354

28[345]

OF FRANCIS TAYLOR, 1797,

1797,

December,

14, Thin clouds, soft, moderate.
Cleaned some Wheat at the Barn from the Chaff and brought about 30 bushels to Wheat house-a little left.
Frank carried Cloth to Mrs Burnley to get a Coat made.

15, Friday, Moderate rain-smoky, warm.
I caught an Opossum by the Spring this Morning.
I staid at home.
Davy making shoes for E.Chew.

16, Fair mild ans pleasant.
Nothing remarkable.
T.Doolin came to ask if I w'd hire my cart to bring some corn from Langham's- I was using it & did not comply.

17, [SUNDAY], Thin clouds and cool.
Ambrose Powell came here last night, brought a letterfrom Col'o J.Madison jr.,who he had told that he had served as a soldier under me & had not received his pay &c.
I believe it to be a story of his own fabrication.
I sent him to lodge at Nanny's house- He went away about noon.
I went to Sermon at Court house.
Thincongregation- dined at Aunt Taylor's- Mres Burnley & C.Taylor there.

18, Some clouds in morn, moderate weather, fair evening.
I had 2 pair of young Steers yoked. Walked to J.Taylor's after dinner-Carried E,Chew a pair of shoes (Davy made) & pr old worsted stockings- T.Barbour's wife & children, Sally & Betsy Taylor at J.Taylor's.

19, Hard Frost.
Cold clear day-thin clouds in evening.
M.Biggers went to Shop, got some axes &c.
John Biggers wife was here & asked me to lend £20, which it did not suit me to do.

20, Wednesday, Hard Frost- Thin clouds & not very cold-Changed at night to cooler & strong north wind.
Began to work one pair of young Steers in the cart. Had a Cart load Turneps put in Turnep house.-

21, Last night very windy & extremely cold- Clear cold day.
Worked the smallest of young steers.
Cutting wood &c.

22, Very cold.
Clouds and spits of snow in morning.
J.Taylor called here & brought me from Court house. Two Letters, one from J.Dawson about my Military Land &c, the other Letter from Jonathan Taylor Jr.
J.Taylor jr came here after his father was gone, & asked if I would Lend him some money towards paying for part of the Tract of Land, where Cawthon lives, w'ch he has purchased of Wm. Quarles- I promised if I got of Mess'rs Barbours to Lend him 4 or 500 dollars, he wou'd not stay to dinner.
M.Biggers & wife was here in the evening, the latter asked for a Turkey for Christmas, which I promised to give her, sent her next morning A young Cock.

23, Cold serene and clear.
Finished cleaning about 10 bushels wheat, which was in the chaff and brought from barn, putinto Wheat house and cellar- There is now 21 Hnds of Clean Wheat.
Wm Truisdale brought me 11 dollars & paid for money Lent 1st Oct'r.
I paid him 2/- for 400 small nails.
J.Taylor jr, C.P.Howard, Rich'dBarbour, Capt Jno.Moore and C.Taylor dined here.

24, Sunday, Cold continues, tho' a little milder- Clear.
I went to J.Taylor's to dinner- T.Barbour's wife and children there- J.Taylor jr was gone to Jno daniels.

25, Thin clouds-wind South-not very cold.
I went to Court-Rec'd a Letter from Col. James Taylor and do, from F.S.Taylor dated Richmond.
Sent letter to James Coleman p/r Capt Raine.
Bought some trifles for self & 2 yards fine Linen for Eliza chew, of Pedlar, 9/3.

26, Cloudy with a little rain, very mild, changed cold in the night.
I staid at home.---
*[Essex, a slave belongingto--]--Col.J.Taylor[IV.W.K.A.] came & solicited me to write to his master about buying him w'ch I did in night.
*[Insert here"Essex a slave belonging to"- Vide entry Jan'y 3 1798-WKA]

27, Wednesday, Hard frost-very cold and clear.
I was at home- Saw no white person but M.Biggers.

28, Cold hard frost- Fair, evening moderate.
Wrote (by Joe) to Mess'rs Blairs to send me a Jug of Molasses.
Patsy Leathers was here in morning- Said her brother Charles was sick & bought a Quart of honey.
I was very unwell last night- Took Castor oil to day and rather better in evening.

From the TAYLOR DIARY, #1907-Z in the Southern Historical Collection, University of North Carolina Library, Chapel Hill.
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