Sarah Rodgers Rousseau Espy Diary, 1859-1868

Family stories told of a diary of an ancestor in the Alabama State Archives. Thinking to perhaps see a copy, imagine the thrill of having the original, from over 100 years ago, placed right into my hands! In her own handwriting, in a tall, lined notebook, life in the Espy household from 1859-1868. There is much to be learned here of joy and of sadness, of plenty and of hardship, of peace and of war, of beauty and of ugliness. Sarah recorded her own thoughts; notes about births, marriages, and deaths, and comments about the times.

I have provided an index which will indicate the names found in given years, this may shorten your search if looking for specific individuals. Plans are to include census data later.

The page below was sent in with the diary by Sarah's son, Marcellus Espy.

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Sarah Rodgers Rousseau was born Dec. 7, 1815 near Madison, Morgan Co. Ga. Her father, Hiram Rousseau moved to Alabama in 1834 or 1835 and settled on the Coosa River, now Cherokee County. In 1836 she became the second wife of Thomas Espy who lived at Cassville, Cass Co., Ga. In 1849 they moved to Cherokee Co. Ala. and established a business and named the place Dublin, which was on Coosa River five miles northwest of Centre, the County Seat. She lived in said county until Nov. 1896, when she came to Albertville and died March 8, 1898, age 82 years, 3 months and 1 day. She was a member of the Missionary Baptist Church for more than 40 years, and outlived all her children except myself, and was buried in Cherokee Co. at the family graveyard near her mother, who had preceded her to that bourn from which no traveler ever returns, more than 56 years.

Children of Thomas and Sarah (Rousseau) Espy:
(1) Thomas Benton Espy, married Lizzie Mercy Reeves
(2) Columbus Martin Espy
(3) Sarah Virginia Espy, married John W. Tripp
(4) Olivia Adaliza Espy, married Joseph S. Espy
(5) Louisa Diana Espy
(6) Marcellus Aurelius Espy, married Sallie S. Matthews, daughter of Dr. James A. Matthews late of Cherokee Co. Ala.
(7) Virgil Horace Espy

This sketch was sent by M. A. Espy of Albertville in Mar. 22, 1909

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Transcriber’s Notes: I was able to get a photocopy of the original diary, as well as a copy typed (poorly) by WPA workers during the Depression. The typed copy I scanned into my computer. Much editing was required, and checking back with the original. I apologize for any errors, I am sure there are some!

Sarah Espy refers to her children and others by their initials. One can sometimes determine who the person is by the previous comments. Her children are referred to as follows:
Thomas "T" married Lizzie "L"
Columbus "C"
Virginia "V"
Olivia "O"
Marcellus "M"
Virgil "V"

Berenice Shackleford was the niece of Sarah Espy, and had lived with Sarah and Thomas since the age of three, when her mother, Diana Rousseau Shackleford, died. Berenice, who was my great-grandmother, married Frank Bankson.