ENVolume 03: 2 July 1838–1 August 1839
4 July 1838: Celebration of Independence Day in Windsor
2 August 1838: Election day in Bertie County. Whigs expected to carry most offices. W.W. Cherry, Whig Senatorial candidate, elected. "Down goes the Jackson Dynasty."
4 August 1838: Man loading cannon in celebration of Whig victory shot to pieces.
17 August 1838: Description of arrival of a company of strolling players in Windsor, of their audience and performance.
22 August 1838: Attended a wedding at the home of W.W. Cherry during his last week as school teacher in Windsor.
8 October 1838: Attended Bethel Church. Comments on the eloquence in Methodist and Baptist Churches.
23 October, 29 October, 4 November 1838: Discussed proposed convention to be held in Norfolk for the purpose of increasing the South's industry and enterprise.
26 October 1838: Concerning Valentine's opinion that his father should send his younger brothers to school instead of keeping them on the plantation as overseers.
28 November 1838: Description of meeting to encourage Southern trade and industry which Valentine attended in Norfolk.
31 November 1838: Described his deep indebtedness. Desired to practice law in Raleigh.
8 December 1838: Attended court in Northampton. "Fees were few with me and Tavern bill high, but a good Tavern, etc."
14 December 1838: Comments upon Governor Dudley's message on the Internal Improvement Program and its impact upon the public.
17 December 1838: Comments on the resolution against duelling just introduced before Congress by the Hon. J.L. Adams.
2 January 1839: Wrote of North Carolina planters beginning to believe that the N.C. climate not warm enough for cotton, and the increase in the growing silkworms.
10 March 1839: Had received no law cases in all his attendances at Court.
15 March 1839: Account of visiting a young lady he desired to marry.
16 March 1839: Accused by his father of being extravagant and idle.
30 March 1839: Copy of a love letter written by Valentine.
6 April 1839: Description of his sweetheart.
12 April 1839: Prices of fish at Liberty Hill Fishery, description of preparing the fields for planting.
18 April 1839: Studying Starkie on Evidence.
21 April 1839: Description of Liberty Hill and Mount Pleasant fisheries. Some discussion of local fishing industries.
24 April 1839: Description of a run of herring when everyone turned out to fish.
17 May 1839: Attended court at Windsor. Described speech of Col. Long in favor of Clay over Van Buren, of voting scene in Court House involving Robert Watson and W.W. Cherry. Love Letter to his sweetheart who had not replied to his past letters.
25 May 1839: Description of the political turmoil in the county prior to the presidental election.
27 May 1839: Attended court at Hertford County but received no business. Humiliated and depressed, Valentine began to think of leaving N.C.
1 June 1839: Described political situation which favored the Whigs.
10 June 1839: Planned to attend the "speechifying" at Murfreesboro between the Congressional candidates. Planned to address the people himself on the establishment of "Common Schools."
17 June 1839: Described Murfreesboro political meeting.
13 July 1839: Described political meeting at Coleraine and speakers J.A. Bynum and W.W. Cherry, and Kenneth Rayner.
1 August 1839: Valentine addressed local communities on establishing "common schools;" received much opposition from Raynor. Woman convicted of manslaughter branded on hand.