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8 [230] DIARY OF FRANCIS TAYLOR, 1794, 1794, April, 3, A little rain before day- In the afternoon a hasty thunder shower with hail & violent wind- there was but little rain- Had vegetable patch fenced. Cha's Bell & Ben Porter jr came here from school, gave the former Cabbage & Lettuce seeds. 4, Cold windy, some clouds & little rain with appearance like snow toward Great Mountains. Plated about 300 hills with sweet potatoes, had from Reuben Taylor. 5, Last night cold and cloudy, very dry, saw no frost. The Negroes had this day to plant Potatoes &c. I walked down the run, almost to Maj'r Moore's fence, with my gun, but saw no game. When I got home about 2 o'clock. was told a boy had been to ask me to J.Taylor's- I went over, Mr.Shepherd, Rob't Wilson, Rob't Hyde, Mrs Gaines, T.Barour jr (of Orange) dined there. J.Taylor jr got home from Culpeper & brought me a dog- who I had brought home. Jas Bell was at J.Taylor's a little time in evening. 6, [Sunday]. Turned warmer & cloudy in the night, a very little rain early in the morning, and a moderate rain in the evening. I went to C.Taylor's to dinner- Sally & Betsy were at Col.Taliaferro's. Elijah Cook came for the Doct'r, who went with him to see his mother, who is very unwell- Received a letter from John Finney dated March 11, 7, Cleared soon in last night, sharp frost, the earth frozen & ice 1/4 inch thick. The Mountains to Northwest covered with Snow, which could be seen at noon. G.Taylor came here after breakfast, I paid him 3/9 for 3 lb Powder from Capt Conways, also paid him 1/6 for some weaving- he returned before noon- Began to Plant corn and almost finished in the field next the house. Davy got for me a Gallon Bermodas potatoes & planted them. 8, Shart frost and ice- fair day. I walked below C.Taylor's, killed a Squirrel and Returned to dinner. J.Taylor was here before breakfast to enquire what J.Finney had wrote- said he expected Maj'r Hite at his house to morrow. 9, Cloudy last night- began to rain before day and continued small rain at times all day. Too wet to plow or plant corn- planted part of the Barn field yesterday- M.Biggers was here & got 2 Bus' wheat to send to Mill for his own use. 10, Rained a little in the night, rainy to day. J.Taylor sent for me, I went to dinner, Col'o Madison & wife, Maj'r Hite & wife, C.Taylor and E Chew were there. I paid Maj'r Isaac Hite £30. (p/r rec't from Isaac Hite & son) as requested in a letter from William Taylor to pay that sum, which he owed to Ab'm Hite of Kentucky & A.Hite owed to I.Hite. 11, Snow, rain and hail last night, the snow nearly covered the ground, close cloudy day, rain and some snow- Great Mountains white. Had some Peas stuck. J.Taylor's Bull turned to two milch Cows in pasture. 12, W.C.Webb was here & got certified what the Parish Levies were in 1779 & 1780. Cloudy last night and a little rain, cold. Very cloudy with a little rain, hail & some spits snow- The Mountains cov'd w'th snow. 13, Sunday, Very rainy but not so cold as yesterday- One of the Sows caught at Capt Herndon's died last night- Also a ewe, which had a lamb and been made lame several days- Phil brought home a pair shoes, he had Soaled &c. I paid him Brandy & a bit for his work- More rainy than any day since the wet weather. J.Taylor jr came over in the evening, brought me a letter from B.Taylor, he wrote that his Colt had strayed from him. 14, Clear & warm- too wet to plant corn. G.Taylor was here a little time after breakfast. 15, I walked to Court house, gave Mr.Shepherd a Letter to send to Ben Taylor. Paid Jenkins for a Hat I brought home the 1st instant 14/- also paid him 3/- for 2 lb Chocolate bought to day- Saw Maj'r Hite pass on his way home- Uncle Taylor was at the store & went to Rob't Taylor's- I returned about 1 o'clock and walked on the mountain with Dog & gun but saw no game. Had Snap & Sugar Beans planted in the New pen- also some Cimbling seed. Do. a row Soup peas. From the TAYLOR DIARY, #1907-z in the Southern Historical Collection, University of North Carolina Library, Chapel Hill. FOR REFERENCE ONLY: PERMISSION TO PUBLISH MUST BE REQUESTED. WARNING: MOST MANUSCRIPTS ARE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT.