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[123] 9
DIARY OF FRANCIS TAYLOR, 1789.
1789,
April,
23, I went out before breakfast & killed a squirrel. Capt. Dade's Miller sent 30 arp to-day and one yesterday. My. father sent him bottle brandy. My father rode to Mr. Shepherd's and borrowed a tap borer. Capt Burnley had been to C.Taylor's to spay some hogs, called and dined here. G.C.T. went home with him. Some rain in evening Sent wheat to Mill.
24, Good deal of rain, thunder & lightning last night. Clear to-day and cool. Hub'd Taylor came here going to C.Taylor's. My father & I went there to dinner. John Taylor also dined there. Took up white Irish potatoes.
25, Went with my father, Richard & Colby Taylor went to Uncle Taylor's. James Taylor, Ch's Taylor, Hub Taylor & John Taylor dined there- Rob't Taylor was not there, his children both unwell. G.C.T. returned from Capt Burnley's & J.Taylor jr. with him-
26, J.Taylor jr went home after breakfast. I went with my father, G.C.T. and nephews to Hub Taylors; Uncle Taylor, Aunt Taylor, John, Robert & Jenny Taylor dined there- weather cold and a few drops of rain. Some places frost.-[Sunday]-
27, Our family all went to the Election, which stood at the close: for Burnley 329; Davis 176; Johnson, 161; Merry, 100. Ab'm Davis's wife brought a keg with 3 gallons vinegar for which I paid her 3/9 & 3 [?] for bringing up. To empty keg & carry to May Court.
28, Went with my father to Court. Maj'r Moore & Reu Taylor came by & went with us. G.C.T. went to C.Taylor's-Saw P.Merry at Court who promised to discharge his hand, but did not. weather continues very cold.
29, G.C.Taylor set off to Caroline &c. lent him my bags. Sowed a few peas, beans, & 12 grains forward corn.
30, Moses Perry burnt with cornstalks a patch to sow seeds by old plant patch. G.Taylor went with Rob't Taylor and dined there- I was very unwell and staid at home-
May,
1, Sowed good Cabbage seed, Onion & Lettuce seeds in the new plant patch. Planted in the pen below the Cherry Stump next the pasture, W.Madison's sort Watermelon seed, in the hills above the stump Col.A.Thornton's sort. One row of Cucumbers from Caroline between and round. planted the hills above peach tree with my sort red pulp and white seed, common cucumbers round. Sowed Colwarts, parsley & lettuce & white mustard where Caslows house stood, planted five hills there with Dodds Cucumber & Muskmelon seeds, the latter from Caroline some planted in the bed. Capt Burnley breakfasted here to-day.
2. J.Taylor brought some precepts & papers & key of the office and left with me: said he & family were setting off to Culpeper. Uncle Taylor & Hubbard Taylor dined here the latter brought a fine dish of Asparagus. Capt Burnley here about sun-set- said Col.E.Pendleton jr passed by as be came here, with one of his young sons. Mr. Goodlett kept school till afternoon.
3, [Sunday] Warm, dry weather. G.Taylor went to Rob't Taylor's and dined- Col.E.Pendleton jr was there. My nephews and self dined at home.
4, C.Taylor, his wife & Miss M.Conway went to Col'o Madison's to see Mrs Madison, who is sick, lent G.Taylor my horse-Reu Taylor came here early, got 10 Gallons Molasses & 11 lbs Rice of my father & paid him for it- 5 Gall's Molasses measured for G.Taylor in 2 jugs- Merry Walker got a write & left mem'dm. Issued an Ex'n Zach Lucas vs Benj'a Harney for 21£ + 80 lb Tob'o 15/- & 1/6- & del'd John Fergusen. A little rain at night.
5, Two Turkeys hatched 26 young- Weather warm & dry for four last days. C.Taylor walked over & borrowed an Int Warrant No.909 £4.15.11.
6, Hubbard & Reuben Taylor called here, *G.Taylor and I went with them to Mr.Thurston's Funeral at Col.Taliaferro's. Mr. Waddill preached in the hose and Mr, Tatum at the grave. There were between 30 & 40 persons present, who all dined there. [This man died 16th March. It seems to have been the custom to hold funeral services and go to the grave weeks after the body had been buried or placed in the grave-WKA]--
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.