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5[355] DIARY OF FRANCIS TAYLOR,1798,
1798,
March,
1, Thursday, Cloudy night-Cloudy day, misty with drops of rain. Most of the snow melted. J.Taylor, J.Pendleton, Robert Taylor & C.P.Howard dined here.
2, Cloudy,foggy morning, clear evening, moderate. Frank rode to Mr.Shepherd's,bro' R'n Taylor's Newspaper. I dined at home. Had all my geese(46) put into meadow.
3, Cloudy cold morning-Fair evening. J.Taylor sent here and got a Pot of butter weighing including Towel & pot 25 lb. I sent Frank with jug to J.Taylor's and got about 1 1/2 Gallons whisky for that lent him last year- I took Ipecac & Jallap-did not operate much- Capt James Barbour was here about noon to look at some *Tables &c of +Wm.Taylor's- went before dinner. *[Left there for storage- +Wm.Taylor of Fredericksburg, not a relative-WKA]
4, Hard frost and white do. Fair day. I went to C.Taylor's,dined there- Sally Taylor was gone to Bledsoe's meeting, with J.Taylor's family. {SUNDAY]
5, Some frost, Clouds in morn, Fair mild evening. Began to Plow for Corn,by Gum Spring. Had Seeds sown in bed by the road,burnt last week. Wm.Pollock,D.S. Executed a Petition & writ on me at Suit McCall,Smellie & Co., & Geo.McCall & Co as Executor of Geo Taylor Dec'd. I walked in evening to J.Taylor's,only he & wife at home-Reuben Taylor called here returning from Madison's Mill- I gave him Newspaper.
6, Tuesday, White frost, hazy, smoky. I sent 3 Bags Corn & got meal from Dade's Mill. Polly Edwards sent a pair breeches made for me by Negro Woman,and I sent her a Quart honey in part pay. M.Biggers got Cabbage, Onion & Sellery seeds to sow in two beds,burnt to day, on the branch below his house.
7, White frost, Hazy, warmest day this year. Second plow began in corn ground. Sent Frank with my breeches to get P.Edwards to alter them- Sent 3/- by him. Sowed 10 Rows of Peas-6 Common & 4 Nonparial, in square by Little house. I was very unwell.
8, Thursday, Warm,smoky and windy. I staid at home. Began to Plow new ground yesterday with oxen.
9, Warm and smoky, and sunshine. I was very unwell the latter part of night and this morning- Rode by Court house to Robert Taylor's- J.Taylor and wife, J.Pendleton & wife, Aunt Taylor, Maj'r Moore & J.Taylor jun'r, dined there.
10, Warm,sunshine & smoky. Mrs.Gilden & Mrs King came here- I let the former have 1 1/2 pints honey-to pay work if I require it. C.Taylor was here at dinner,got 12 lb Hemp. After dinner I walked to J.Taylor's, J.Pendleton &c there- while there Reuben Burnley sent his servant for two bottles port wine for T.Bell. I came home and let him have them,he said they wou'd be repaid next week. Had 4 Shoats cut yesterday & spayed to day.
11, Cloudy,windy and light showers- About sunset Thunder rain and Hail. I wnet to Sermon at Court house, came by Aunt Taylor's. D.Triplett & family, Mrs Burnley & do. C.Taylor and daughters & Fanny Barbour, dined there. C.P.Howard gone to Richmond. Sent 3/3 p/r Frank to Polly Edwards(she had a quarter of honey before) for making a pair Breeches. [SUNDAY]
12, Monday, Sharp frost, Clear cool and windy. J.Taylor came here before noon & got some seeds. The Rev'd Mr.O'Neil and Phil Barbour(son of Thomas) came here to dinner- I paid Mr.O'Neil 4 dollars for 1797- He left the Subscription paper with he & requested me to leave it with And'w Shepherd jr- After dinner they went down to Col.W.Taliaferro's. Mr. O'Neil had been to Col.T.Barbour's & married T[homas].Newman & Lucy Barbour. After dinner Stephen Fox was here and looked at a pair of my Oxen which he said he wanted to purchase. I want to hear from F.Taliaferro before I sell.
13, Cloudy morning, fair mild day, Snow on G.Mountains. Six geese missing. I epect were stolen last night. I walked to J.Taylor's in the evening. A Shepherd jr came there to desire me to meet at Court house next thursday about settling his father's accounts with the late Joseph Woods Estate.

From the TAYLOR DIARY, #1907-z in the Southern Historical Collection, University of North Carolina Library, Chapel Hill. FOR REFERENCE ONLY : PERMISSION TO PUBLISH BE REQUESTED. WARNING: MOST MANUSCRIPTS ARE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT.