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DIARY OF FRANCIS TAYLOR, 1788
1788
January,
Leaves lost from Diary to Jan.10'
10, J.Taylor, J.Pendleton, T.Barbour, J.Finney, C.Taylor & J.Taylor Jr. dined here Reuben Taylor & John Moore had been out with Partridge net & came after dinner & dined & then went to Maj'r Moore's-Weather Clear & cool.
11, Weather very cold. Capt Burnley came here very early, he brought me a Ream of Brown paper from Wilson's w'ch I paid for some time ago. Capt Burnley staid & breakfasted. After breakfast I went by bro'r James's, he J.Pendleton, Jno Finney & myself went to Mr.Shepherd's- read there the Governor's letter to the Speaker assigning his reasons why he did not sign the Federal Constitution. Went to Hanford's & drank Cyder- C.Taylor with us returned to J.Taylor's & dined &c. Gave Capt Burnley 2 Twist of old Tobacco and called at Uncle Taylors & gave him another-
12, Cloudy in night & cold- Continued cloudy till mid-day. Turned moderate. J.Clark made axle tree to Cart & dined here. C.Taylor borrowed 1 doz Candles.
13, [Sunday] Snowed for about 1/2 an hour 9 o'clock, not very cold. snowed in evening & night an inch or two but blowed much leaf destroyed++
14, Heard that Hub'd Taylor came up Saturday & sent word my father will stay till the last of this week. Weather very cold. Did not go from home.
15, Sent Frank to mill for meal. I staid at home. Weather continues cold- cloudy in evening.
16, Rain before day, Sleet in the morning, continued to rain all day, wind South, much of the snow melted, rained much in the evening.
17, Cleared in the night and froze- the remaining snow icy. Mildest weather that has been this month. After dinner rode to Court house saw Maj'r Moore at the store and came by Uncle Taylor's with him, staid about an hour- I then called by J.Taylor's, Mrs Gaines there.
18, J.Taylor sent for me that Jno Finney had ret'd from Richmond. I went to dinner Mr.Finney says the Auditors were not in Town so that he could not get Interest Warrants for Certificates he car'd down. he ret'd mine.
19, Rainy morning & all day. J.Taylor, J.Pendleton, T.Barbour, J.Finney, C.Taylor & Hub Taylor dined & spent the evening here.
20, [Sunday] Cleared about day and fine mild morning, but little windy. I dined at home. J.Finney & wife went from J.Taylors.
21, Had the Pork hung & began to Smoke it. Hazy but not very cold. Frank had Linen to make shirt.
22, Cloudy morning-Snow, hail & rain ab't 10 o'clock. Nanny had 4 yards Linen for George & thread to make his shirt & cloaths. Hazy, snowy & c till in night. Hear that Tho Barbour's wife was delivered of a son last night. [Names James Taylor Barbour May 24, 1788-WKA]
23, C.Taylor came by & I went with him to Court house. Capt Burnley, Reuben Taylor & HUb'd Taylor there. C.Taylor & Hub Taylor dined here on way home & Reu Taylor called at J.Taylor's & here after dinner. Weather somewhat cloudy & cool.
24, Began to snow before breakfast & continued till in the night- blustering and cold- ab't 8 inches deep. Capt Burnley called and wanted me to go with him to Capt Dade's, where some Company are expected. I did not go- the Capt ret'd a little afterdark & warmed, said my brothers, R.Taylor, Jno & Hen Pendleton were at Dade's-
25, Cloudy & blustering & very cold- The snow which fell yesterday drifted all day. I staid at home & wrote my Will. G.Taylor got home in night, came from Mr.Conway's Wednesday, from Mr.F.Thornton's in the snow yesterday to Mr Wm. Jones's & from there to-day, he had cold bad traveling. He brought up my watch for repairing of which he paid 4 dollars, also a pair of Shoes from Blair's, price 9/-
26, Jos Clark here at breakfast & says there is a hog got home w'ch has been cut at Mr.F.Taliaferro's long time. Had it killed & salted in midling order considering it had not been fattened.
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.