April, Tuesday 8, 1862

                   Salem, Lawrence Farm

The entire day rain and snow.

Lawrence Farm small-rented. Two men, one son killed in the Enemy Army by Bull Run. Rent for farm, one third of harvest. On richer farms often one-half of the harvest. Monnayland (Money) is tobaccoland. Is 2 - 3 su??d out. Small farms do not get ahead, cannot make anything to money.

Lawrence is at the same time Weaver for homemade cloth and material for slaves. One negro woman slave about thirty-seven years of age is running the household. Men are quartered in the dark kitchen. Fear on part of the woman for our men. She does not go to bed at all the first night, although we told her to, at least fifty times. She keeps her three year old girl with her on her lap. Aside from that two boys, five and seven years of age, pretty mulatto children. The mother still had four other children, part rented out, part sold. She is diligent and orderly, has learned to read and write by a former mistress inspite of the law forbidding it.

                                                             D. 9th A P