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[63] 2.
DIARY OF FRANCIS TAYLOR, 1787,
1787
February
1, [Thursday] J.Taylor, W.Taylor, J.Taylor Jr., Aunt Thomas, Miss S.Madison &G.C. Taylor, set out about 8 o'clock from J.Taylors for Caroline. F.T. went to Midland, the workmen about the necessary house- Capt Burnley came there and I walked with him to Ch's Taylors. Maj'r Moore, Mrs Moore, Miss Polly, Reu Taylors wife & Mrs Burnley dined there. C.Taylor got home about 1 o'clock from a visit to Col T.Barbour's wife, who is very ill.
2, [Polly Moore m. Mch 22, 1796, Capt. Richard Barbour- Rebecca Moore m. Reuben Taylor, bro. of the diarist. W.K.A.]
2. Ch's Porter, Bramham & Hansford came to work at J.Taylor's-I rode to Court-house. G.Taylor also went there, we called at uncle Taylors & dined. Capt. Burnley dined there.
3, A snow began to fall about sunset last night and continued till 10 o'clock this morning, 3 or 4 inches deep- then cleared warm. I went Pidgeon hunting at E.Taylor's stacks, killed 8 at one & 3 at another Shoots. Saw Capt Burnley there, who said he killed 14 at a shoot yesterday- My face swelled with sore tooth & Gum-boil-
4, Sunday- Went to Church, Mr.Waddill preached. G.Taylor, C.Taylor, Capt Burnley, his wife &c Reuben Taylor & family & self dined at Maj'r Moores. G.Taylor told me he intends to set off down to-morrow and to return in two weeks. My face swelled & gums sore-
5, I slept very little last night, Gum-boil very painful & face swelled much. Mess'rs Ingram, Porter & Hansford work'g for bro'r James get'g Shingles. Sent Frank to Maj'r Lees & got 1/2 Gal'o Rum. He brought home a Wash bowl I bought some time before of Mr Shepherd- The weather cold-
6, Ch's Taylor came to see the children both being unwell- Hounds came within hearing he and J.Pendleton went after them, had a long chase but did not kill the fox. My Gum-boil very painful, broke about 11 o'clock- Capt Horndon came to see courses of land &c- Weather warm. Mrs James came in evening.
7, Rain before day and till dinner then hail & snow till night-Cold- C.Taylor came again to see the children and staid to dinner. I have been griped all day.
8, Cha Taylor & J.Pendleton went to shoot Pidgeons and got 35-Cloudy, Mist & little snow. Mrs Clark came here and she and Mrs James went away after dinner- the weather cleared about dark-
9, Good morning- Snow and ice about an inch deep- T.Bramham came here but the other workmen not, he went away in the evening- hear that Jno' Taylor & his wife got to his fathers last night [Jno. Taylor, son of Erasmus, m.Ann Gilbert]
10, Went with J.Pendleton to Capt Burnleys. Uncle Taylor, his wife, John Taylor & wife & C.Taylor dined there- Cloudy evening- J.Taylor & wife & F.T [the writer-W.K.A.] staid all night. [John Pendleton m.Rliz'h Taylor, dau. of James & niece of diarist- W.K.A.]
11, Very rainy morning & till past noon- Jno. Taylor, his wife & F.Taylor came away from Capt Burnleys after dinner- R.Dickinson came to J.Taylors for licence to marry Ruth Prish w'ch I granted and rec'd 2/9- [Sunday]
12, Went to Mr.R.Taylors, Col.Madison & wife, Maj'r Moore & family, Capt Burnley &do Reu Taylor & do. Chas Taylor & do. Mr.T.Bell & his single daughter dined there & J.Pendleton. Mr.H.Taylor gave me list of articles brought up by his waggon for my father, said the Dutch oven is cracked. When we got to J.Taylors, T.Barbour Jr. was there. This day cloudy but no rain- [Thos Barbour m. Mary Taylor, dau. of James and niece of Col Frank Taylor- W.K.A.]
13, J.Pendleton went hunting & T.Barbour set off to Fred'g very early. I went to Mr.T.Bell's, Col.Madison & wife, Maj'r Moore's family, Capt Burnley's family, Reuben Taylor & family, Uncle Taylor, John Taylor, John Pendleton, Mrs Lee, Miss P.Burnley, dined there. [Col Madison & wife" were Col. James Madison Sr. who m.Eleanor Rose Conway- they were the parents of the President- P.F.T.]
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.