Samuel Hervey Laughlin Diary
I have recently been lucky enough to find someone with a fairly clean copy of the Diary of Samuel Hervey Laughlin and I currently have it ready for viewing.
The copy of this diary sent to me, was a copy from the transcribed document which was found in the Library Search Room, Family File, Tennessee State Library and Archives. History of Laughlin Family, Nashville, Tennessee. I have taken much pain to keep it in the original transcribed form, as it is not my intent to make any correction to grammar or spelling. My only intention was to make this document more available to others.
Also for easy of viewing I've broken it into sections.
Just click on each section as desired.
Section one: Introduction and about one of his very good and much admired friend, Mr. Fleix Grundy (Mr. G.)
Section two: He starts telling about the families of his Grandparents, Uncles, Aunts and Cousins.
Section three: Tells about his immediate family of his parents and his siblings.
Section four: About Samuel's schooling, learning to read and about his different teachers. Story about hunting bear and a anecdote about Capt. Sharp at the battle of Kings Mountain.
Section five: Expressed his desire to become a lawyer and tells of his reading materials. Leaving home for the first time, and his journey to West Tennessee at age 15.
Section six: The journey to West Tennessee and about his traveling companions. And more about his desires of becoming a lawyer and more reading material.
Section seven: Tells about John Catron and some of the residents of Murfreesboro. And begins to practice Law in 1815. And meet James K. Polk before he became a U.S. President.
Section eight: Meets his future wife, Miss Mary Clark Bass and tells about their mostly secret courtship. Gives a record of the birth of their children and the death and obituary of his wife.
Section nine: More about his Grandfather John Dunkin and about his family and others at Ruddle's and Martin's Forts being captured during the Revolutionary War. And other information about the Laughlin family.
Download the entire diary (64 pages)
Feel free to contact me, if you have any questions or comments.