Foreword
This diary was written in 1836 by Miss Amelia Russ, sister of Miss Adeline Russ, who later married Dr. Mead on Mar 7, 1839. Adeline Russ Mead was the mother of Lois Amelia Mead born December 15, 1839. Lois A. Mead married Henry Weston on July 15, 1858 at Gainesville, Mississippi.
The W. Poitevent mentioned in this diary is William Poitevent who settled at Gainesville, Mississippi and at the beginning of the Civil War was one of the largest planters and most influential politicians in the County. He was also one of the wealthiest men of Hancock County. He married Mary Russ, a sister of Adeline Russ.
I wonder if the Wingate mentioned in this diary was Judge Wingate.
The crossing of the Hobolochitto was probably at the old Kimball Place where one of the Crosby family now lives. As near as I can find out that was the only place where there was a road across the Hobolochitto for many years.
One of Amelia Russ’ sisters married Mr. Kimball, who built the Kimball place on Hobolochitto and the present Mr. Kimball Russ a gentleman of about 80 years, now living in Picayune was named after Mr. Kimball.
Apparently, her brother Samuel had preceded them to Pearlington and had persuaded them that they would better themselves a great deal by migrating to Pearlington.
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A Journal of Our Travels
Left Shallotte Brunswick county N. C. 18th February at 3 o’clock in the evening and started for the WEST arrived at Little River half past 8 o’clock and traveled 16 miles—-
19th A sleety morning left Little River at 12 o’clock made 14 m. and camped Near Harris’es Ferry quite an agreeable night—
20th A pleasant morn all started off in fine spirts and oosed (crossed) Wackamow (Waccamaw) River Harises Ferry paid $1.50 ferriage over-took W. Poitevent and family made 19 miles and all camped together for the first time. We pitched out tents at dark which were 7 in no. and the forest was adorned with out lights —-
21st Sunday all started at 8 o’clock and traveled very well for three or four miles, when W. Poitevent ran away with the cart and broke it to pieces it was repaired and all started again. We passed through a most miserable swamp. The cart broke down and we were obliged to stop traveled 15 miles —-
22nd Started at 8 o’clock and all well and in good spirits and crossed rowing (roaring) creek Floid’s ferry paid $300 ferriage traveled 14 miles —-
23rd All started well and hearty except Aunt Sarah Pr, passed Marion crossed Peedee (Pee Dee) at Marses Blough (Bluff?) Ankrim’s (/) Ferry paid 230 made 19 m and camped at dark had a very rainy night but were fortunate enough to get in a church —-
24th All started at 8 o’clock but not in good spirits perhaps owing to the weather which continues bad. Had a tolerable good road traveled 20 miles and stopped at a camp ground and camped in a commodious meeting house in Darlington District.
25th All started in some better spirits than we were yesterday made a pretty good days travel passed through 2 large swamps traveled 25 miles and camped about dark near Mr. Smoots mill where we had grinding done —-
26th A rained morning started about 10 o’clock past by some beautiful building one of the handsomest I ever saw and through Statesburg traveled 15 miles and camped at sunset crossed Linch Creek paid $1.60 for Toll —-
27th Started at sunrise crossed Wateree Garner’s Ferry paid $2.50 for ferriage traveled 20 miles and camped 9 miles from Columbia near a Mr. Wares —-
28th. Sunday morning a cold wind rainy day about 10 o’clock it commenced sleeting we were ivited to Mr. Wares and were kindly treated—-
29th All started and traveled until we got in sight of Columbia where we all stopped and had our horses shod in Columbia made 9 miles.
