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DIARY OF FRANCIS TAYLOR, 1787,
1787,
October,
15, John Bickers bo't & p'd 6/- for 6 lb Wool- S.Mozingo raised roof of Cornhouse & covering. Rode to Hansfords in evening, Maj'r Lee opening the new Store, cool.
16, Very cool windy morning-finished covering Cornhouse, Hub Taylor called by with a paper Col Madison sent to be inserted in his answer to Minors bills etc. had some scattering tob'o cut for smoking-
17 Severe frost killed all tender leaves &c. Ice. Wrote letter to Wm Taylor[his brother in Ky-W.K.A.] rode to Courthouse to see Z.Taylor but he did not set out [for Ky.-W.K.A.] today. Corn house finished-
18, Frost smart this morning. J.Clark as here to breakfast, told him he might have a ps Bacon-Rode to Courthouse. Zach Taylor & several others set out by way of Redstone for Kentucky, gave him Letter for W.Taylor.
19, Sent a Midling to J.Clark, Cloudy- C.Taylor bor'd small bottle brandy. Reuben Taylor called on his way to Courthouse & paid me £4.0.0. Rain about noon-
20, Rain from NEast all day-J.Taylor sent for ps Beef here- The youngest child of his negro wench Jenny was burnt so badly yesterday by its cloathes catch'g fire that it died before night.
21, Continues to rain, wind NEast, cleared up in the middle of the day, fine evening I dined at C.Taylors [Sunday]
22, Went to Court, rec'd a letter from my father that he & friends below were well. That he had sent some things by H.Taylors waggon. Heard that there is opposition to the propsednew federal Constitution in our Assembly- Rec'd 3/- for a license fee F.Neal, for which I gave J.Taylor Credit in small account.
23, Digging potatoes- Set Cabbages for winter, Rode to store but bought nothing, think the goods at Lees dear-
24, Killed 3 squirrels before breakfast & had them potted for dinner. J.Clark dined here, his father died the 21st. Finish'd digg'g Sweet, & digg'g Irish Potatoes. Fine moderate weather since the 21st. Absalom brought a jug of oil, 2 Bed-cords, Shoe thread 2 1/2 lb & my fathers old hat, in the night last, w'ch he brought from Fred'g.
25, Went to J.Taylors, J.Thomas came here & from here to J.Taylors to dinner. Rode to Hansfords after dinner.
26, S.Mozingo cutting logs for Stable, 4 negroes from J.Clarks here, got logs enough by 2 o'clock. Negroes beating leather. Bro'r James came here but did not stay to dinner. Very warm & windy. Had bag of new corn ground-
27 Went after dinner to Lees Store & bought some cloth for Frank & some other articles. Very warm weather-
28, [Sunday] Dined at J.Taylors, J.Pendleton & wife & T.Barbour were gone to Culpeper, fine evening, cooler.
29, Rain & Snow early & snowed very fast many hours. Cleared up fine in evening. Davy began make Shoes, made 1 pair-
30, Clouded in night, cold rainy morning, I don't know but some snow. Cleared in evening. Peter drawing Logs for Stable-
31, Snowed & rained a little in morning, cold windy day. Set 2 bushels Turneps.
November,
1, Very cold last night, severe frost, clear.
2, Went to Court house, heard there was to be a sale of Negroes seized on Exo'n Jno Samuels & S.Thompson. No sale- Chs Taylors riding horse died last, occasioned by eating a quantity of rye the night before- Had remainder of Timbers for Stable drawn in, the Cart all day here. Began to wear Flannel waistcoat-
3, Dined at J.Taylors, T.Barbour & J.Taylor jr had been hunting, started but did not take the fdx.
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.