7 dollars per Month Comment: Erasmus Walls married Elizabeth Hill, daughter of William Hill. He later became blind. Recvd two Bushels Corn $2.50 to 2 ¼ Bushel $2.75 to 2 B corn 2.50 to 2 B C 2.50 to 2 bushel 2.50 to 1 B corn 1.90 14 - 65 to 1 Bushel corn 1.90 16 – 55 to 1 Bushel 1 90 (unclear) 18.45 lost time ½ day to ½ day to 1 day May the 24 1863 Mrs Walls (symbol) to 1 Bushel of corn $1.90 to ½ Bushel of Corn 0.95 to 1 Bushel corn 1.90 June 10 1864 to 1 Bushel Corn 1.90 8.55 to 1 Bushel corn 1.90 10.45 Comment: Mrs. Walls is probably Elizabeth Hill Walls. 1864 Mrs Whitaker to John Oliver (symbol) to Laying (?) 1 plow $1.00 to (unclear) 1 plow 0.75 to (unclear) 1 plow 0.75 Receved payment in full of the a bove (symbol) Comment:Mrs. Whitaker is probably Emily Whitaker (b. ca 1810) or her daughter, Martha Ann (b. 1828). 1864 Jane Wildman to John Oliver (symbol) to money lend $3.00 to money 2.00 to 7 lb pick cotton 3.50 to money 2.00 to money 5.00 Recved payment Comment: Jane Wileman is probably Jane Taylor Wileman, who married William Wileman in 1854. She is listed in the 1880 census, age 55. 1864 Isaac (?) Ikard (symbol) to John Oliver to 6 lb pick cotton to $3.00 Paid 1864 May 30 William Lynch To 4 lb pick cotton $2.00 (amount marked out) Comment: Isaac (?) Ikard is unidentified. William Lynch is listed in the 1880 census, age 35. 1864 Silpha Simmons to to John Oliver to 8 lb pick cotton $2.40 Comment: Silpha Simmons is unidentified. 1864 Albert Mccrestin to 10 lb pick cotton Paid $2.50 (amount marked out) 1864 May 30 William Lynch To 4 lb pick cotton $2.00 (amount marked out) Comment: Albert McCrestin is unidentified. July the 9th 1868 Zeb Dardis to John Oliver (symbol) to 1 Sow 250 lb and cotton Deliverd at his of the first picking Winchester Tennessee (written upside-down) May 30 the 1868 (symbol) Martha Walls to money lent $6.00 Comment: Martha Walls is unidentified. John Oliver put his horse in Hense Willis Clover field on the 4 of May 1864 at fifty cents per weak the a bove Horse was taken out of the Clover and stayd out 6 days before Returned by Captain Graum Comment: Hense Willis and Captain Graham are unidentified. Febury 23 1865 John E. Landers to John Oliver (symbol) to money sent to Delaware by Express ten dollars Express to get it thare 1 dollar and 35 Cents Brought Back Comment: John E. Landers is unidentified. I wonder why he sent money to Delaware near the end of the Civil War. 1865 Mrs Ben Lane to John Oliver (symbol) to pick cotton 10 lb $5.00 Comment: Mrs. Ben Lane is unidentified. My boy Gran to John Oliver (symbol) to money lent to ten dollars $10.00 to five dollars 5.00 to 21 dollars paid William Long For meat 21.00 36.00 to pick cotton 10 lb 5.00 to 14 lb 7.00 48.00 Comment: Granville Oliver, a black man, was listed in the 1870 census, age 37. He was apparently a former slave of John Oliver. There were several William Longs in this part of Franklin County, as listed in the 1870 census. September 24 the 1865 Recd from my Gran $00.5 Recvd of Gran 5.00 Recvd 14 lb Bacon 3.50 Nov 10 1865 (faded) Gran sent to (symbol?) to Change for their (?) 