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20[242] DIARY OF FRANCIS TAYLOR,1794, 1794
September,
22, Slight frost- very clear. Wm Taylor & I went to Court.I paid Capt J.Scott 40/- for 5 Bus' Early Wheat had the 2d, instant- Did not receive any money from Mr. Edwards. W.Taylor came here with me. Rec'd of Wm Walker 3/9 for M.Biggers & paid him next morning.
23, Cool & hazy, a very little rain. I paid Wm Taylor for Richard Taylor, $83.11.11 & gave him, R'd Taylor, Credit, in my private Ac't 6.8.1 making his proportion of G.Taylor's Estate, $90.00.00
C Taylor called here after breakfast & W.Taylor & he went off to Caroline. Rueben Taylor came by & went with me to Court hose. I let C.Taylor have 2 dollars to buy me some medecine. Col Madison, Maj'r Moore, Mr.Fry, Col.Jameson & myself met, Col.Alcock, Mess'rs Shepherd, Downey,Tom Bell, about settling Wm. Bell dec'd Estate- John Walker & James Barbour jr Att'ya @ Sam'l Slaughter attended- The Com'rs began to examine but made little progress & appointed a meeting tomorrow.[Note-Richard Taylor receives $90. from his father's estate-WK
24, Cloudy without rain. Earth very dry. I met at Court house: Col Jameson & Maj'r Moore Com'rs Mr. Shepherd, Mr Downey,Col Alcock & T.Bell. Lawyers Walker, Barbour & Rob't Taylor- They Com'rs concluded that from the state of the accounts &c they could not make a proper report at present and did not proceed- Mr.Shepherd A Downey, Maj'r Moore, Col Jameson, Rob't Taylor & myself dined at Nooe's and staid till evening. I agreed with Macon Biggers to be my Overseer next year on the following terms. To find him 500 lb Port- 8 Barrells Corn & 1 1/2 Bus' Salt- If I hire one hand, he, M.B. to have 1/6 Wheat & 1/7 Corn. If I hire two, 1/7 Wheat & 1/8 Corn, and if only own hands 1/6 Wheat and Corn.
25, A few clouds, went off without rain, warm. I staid at home, killed two squirrels. Had Wheat that was threshed at the Barn put into Cellar, 34 Bushels-
26, Rained a little last night, cloudy.Had the Wheat in the Wheat house run through the Fan, the Wevil had hurt it some. Walked to J.Taylor's in evening, he is unwell.
27, Cloudy morn, Thunder to N. & E. warm. J.Taylor sent for me to Dinner. I went over Gariel Barbour was there- they expected T.Jenkins but he did not come. J.Taylor jr was at home- Nancy at T.Barbour's- J. Taylor still very unwell. Macon Biggers & wire went to Louisa.
28, [SUNDAY] Warm & fair.I went to J.Taylor's & gave J.Taylor jr a letter to Mess'rs Blairs- Reuben Burnley & A.Wilson came there & J.Taylor jr & they set off to Fred'g. I went to Mrs James's & heard a tolerable good discourse from _________
Morris, a Baptist. Came to C.Taylor's to dinner. Mrs Moore, her daughters, Robt Moore, Jas Bell, Mrs Burnley & children & Cha's Bell was there.
29, Foggy morning- Warm & fair afterwards. I rode to Hyde's. he & R.Johnson gone to Fred'g- Mrs Hyde got Mr Powell(a sadler) to assist me to choose 5 sides Soal leather 51 lb, which is to be sent to me- I did not pay for it. Roger Bell sent a girl & 2/3- I sent 3 lb Butter to him. In evening I walked to Uncle Taylor's He & Aunt Thomas are unwell- I carried a basket which Uncle Taylor gave me applies to fill & I brought home. M.Biggers returned from Louisa.
30, Turned cooler in night- Very windy towards noon with a little rain. Very cool evening. I rode to Mr.Shepherd's before breakfast,left a letter for Mess'rs Blairs- Saw Mr Jenkins- he sent the Store of Goods away yesterday, and expects a horse sent him to follow in a day or two. Cleaned some wheat tailings.

October,
1, Rained a little in the night, wind Northeast and very cold & rainy, small rain all day. Roger Bell brought a Black ewe & exchanged for a white ram for J.Taylor, Turned my Ram with the Ewes. 1 Ewe found dead- 26 Sheep left.
2, Cloudy & small rain last night & this morning, cleared by noon. the ground not wet much, fine evening. Let Macon Biggers have 6/- to buy Beef of John Biggers, & sent 7/6 to buy me a Quarter, he got a hind Quarter for me 41 lbs 2d. Reuben Taylor came from Doolins & dined. I walked in evening to J.Taylor's-he is better. Ben Taylor got here at night, said C.Taylor came up.

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.