10[232] DIARY OF FRANCIS TAYLOR, 1794, 1794
May,
1, Thursday, Fine clear weather, J. Taylor sent & got forward Indian peas & sugar beans. Roger Bell and Macon Biggers breakfasted here- After Breakfast Roger Bell Spayed 7 shoats-14 had been cut & marked & 2 marked & turned out for breeders- Could not get the 2 wild sows in pen, or should have had them spayed Sowed 9 Rows peas, by the side of the rows growing- of the midling sort. Planted Pompions in 3 rows joining sweet potatoes. Walked to J. Taylor's in the evening- Rob't Taylor was there-
2, Very warm fiar weather. J.Bowie Pendleton came here from Court house about sunrise- I gave him Sugar Beans & forward Indian peas to carry to Culpeper. Hr took a Julep but would not stay Breakfast. I walked down the run to Maj'r Moore's Fence. Heard that H.Day died this morning.
3, Warm & smoky. I feel unwell, believe from fatigue yesterday and drinking too much water &c- Planted Irish Potatoes in Clover Pen. Do. Horn, French, & small Indian peas. Peas by the Wheat house. Sowed about a gallon Hemp seed by Sheep pen. Gave W.Leathers Pumpkin seed & forw'd Ind'n peas.
4, Very warm & sultry. I went to J. Taylor's-Roger Bell & wife & Mrs Bickers dined there. J.Taylor jun'r had not returned from meeting. Hived a swarm Bees in the Hewed Cum. ----[SUNDAY]----
5, Warm morning-Thunder & rain in evening- The people Ditching in the Meadow.
6, Close cloudy misty day, fine season. I walked to the road- J.Taylor,Mr. Shepherd & Mr Rob't Wilson went to Fredericksburg. I gave J.Taylor Letters to Mess'rs Blairs, Col.J.Taylor & Doct C.Taylor. Planted all the garden that was prepared in Hogsheads in the Corn house- suppose 14 or 15 Barrels there & 24 or 25 in Wheat house. Thunder & a little rain at night.
7, Clear and pleasant, cooler than of late. Borrowed C.Taylor's Pot and made 11 doz candles-29 lb Tallow & 5 lbs Bees wax was dipped- had 4 doz old Candles on hand Replanting corn.
8, Very cool last night- Frost this morning, clear cool day. I set off to go to Court house,met J.Taylor jun'r & Nancy going to H.Taliarferro's & went with them Col.W.Taliaferro & wife, Reu Taylor & wife & Mr.D.Henning dined there. Finished replanting Corn.
9, Clear morning,cool but believe no frost. Heard there was frost. I walked to C. Taylor's,who got home last evening, he brought a letter from Mess'rs Blairs &_ I went by J.Taylor's & with his family to e.Taylor's- Mr. Howard's father was there, an agreeable Gent'n. Maj'r Moore & family- Mrs Burnley, Mrs Balmain, Nancy Bell, Peggy Bell &c were there. I returned by J.Taylor's who had just got home from Fredericksburg.
10, Some clouds & some drops rain last night-very windy & some clouds to-day & warmer. I rode to Courthouse. Coleman's & Light Infantry companies mustered there to-day. I paid 18/1 Zeph'a Nooes acco't ag't G.C.Taylor & settled my own account. A stone Plow horse or Geo Shepherd's was tied near my mare & covered her- Gave a bait of Flax seed to make her cast. Rec'd by Wm Beck from Mess're Blairs 1 p/s Rolls- 40 yards German & 15 British oznab's, 1 lb thread and a Box wafers-paid 1/3 for Waggoning above.
11, Sunday, I went to J.Taylor's-Dined there-E.Chew there. After dinner J. Taylor jr R'd Barbour (Culp'r) & Robert Moore went there from Maj'r Moore's
12, Warm fair weather. Uncle Taylor sent word he would dine with me. He, Mr Balmain MrJ.Howard, C.P.Howard, J.Taylor, J.Taylor jr. C. Taylor, & Rob't T Moore were here- Wm Brockman (Pamunky) was to the office-came here & dined- C. Taylor ret'd 1/4 lb C.Tartar he borrowed and let me have 1/2 lb he bought for me.
13, Warm weather continues & dry. Had Watermelon seed planted in Clover pen. Walked out- Strawberries almost ripe. Reu Taylor dined here- After dinner went with him to J.Taylor's, he wanted to see the Answer H.Taliaferro filed in a law suit. I had violent headache.
From the TAYLOR DIARY, #1907-z in the South 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.
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