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DIARY OF FRANCIS TAYLOR, 1797
1797,
October,
18, Fair warm and dry. Negroes dug their potatoes. I went to General Muster, nothing
unusual - dined at home.
19, Slight Frost- Fair and mild. Had my potatoes dug - The Irish potatoes buried in
the garden - only a few of the sweet - put them in the cellar. Hay Taliaferro
brought his account for Smiths work which after some deductions amounted to
£3.13.5
His account for 1 1/4 bus Hempseed cr me 15.
I paid him p/r signed account, cash £2.18.5
He went away before dinner.
20, Cloudy-began to rain before noon & continued moderately. Had a Hhd corn removed
I stayed at home writing letters to Kentucky.
21, Cloudy & some rain most of the day, tho but little. Staid at home writing-Got
some Chestnuts. Had Leather curried.
22, Sunday Fair mild weather. I went to James Taylor's, he came home from T Barbour's
where his wife; Gibson & Nat are - J. Taylor jr & wife,Nancy & E.Chew, dined
there.
23, Clear and moderate. A Cow which had been long sick died last night. Had Leather
oiled. Mr.Daniel Triplett sent James Sebree with a waggon to whom Nacon Biggers
delivered 50 bushels early Wheat (to sow) - It had only been twice run through
the Fan. I went to court. Isaac Davis jr paid 20 dollars for a Balance of 300
lb tobacco due on a bond from John Shifflett to Col James Taylor [IV.-WKA] -I
gave him the bond - I paid the above 20 dollars to Reuben Taylor (son of Colc.
James Taylor) & gave him a statement to give to his father.
23, James Morris paid 19/10 1/2 a balance due from Spence Mozingo to Geo Taylor dec'd
on an old account. Roger Bell paid me 8/- a balance for wool. I lent Reuben
Taylor 4 dollars to pay Bishop. I put into the hands of Mr. John Dawson a plat
for 1,000 acres land of F. Taylor's, 2 plats for 1,000 acres each of Reu. Tay-
lor's & 1 plat for 460 acres of Wm White's, to carry to Philad'a & take meas-
ures to obtain patents. I came home at night & dined at home. I executed &
acknowledged a power of Attorney to William Taylor (son of Jonathan) before
And'w Shepherd jr, Prettyman Merry & Edm'd Henshaw, and had it certified by
Isaac Davis jr & John Moore, Gent. Justices and by J. Taylor Clk. Orange.
24, Began to rain in morning, and rained pretty heavy several hours- ceased in even.
25, Fair and moderate. I went to Jas Taylor's, got him to sign my power of Attorney
to Wm Taylor, J. Taylor's wife, with Gibson & Nat. got home to dinner, from T.
Barbour's. Rob't T Moore, C.Bell & E. Chew were there. After dinner Rob't Taylor
came there. I gave him a parcel of letters to carry to Col.J.Barbour, who told
me he would carrey them to Kentucky, to Jonathan Taylor, Hub'd Taylor, Jno.
Finnie, Maj'r W.Taylor, W.Taylor, Floyd's Fork, Ben Taylor, Rd.Taylor jr, &
Rd.Woolfolk
26, White frost- Fair and pleasant. I went to Hay Taliaferro's. Offered him 250 dol-
lars for his slave, Phil. he refused to take it, said he wou'd take £95- Reuben
Taylor called at Hay Taliaferro's, we dined there. R.T. had been to Col.Wm.Tal-
iaferro's and had bargained Mr.O'Neill to teach his son Billy & agreed for his
Board. I called at his house as I came home and promised him if he wou'd send
his son Frank with Billy that I wou'd pay for his Board & tuition. Had some
Wheat cleaned from the Chaff in the Barn & brought into Wheat house.
27,Fair most of the day- a little hazy, moderate. I went to Mr Triplett's-bought
sundry articles, brought some- left 5 coarse hats & 4 dishes to sent down, also
a mem'dum to send me 3Bus' Salt. I came home about 4 o'clock, dined at home-
when I came, Mrs T.Bell, Sally Burney & Nancy Taylor were here and staid an
hour.
28, Some clouds in morn, Smoky, fair evening. J.Taylor came here. I went with him
to Herndon's Mill where Maj'r Moore &c were fishing but caught only a few.
Went to Maj'r Moore's to dine. J.Taylor, J.T.jr., Gibson Taylor, C.Bell, Reu Tay-
lor & family & Jno.Alcock were there- We returned by Stephen Fox's who has
opened a stote and Building a Five Battery.

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.