45 lb pick cotton (unclear) 12 ½ lb pick cotton let John W Oliver have 12 ½ lb pick cotton took for him self 6 lb to 13 ½ lb pick cotton 12 ½ lb to 34 lb pick cotton to since to the factory Comment: John W. Oliver may have been a black man. (faded) Nov 10the 1865 John Oliver sent to the factory 28 lb pick cotton let John Wilder have 3 lb pick cotton let Eli Smith have 2 ½ pounds pick cotton let Carralin have 10 lb pick cotton let William Smith have 18 (unclear) Comment: John Wilder was my great-grandfather. William Smith, a black man, is listed in the 1870 census, age 28. Eli Smith is unidentified. Caroline is apparently a former slave of John Oliver. Let Rowan Ghosby have 5 lb pick cotton let John Wilder have 7 lb pick cotton let E D Swann have 400 lbs of seed cotton to 20 lb give for Gar (?) to 27 lb for G. W. Oliver to 6 lb for self to 10 lb for Jno. Wilder to 2 ½ lb for Mrs Elenn (?) Comment: Rowan Goolsby is unidentified. E. D. Swann is listed as Samuel Swann in the 1870 census, age 41. Mrs. Elenn (?) may be Ellen Coker Hayes (who later married Johnson Hill), listed in the 1880 census, age 40. 1865 Nov 16 John Oliver in part for his cotton from Lewis Forkens $74 Gran Recd $ 20 to pay for cow. Febry 1866 Recvd for Lewis Frockner in part for cotton $50.00 lent Gran have 5 dollars to By a yearling from Johnson (?) Comment: Lewis Forkens/Frockner is unidentified. Johnson may be Johnson Hill, listed in the 1880 census, age 39. 1865 John Oliver let Jane Wildmon have 7 lb pick Cotton let Rainey Ghosby have 5 lb (amount marked out) pick cotton let William Austale have 8 lb – for self 5 lb Rent for to By Year (?) 20 lb let Mrs Thomas Sanders have 20 (amount marked out) lb lent Comment: Rainey Goolsby, William Austill, and Mrs. Thomas Sanders are unidentified. Febury 8 1866 John Oliver let William L Sargent have a cotton Right for 800 at 9 cents per lb to 200 at 9 cents sent to the facty 29 lb pick cotton let July Sanders have 20 lb picked (amount marked out) let Jane Wildman have 9 lb lent Comment: William L. Seargent and Julie Sanders are unidentified. 1866 Febury 20 Gran Recvd 30 lb pick cotton to spin Gran Recvd of the money got from E D Swan $50.00 Gran Rent to pay for (unclear) and Cheam (?) to Abram Sanders 8 lb Comment: Abram Sanders is unidentified. 1866 John Oliver Recvd to 10 lb for self to 5 lb for self let mrs Sweetton have 20 pick cotton for (unclear) to $14.70 Recvd from William Wilkerson for cotton over drawed Comment: Mrs. Sweeton is unidentified. William Wilkerson, apparently a black man, is otherwise unidentified. 1866 Recvd Isaac Wilkerson for cotton Over drawd 25 dollars John Oliver Recvd of money got from E D Swann $150.00 to 6 ½ for self to 7 ¼ for self lent Mrs Dyal 8 lbs lent Ellen Haynes (?) 8 lb Comment: Isaac Wilkerson, Mrs. Dyal, and Ellen Haynes are unidentified. Ellen Haynes could be Ellen Hayes, and Mrs. Dial could be Sarah Bennett Dial, who married Andrew Jackson Dial. May the 13 the 1866 John Oliver Recvd 15 lb pick Cotton to pay D Patterson for leather (?) Receved for self 8 lb Comment: D. Patterson could be David Patterson from Grundy County. June the 16 1866 Let gran have in mony got for Forkner $5.00 paid to E. D. Swan for gran 1.30 Dember 18 1866 Let gran have in money got from Fackner $30.00 gran Febrary 28th 1867 George Littles Began to work with John Oliver at $10 per month til the 25 of Decmber Next Settled up in full Comment: George Little, a black man, is listed in the 1870 census, age 23. Paid George littles to 7 yards Jany (?) at $1.50 per yard $10.50 to 1 pare of shoes (?) 