Williamsburg Regional Library

Love and loss, a Virginia girl's Civil War diary, 1863-1868, by Mary Octavia Smith Tabb

eng

autobiography

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non fiction

Love and loss

840087195

by Mary Octavia Smith Tabb

a Virginia girl's Civil War diary, 1863-1868

"This diary by Mary Octavia Smith Tabb was started during the Civil War beginning in January 1863 and ending October 1868. ... The home where Mary Octavia presumably lived while writing this diary was the one where she was born. Still standing in York County, Virginia, it has been in the Smith family for over 300 years. ... At the time Mary Octavia kept her diary, the area or settlement was known as Smithville, so named for her family. Mary Octavia was seventeen years old in 1863 when she started her diary. In 1871, she married Alexander C. Tabb who died at the age of 32. In 1893, Mary Octavia was chartered as postmistress of Smithville, and maintained the post office in her home where she sold stamps and handled other postal requirements of area residents. Later, the community was renamed Tabb and was an active post office serving a large community until the 1980s, at which time it became part of the Yorktown, Virginia, postal system. Mary Octavia's writing reveals the heart of a young woman who has encountered heartache at a very young age and in troubling times. She is poetic in her use of words and expresses herself in a voice that can resonate with others in North or South, in her time or in our time. / L. Roane Hunt, Historian, Gloucester, Virginia"--p. vii"This diary by Mary Octavia Smith Tabb was started during the Civil War beginning in January 1863 and ending October 1868. She wrote about teaching school for local children and assisting in the family enterprise of providing lodging for travelers and meals for the community. She wrote about a special young man of her favor who died early in the war that took place nearby. She lamented greatly his death and noted its anniversary with regrets. ... At the time of Mary Octavia's diary, the area or settlement was known as Smithville. The Smiths and Tabbs were related by marriage. ... Later, the area was renamed Tabb and remained an active post office serving a large community until the 1980s, at which time it became part of the Yorktown postal services. / Mary Elizabeth Tabb Hambleton and Jean Clarke, the granddaughters of Mary Octavia"--p. xi

Tavey : before the diary -- Diary entries : 1863, 1864, 1865, 1866, 1867, 1868 -- Bridge -- Tavey's diary, abridged -- Tavey : after the diary -- The community and family of Mary Octavia Smith Tabb / by Roane and Phyllis HuntIllustrations. Mary Octavia's diary -- Mary Octavia and her family -- Home of Howard Tabb, Mary Octavia's son -- Maps -- Prison release of Alex C. Tabb -- Oath of Alex C. Tabb -- Certification of Postmistress Mary O. Tabb -- Tombstone of Mary Octavia Smith Tabb -- Will of William Tabb

adult