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[144] 5
DIARY OF FRANCIS TAYLOR, 1790,
1790, March, 4, Very cold & hard frost last night. Henry Day--------- a Fore Quarter 168 lb Beef- M.Perry car'd---------- Hatchet to Davis who heat it out------- [Leaf destroyed here]
5, Not so cold- Bottled the Beer, 52 bottle. Cut out half the Beef. Dan'l Davis had a hind Quarter of Beef. J.Taylor jr dined here-
6, A little rain before day. Windy weather not cold- J.Taylor jr came with his hounds, we hunted in Capt Burnley's fields but did not stay long and had but little diversion-
7, [SUNDAY] Very windy and a smart Shower of rain with thunder last night. cool & some frost this morning- G.C.Taylor set off for Caroline. My father, the boys and I went to J.Taylor's to dinner, Aunt Thomas, T.Barbour &c there- after dinner Doct'r Duke & C.Taylor were there- Bro'r James intends to set off to Richmond tomorrow- gave him my Certificates to get Interest Warrants- also two old Warrants for £6. & £1.19.4. to try to draw the money.
8, Very cold & windy & a little snow early last night, continues windy and cold to day. My father went to Maj'r Lee's & George car'd a Keg about 7 Gallons old Brandy to send to J.Blair to exchange for good Rum. G.Taylor dined at Maj'r Lee's.
9, Continues cold, not so windy- Last night froze extremely hard-
10, Continues cold, cloudy morning, about 10 o'clock began to snow and snowed all day without wind. fell about 6 inches by night. Caslow says tis too cold to continue making soap- She began last week.
11, Left off snowing about sunrise, measured it in the Garden, about 13 inches deep. Cleared about 10 o'clock and a fine day- Thawed some- Mr.T.Bell, John Bell, Maj'r Lee and Charles Taylor here to dinner. Reuben Taylor called on his return from Court house after dinner. My father complains of a fever & headack to day.
12, Did not send to school yesterday & heard that Mr.Goodlet went home, therefore did not send to-day- fine day, thawed a good deal. Reu Taylor's Sam came from Court house with some Codfish of his master's, left two here.
13, Thawed a great deal to day, there was a little rain before day & in the morning and cleared and warm and smoky- After dinner C.Taylor was here- I promised to lend my horse to him to go to Culpeper tomorrow.
14, [SUNDAY] Rained before day. Foggy and very dark till near noon with thunder, lightning and a shower of rain, and cloudy evening- Reu Taylor's Sam brought some Timothy Seed for which I gave him a Jacket. Lent C.Taylor my horse to go to Culpeper and to Court tomorrow. My father went to J.Taylor's, after, dinner, he returned from Richmond the 13th. He sent me my Certificates & Interest Warrants.
15, Smart frost this morning- I believe the frost last week killed most of the Fruit, the greens of all sorts are killed to the ground- most of the snow about here gone. G.Taylor dined at Uncle Taylor's.
16, A little rain in the morning- cool South wind. T.Barbour jr & family went home from J.Taylor's. G.Taylor went to C.Taylor's to dinner.
17, Sent little Table to C.Taylor's for Gibson to Glew it. I walked by J.Taylor's to Rob't Taylor's to see some young apple trees. I returned by the store & got home to dinner, Rained about sunset.
18, Rained a good deal last night and warm, cleared in the evening.
19, Very cool morning, earth hard frozen-G.Taylor rode to below Mrs James's & George went to get some Elecampane for Miss M.Conway, he brought some & planted in garden.
20, Cool morning- there was to be a Ball at Wood's last night. G.Taylor rode there after breakfast and dined there- Weather warmer.
21, [SUNDAY] Weather warm and smoky- We dined at home. G.C.Taylor got here from Caroline in evening. Hubbard Taylor & Mr.Geo Turner came with him.
22, We all went to Court- there was a very little rain in evening- I gave my obligation to convey a moiety of the following lands in Kentucky- 1,000 acres on Brush Creek- 620 on Cumberland river- 1,000 Brush Creek & 1/3 of 3,000 acres Blackford's Creek, to Hubbard Taylor, when the said lands appear to be clear
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.