3.00 to 10 lb pick cotton 2.50 to Gummens (?) for Cost 2.15 to 2 spelling books 0.40 Settle up in full Nov. 25 the 1866 William Rose to John Oliver (symbol) to 21 gallons Brandy at 3 dollars per gallon $63.00 Recvd $ 15.00 Comment: William Rose is listed in the 1870 census, age 23. Febuary the 4 the 1867 Nead Wilkerson Began to work with John Oliver at $10.00 per month til the 25 of Decmber next Settle in full Decmber 25 1867 Nead Wilkerson (symbol) to 3 ½ Lines $2.62 ½ to money 5.00 to money 0.85 to 1 Book 0.20 to 1 pare of socks $0.50 to money lended to his mother $15.00 to 1 ½ pounds of (unclear) 0.75 to 6 yards of Domestick at 25 C 1.50 Turnover 26.42 ½ Settle in full Nead Wilkerson (symbol) to John Oliver to thread & Buttons $00.20 to 1 pound of tobacco 00.50 to 9 Dyen (?) (unclear) 2.25 to 1 coat 2.50 to 1 part pants (?) 2.75 to one hat 2.00 to one handbag 2.25 to one (unclear 0.50) to one (unclear 0.50) 18.45 Settle in full 1867 June 12 Nead Wilkerson to 1 pound of tobacco $0.50 June 2 1867 to money 2.00 to money 1.50 to 1 pound (unclear) 0.20 to 1 ½ pound tobac 0.75 to (unclear) 4.40 to (unclear) 0.10 9.45 Settle in full Nead Wilkerson (symbol) to lost time ½ day to - - ½ day to - - 2 Work for gran 9 days to Lost time 9 ½ Nead Wilkerson Quit work with John Oliver on the 2 day of August at night (unclear) to date due Nead Wilkerson $3.27 Nead Wilkerson Begun to work a gain the 2 day of September at (unclear) Settle in full August 9th 1867 Nead Wilkerson (symbol) From Brannon $1.00 to 1 Box caps 0.10 to 1 coart by George Long 1.50 2.80 to 1 (unclear) 0.10 to (unclear) 0.50 to 1 pound tobc 0.50 to 1 pair of boots 6.00 to 1 pare socks 1.00 10.90 Settle in full Comment: George Long is listed in the 1870 census, age 23. Nead Wilkerson to coat $2.00 to a pare socks .50 2.50 to 1 pare of socks 1.00 to 1 pare of gloves .50 Settle in full Decmber 9 the 1867 (Unclear) Walls Began to Drive the gin Horses for John Oliver and Gran Oliver at 6 dollars per month Lacked 9 days working 4 months taking out the lost time 20 days April the 5 the 1868 Settle in full Decmber 25 1867 After a full settlement with Nead Wilkerson up to date Nead fell in debt $00.15C Nead (symbol) to a pare Boots 6.00 to money 5.00 for Back (?) work Paid Mrs Walls $3.00 Paid Mrs Walls $5.00 Paid Mrs Walls 5.00 Paid Mrs Walls 6.84 April the 5 1868 Settle in full Jackson Hill Possesed from Gran Oliver a certain gray mare he got from Alexander Mcferron the possesing taken from the Couscent (?) Court Cleark April 23 th 1867 Comment: Jackson Hill is a son of William Hill. Alexander McFerron is unidentified. Recvd of Mrs Wever (?) for first Month $2.00 Recd second (rest of page missing) Comment: Mrs. Weaver is unidentified. 1866 John Oliver paid on a note given to Daniel Champion for ther use Armisted John H Oliver $14.70C and a new note given for the Balance which note AV (?) John H Oliver is take up Comment: Armistead is a son of John Oliver. John H. Oliver may be another son (John Sr. had a son named John.) 1866 Feby 15 Singlton Dugles a Black Boy sot in to work with John Oliver 9 dollars per month til the 25 of December next Singlton Dugles quit work the 30 of July 1866 and came never a gain the 20 of August 1866 Jany 20 th 1876 Settle in full Comment: Singleton Douglas, a black man, was listed in the 1880 census, age 29. March the 15 1866 Paid Singleton in Money $00.50 Paid Sington 5.00 Paid Sington 5.00 Paid for stamp (?) 