202

8[196] DIARY OF FRANCIS TAYLOR, 1792, 1792, April, 5, The first of last night rainy with high Easterly wind, rained again before day, very cloudy morning- but cleared warm by noon. G. Taylor came over to see Eliza child- came to house, told me he had sold my Hhd Tobacco at 18/- to Mess'rs Blairs, but did not bring up the money & said he bought me some trifles &c. Ja's Taylor walked here- He paid me the balance 25/3 he owed me, they dined here- Fine, fiar evening. Heard Whip-poor-Will this evening.
6, My father let Negro George have his horse to go to Caroline. He set out early this morning- I sent letters to Hubbard Taylor & Jonathan Taylor by him to get Mr. J. Taylor jr to carry with him to Kentucky. George also carried other letters. This morning very Foggy- day cloudy. My father Let C. Taylor have, yesterday, a pot of Butter weighing 33 lb including the pot, at 8d pr lb. for butter. Capt Burnley here in evening after J & C. Taylor went away- He talked about selling me a slipe[?] of his land between my father's and the road, but I don't believe he will sell. Smart shower towards night.
7, Very fine day- Vegetation very great for a few days past. My father & I went to C. Taylor's- My father got a small Loaf & 25 lb brown Sugar & 22 1/2 lb Coffee C. Taylor purchased for him in Fredericksburg- I got sundries he bo't for me, amounting to 4/12 w'ch I gave him credit for.
8, [SUNDAY] Cloudy morning with a little rain- Sent to Court house & got a Newspaper- Gave Frank, Milly & Nanny, each an old shirt- Frank had leave to go to Maj'r Moore's to Burying Negroes- we dined at home- some rain in evening.
9, Cloudy morning with fine rain or mist. A vestry was appointed to be at the Court house to day. My father and I rode there but there were not enough members to make a vestry, only four, being there. My father & I came by Uncle Taylor's & dined there- Capt Burnley's wife &c. Mrs. Dade and Miss Nancy Bell were there. Capt. Conway, Maj'r Moore & Reuben Taylor went with C. Taylor to Dinner. I brought from Uncle Taylor's two Plumb cyons (of the Horse or better sort) and planted in the N.W. Corner of the Yard.
10, Lightning last night to S.W. with a little rain. Very Cloudy and wet to day- tho' no very heavy rain. Benj'a Taylor's colt was led to James Taylor's and gelt by Joseph Bell, who cut one for J. Taylor and another for E. Taylor. Wet evening.
11, Rained a good deal last night, I believe constant. Dark morning with small rain. I went to Capt Burnley's and got Mrs. Burnley to alter a Jacket she made for me- I dined there and ret'd in evening. The rain ceased in the middle of the day, but rained again the evening and night.
12, Last night very rainy and rainy day till evening, when it continued cloudy, with a little sunshine. Negro George returned from Caroline, he brought some newspapers and letters- James Taylor & son & C. Taylor dined here- Hear there is so much water that they cannot grind at Dade's Mill.
13, Began to rain the morning and rained constant all day and was cloudy in the night-
14, Cleared this morning- the air cooler than lately. My father went to Rob't Taylor's to consult him on making his Answer to a Bill in Chancery, Miner & others ag't Thornton's Trustees &c- I went to Court house- Rob't Taylor was there, I went with him & dined- no company beside my father there. Uncle Taylor was at the Store- but came home, as young Mr. Langham told him Mr Howard had rode out & intended to his house to dinner.
15, [SUNDAY] Last night clear windy and cold- the earth frozen this morning, but think the frost not so severe as to do much injury at the S.W. Mountains.
16, Having been more unwell two or three days past than usual- I took a dose of Rhubarb & Ipecac'a- My father sent Mr Nooe's & got a Jug Cyder, Mr Shepherd sent a Newspaper and a letter from Mr. James Maury- J. Taylor was here a little time after dinner. Warm & hazy.
17, Windy and warm, there fell a few drops rain in the night- I took Salts to day- A slight shower afternoon- J. Taylor came here & got some Carrot seed. Sowed snap beans in N.E. square of Garden, 2 rows of each sort- 1 row Dwarf peas. 1 do. Soup peas
From the TAYLOR DIARY #1907-z in the Southern Historical Collection, University of North Carolina Libary, Chapel Hill. FOR REFERENCE ONLY: PERMISSION TO PUBLISH MUST BE REQUESTED. WARNING: MOST MANUSCRIPTS ARE PTOECTED BY COPYRIGHT.