March 1st We passed through Columbia crossed the Congraree on a Toll Bridge paid 2.87 ½ cts passed through Lexington 12 miles from Columbia traveled 20 miles when a very heavy hail came up we had the good luck of getting into an old house where we staid all night—-
2nd A rainy cold morning all started and traveled 22 miles, and camped at sunset in Edgefield District—-
3rd Started after sunrise traveled a hilly sandy road very badly cut by the wagons traveled 25 miles and camped 6 m. from Hamburg —-
4th Passed through Hamburg crossed the Savannah River on a toll Bridge paid $2.12 cts passed through Augusta traveled 17 m—–
5th Started a little after sunrise traveled 19 m and camped near a grists mill where we had grinding done—-
6th Sunday morning all started well and in good spirit, excepting Aunt Sally whose health continues very delicate we traveled 19 m crossed the Ogeechee (Ogeechee) on a bridge and camped one mile from it——
7th Traveled 8 miles when we were obliged to stop on account of the rain parted with Mr. Poitevent and family on account of Aunt Sally’s heath which is too delicate to travel—-
8th A rainy morning started and traveled through Sandersville and crossed Buffaloes Bridge paid $1.00 traveled 18 miles and camped—-
9th A clear morning passed over the Coone (Oconee) River at Scotts Ferry and paid $.87 ½ passed through Scottsboro the prettiest little village i ever saw traveled 23 m and camped near a large meeting house—-
10th A cold rainy windy morning traveled the worst road that ever was traveled camped 5 miles from Macon in a little log cabin made 11 miles—–
11th A clear cold morning crossed the Oakmulgee (Ocmulgee) River on a toll bridge paid 62 ½ cts passed through Macon traveled 20 miles—-
12th A pleasant morning traveled 15 miles and camped at Colodensville and remained until Tuesday morning we spent our time very agreeably with our friends and relations. —-
15th A pleasant day left Colodensville passed through Thomaston 16 miles from Colodensville and camped in a meeting house made 21 m. —-
16th A cold damp disagreeable morning corssed Flint River on a toll Bridge paid 62 ½ cts traveled 21 m and camped in a large Baptist Church—–
17th Cloudy morn traveled 25 m and camped in sight of Columbus—-
18th The weather still unsettled passed thru Columbia over the Chatahoocy (Chattachoocheee) on a toll Bridge paid 175 cts passed thru Sodone met a great many Indians lost our way traveled 8 m out of the way over hills traveled 19 miles and camped at sunset—-
19th A pleasant morn crossed the big Euchee on a toll bridge paid 1.12 ½ traveled a sandy road thru a very poor looking the afternoon very rainy got permission to say in a large school house where we were quite comfortable—-
20th Sunday morn cloudy started and traveled 21 miles over a hilly clayey country—-
21st Clear pleasant day crossed Persimmon Swamp paid 75 cts toll made 20 miles—-
22nd Fair cold day crossed Cuthlahoiochee Creek on a toll Bridge paid 1.00 crossed Line Creek Thomason’s Ferry all in good spirits got thru the Indian Nation passed Fort Meggs traveled 20 miles and camped 2 m from Montgomery—-
23rd Passed thru Montgo. And camped a half mile from the Town—-
24th All started and traveled thru the Praries crossed the Potomo River Runnels Ferry paid 125 we had a most miserable road made 20 miles. —-
25th Traveled 20 miles thru a sandy road had a pleasant day—-
26th Very pleasant weather passed thro Greenville traveled 20 miles—-
27th Sunday morning very pleasant and passed by a place in Butler County where there had been a dreadful Hurricane in many places the trees were torn up at sucha rate scarcely one could be seen standing—-
28th Traveled 26 miles had a tolerable good raod passed thru Claiborne and camped near a large Baptist Church 29 and 30 spent at Uncle Wingates (?) —-
31st Started in the afternoon traveled 8 miles crossed the Ala. River doles ferry camped on the Bank of the river—-
April 1st A pleasant day traveled a hilly road crossed a deep creek made 17 miles- —
2nd Passed thro pine Jackson crossed the Tombecbee (Tombigbee) River Wards ferry paid 262 ½ cts made 21 miles —-
3rd Sunday a rainy day traveled thro a wilderness country made 18 miles—-
4th A clear day traveled 290 miles cross the Miss. line—-
5th Passed thro a level barren country our spirits dull crossed Chekasaha (Chickasawhay) River McKiniss ferry paid $1.00 passed thro Leaksville in Green County the poorest village I ever saw or heard of we could get no provisions of any kind neither for love or money—-
6th Clear warm day crossed Leaf River Moddys ferry paid $1.25 cts provisions scarce stopped at Mr. Dantzlers sent to mill had grinding done made 14 miles camped in a swamp or close by—-
7th Traveled through the most desolate looking country I ever saw crossed Black Creek Perkins ferry paid 150 cts and camped on the bank of the River in Perry County made 31 miles.
8th A pleasant day traveled a good part of the way right thro the woods a good part of the way without any sign of a road Provisions very scarce and hard to get caught Gophers made 27 miles got thro the Gopher Nation—-
9th Clear pleasant weather traveled a good road made 27 miles—–
10th Sunday morning all in good spirits got in sight of Pearl River traveled a hilly road made 20 miles arrived at Br. Asa’s at sunset—-
11th and 12 spent with Asa—-
13th All started a crooked rood crossed Hobolochitto paid $2.25 cts made 17 miles—-
14th Started and traveled 25 miles arrived safe at Br. Samuel’s near Pearlington
(Hancock County, Mississippi)
Miss Amelia P. Russ
Wesley Coke Ashbury Dougherty Gause, born 1815, and Amelia Patten Russ, born 1814, and her mother, Mrs. Amelia Russ (then a widow) came out to Louisiana and Mississippi sometime after 1816, with a group of settlers.