0.5 Paid 2 ½ yards of (unclear) $1.75/yard 4.37 ½ to 5 yard plain Cloath at 50C 2.50 to 1 dozen eggs 12 ½ paid $ 17.55 to pants 3.00 to Hat 2.50 2.50 (unclear) 25.55 1867 Settle in full Singleton Dugles (symbol) By Barton Morse note #3.10 Cents Jany 20 the 1867 Comment: Barton Morse is unidentified. Dember 8 1866 Sington Dugles (symbol) to 1 pare of gloves $00.75 to 1 pare of boots 5.50 to money 5.00 Jany 20 the 1867 1865 Nov 4 John Hendly Began to work with John Oliver at 100 dollars per year. John Hendly quit work on 21 of Jany 1866 at twelve a clock Comment: John Henley is probably John Peter Henley, listed in the 1880 census, age 42. 1866 John Hendly (symbol) to 2 pare of socks $2.00 to 6 yards Pants 9.00 to making coat 1.00 to making pants 0.50 to ¾ yard of whit cloth 0.40 to 1 yard Leney (?) 0.60 to buttons for pants 0.10 to buttons for coat 1.50 14.10 to pare of shoes 2.50 16.60 John Hendly (symbol) to 4 lb Tobaco $1.00 to 1 ½ Bushel of Corn 1.20 Rekich (?) (calculation) George Brannan took possesion of my store house 21 of August 1865 til Chrismus next at one dollar per months Settle Decmber 30 1865 April 9 th 1865 Put my stears in J J Abanathas clover Field my stears was taken out of J. J. Abernathas Clover Field on the 16 of July 1865 Comment: John J. Abernathy was a physician in Alto in 1870. Up to the 29 of April 1865 the stears was taken out of J J Abanatha clover 10 day to - - - 1 to - - - 1 to - - - 4 to - - - 2 to - - - 1 Jany 17 1864 Elizabeth Dunn Began to bord and chile with John Oliver 1862 (symbol) Pork Walls to lost time 3 day to lost time 2 1 (loose page fragment) Thomas Blar 1867 1 time come 1 day 2 time - - 3 3 time - - 3 Comment: Thomas Blair is unidentified. Pork Walls (symbol) to 1 ½ Bushel of corn $1.50 to 2 Bus corn 2.00 to 1 Quart of Malous 0.25 Pork Walls (symbol) to 1 ½ Bushel corn $1.50 to 1 sow and pigs 10.00 to 1 gallon mols 1.00 to 196 lb pork at 10 Cents per lb 19.00 to Balance of Janes (?) 6.00 to 1 gallon Molases 1.60 Pork Walls Began to work with John Oliver the 5 of October 1863. At ten dollars per Month take it wet and dry to be paid in corn and Pork at the Cash Sellin Price Poak Walls (symbol) to 1 Bushel corn $1.00 to 3 yards (unclear) 9.00 $10.00 to one pair of socks 1.00 11.00 to ¼ Bushel of corn .50 to ½ g Molase.50 to 1 Bushel sweet patates .50 to ½ g Molase .50 to ½ B Corn 0.50 September the 12 the 1863 free Mary & Cartly and Bill Bound to John Oliver til they was 21 years old left him with our bap (?) Comment: These slaves are unidentified. to Done it (?) Calley Bennett May 13 the 1868 Comment: Calley Bennett may be Caroline Bennett, listed without a husband in the 1870 census, aged 42. John Olivers negrow boy Ben left Home to go to the Northern Army on the 31 of August 1863 Comment: Ben is unidentified. John Olivers servant left Home to go to the Northern Army with Out his Forecast age 50 years Mamies Marg Mansur (?) 55 yr Mary 5 yr Rachal 3 yr John Oliver 15 Mts (?) September 31st 1863 Comment: These slaves are unidentified. John Oliver (marked out) Febury 1863 (marked out) the 12 of April 1863 John Gipson took his Store House and delling House Back from Doctor More on the 11 of October 1863 (calculations) Comment: John Gipson, who married a daughter of William Hill, is listed in the 1870 census, age 36. End of notebook Transcribed by Donald L. Hill ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Donald L. Hill hilldonl@bellsouth.net ___________________________________________________________________