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DIARY OF FRANCIS TAYLOR, 1788,
1788,
December,
13, My father better to-day- fine warm day- I rode to Court house, came home to dinner, J.Taylor dined here- G.C.Taylor went in evening to Capt Conways.
14, [Sunday] Went with my father to C.Taylor's, dined there & came by J.Taylor's- got his Newspaper- G.C.Taylor came home & went at night to J.Taylor's to go Fox hunting to-morrow.
15, C.Taylor dined here, on his way to Fredericksburg- The Hunters did not start a Fox- The Cart went to Jno Clark's for 2 sacks Salt, some Corks & Saltpetre & Andirons w'ch T.Jones brought from Fred'g- Warm fine Weather- Cart brought Corn to Corn House- put in ___ Hnds in all- Crop made this year ___ Hnds.
16, Fine weather, My father sent Tobacco rolling. Uncle Taylor dined here.
17, Turned cold before day-snowed a little early- windy and cleared away by noon. Mr.T.Bell dined here and said a Report is that H[Hubbard-WKA] Taylor was taken by Indians [not true WKA]. In evening John Shifflet & William Morris jr called and paid for Col.J.Taylor, the former 2 Hnds Tob'o 2063.500 for rent now due & 1500 towards land he has bought of Col James Taylor- 63.I paid him Cash 11/3 Wm.Morris jr paid 750 due on bond- his Hnd 1111. I let him have 18/- Cash & when Col Taylor sells he is to have the market price for 361 lbs after deducting the 18/-. The Tob'o was on Fred'g Warehouse dated 16 Dec'r 1788
18, Cold morning- Snowed in the evening, hid the earth- I killed a Squirrel.
19, Snowed a little early last night, ceased before day- Snowed a very little about 12 o'clock- I went out with my gun & Shot a fine Hare. Here'h Sims came here (J.Taylor being Foxhunting) and I issued him a marriage license with Marg't Taylor and paid me 2/8 which I credit J.Taylor for- J.Taylor came over after dinner & went with G.C.Taylor to C.Taylor- Cleared in evening- Windy and Cold.
20, Very cold weather and hard frost.
21, Continues very cold, windy. J.Taylor & son, Reu Taylor and John Moore dined here My father complained of more pain than usual in evening. [Sunday].
22, My father in better health to-day. Clouded after sunrise & extream cold- began to Snow about noon and fell to cover ground by night- Killed 14 Hogs & had them put in the Cellar. Jos Clark's family moved to his place. I wen tto Court the day being very cold I did not stay till night- My father did not go.
23, Cut out and salted 13 Hogs- Hear that John Pendleton & family got to J.Taylor's last night. It began to snow again this morning & fell light all day- not near so cold as yesterday-
24, Clear and Cold- Maj'r Moore & Reuben Taylor dined here- J.Taylor had been hunting, called but soon went away.
25, Cold and some clouds- Hear that Hubbard Taylor & J.Leathers got home from Kentucky- Rob Taylor, J.Pendleton & C.Taylor came to Drink Egg punch & staid dinner James Burnley & Alex Shepherd also came to dinner with G.C.Taylor who went away with them after dinner-
26, Not so cold as for some days past, a little hazy. Went with my father & G.C.T to J.Taylor's- Uncle Taylor, Rob't Taylor & wife, C.Taylor & family, Mrs Barbour & children, Miss S.Barbour & Miss Betsy Buckner dined there. J.Pendleton & family & T.Barbour & do. also there.
27, Colder than yesterday- Rain about 10 o'clock & froze as it fell- continued the rest of the day- G.C.T. went to J.Taylor's to go from there to Maj'r Moore's and did not return.
28, Rained much in the night. The trees and ground covered with ice- not quite so cold as yesterday- thaw in the evening and left off rain toward night-
29, Soft foggy morning- Cleared up warm- G.C.T. came from C.Taylor's & went to J.Taylor's to dinner.
30, Weather warm and hazy- - We all went to C.Taylor's J.Taylor, J.Pendleton & T.Barbour & their families dined there- Rain in evening. Moses Perry moved to the Quarter to be Overseer, and got there in afternoon.
31, It was showery last night with Lightning, cleared before day, very warm. G.C.Taylor set off to Caroline. Went with my father to Uncle Taylor's-J.Taylor & family, J.Pendleton & do. T.Barbour's wife, Mrs Burnley dined there- very pleasant weather. Wrote to Col James Taylor(by G.C.T.) & sent him Notes for three Hnds Tob'o rec'd from Shifflet & Morris the 17th instant.
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.