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10 [198] DIARY OF FRANCIS TAYLOR, 1792, 1792, May,
1, Foggy morning- Bro'r James called here after breakfast on his way to Fredericksburg- we gave him some mem'ds &c.C.Taylor went home- My father went to Hodges, Shoemaker, to get a pair Shoes made. Syl went with him. I sent a calf skin, thread & a shoe to measure for making me shoes. Cleared about noon-smoky and warm. Planted what sweet Potatoes we had (about 1/4 or 1/2 Bushel) in the Pen by the Spring, with an Irish Potatoe in each hill. Sowed Flax seed above the cross ditch- Also below the ditch with Timothy seed with it the same day and next morning. C.Taylor dined with us and staid at night.
2, C.Taylor went home after breakfast. Capt Conway sent a jug & got a Gallon brandy. *Mr.H.Fitzhugh got a licence to marry Betsy Conway. Weather warm and smoky- I walked down the Run, saw a Squirrel & killed it. [*Elizabeth, dau. of Capt. Catlett and Susannah (Fitzhugh) Conway, married Henry Fitzhugh, of Bedford, King George Co. May 3. -Hayden]
3, Very great dew- and fog in the morning, but soon cleared, warm and windy- The fur from the leaves very troublesome to the eyes &c. Killed 2 squirrels. Young Mr. Langham dined here- Says he has made a Cock match to be fought Saturday 12th of this month at Court house. Some distant thunder &c to South at night.
4, Cooler and windy- clear. Cloudy & some rain in evening- Had good watermelon seeds plated in the Pen by the Spring and in the Plant Patch. Also Cucumber and other seeds- Jnc. Taylor called here on his return from Capt. Burnley's. My father & I rode to Uncle Taylor's & dined- Mrs Burnley & family there.
5, Planted 12 rows forward Peas, the rest of ground next the woods with the Large kind- Sowed Cabbage & planted Indian pepper in a small place burnt in the plant pen. J. Taylor got home from Fredericksburg and came over ab't 10 o'clock expecting Beck's waggon with a Bar'l of fish for my father & some articles for himself. Which got here after dinner &c. John Taylor called here before noon but went to Capt Burnley's.
6, [SUNDAY] My father sent 4 White fish to J. Taylor's & Do to C. Taylor's- C. Taylor sent for some articles brought up for hin, we sent all except a parcel of Nails which were sent next day.
7, I rode to Hodge, the Shoemakers, he took measure to make me 3 pair Shoes- I went from thence to Court house, Saw Maj'r Lee- C. Taylor, R'n Raylor, Jas Bell &c- C. Taylor called by with me and dined. Young Mr. Wait came for C. Taylor while we were at Dinner & dined here. C. Taylor went home with him. I bought a pair Shoes for G. TAylor. Had Snaps in garden stuck- Set off the Oxen with two Hogs-heads Tobacco to roll, two more carried out with horses who are to set out early tomorrow morning, if weather permits. Henry Pendleton and Jas Taylor jr walked here in evening. Rob't Moore rode here & brought me a Packet of Letters &c. Maj'r Madison brought from Jon'a & G.C. Taylor, Kentucky.
8, By appointment I met Jas Taylor at the Court house, we went to Maj'r Madison's who with his family, was going to his father's. We went with them- Wm. Madison & family, Fra. Madison and Mrs Macon, were there. We came home in evening. The weather cool for the season, some flying clouds but no rain. P:lanted forward and large Indian Peas the 5th.
9, The day remarkable clear-cool in the morning but the evening warmer. I killed two Squirrels to day. Planted Irish Potatoes in Pen by Gate. We staid at home- My father appeared unwell in the evening.
10, My father rode to Dan'l Davis's, returned to dinner. Overseer returned from rolling Tobacco. After we had dined, Mr Gabriel Jones, who was returning from Fredericksburg, called here and dined- Warm clear day, a little hazy in evening
11, After Breakfast Mr. Jones proceeded towards home. Cloudy and a few drops of rain Planted small & large Indian peas in caslow's pen.
12, Young Mr. Langham came here and breakfasted- bought 1 gallon Brandy & paid G.T.7/- for it. only car'd half of it. I went by the Shoemaker's who had not made my shoes, and from there to Court house, where there was a Cock fight. A few drops of rain fell, warm weather. I gave a Letter to Maj'r Lee for bro'r Richard, the Maj'r intends to Fred'g in a day or two. Bees swarmed & hived in plank hive

From the TAYLOR DIARY, #1907-z in the South Historial Collection, University of North Carolina Library, Chapel Hill. FOR REFERENCE ONLY: PERMISSION TO PUBLISH MUST BE REQUESTED. WARNING: MOST MANUSCRIPTS ARE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT.