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11[199] DIARY OF FRANCIS TAYLOR, 1792, 1792,
May, [SUNDAY]
13, Warm dry weather. Hodge, the Shoemaker, brought me a pair of Shoes & I paid him a Dollar. My father & I went to J. Taylor's to dinner, He, James Taylor jr, H. Pendleton & Nancy Taylor were at meeting at Jas Clark's but got home to dinner- Some thunder and very slight rain. I gave sundry papers to J. Taylor-vizt, my certificates, to get Interest of them at Richmond, where he intends to go this week- also my account for 1 year's pay when supernumerary Maj'r and a Certificate &c of *Wm. Taylor's to get adjusted, if any mistake. Great numbers of Locusts have appeared within the last week- Saw Light Bugs at night. [* Major W. Taylor, brother of the Diarist, moved to Ky. 1786 or earlier-WKA]
14, Not so warm to day as yesterday- the Earth hard & very dry- Circle around the Sun. Israel & Jack, with horses, set off about noon to roll 2 Hnds Tobacco to Fredericksburg. Capt Burnley dined here. Moses was helping to fix Bee hives. Mrs James was here & paid G. Taylor some money.
15, J. Taylor set off to Richmond- Rained a little in the evening- Wm Leathers was here & got some Hemp for Capt Burnley & said my father's pigs roots their corn lately planted.
16, Cloudy last night, tho'very little rain, same weather this morning. The Overseer went to where the hogs are fed & out the noses of some pigs found in Capt. Burnley's field. Cut & marked 3 of them- A little rain forenoon, had cabbages planted in the square next the gate. A light shower afternoon, but soon dried- Abner Porter & Cha's Taylor were here in the evening- I was out walking in Capt Burnley's fields where I saw ripe Strawberries- Very windy day.
17, The Tobacco rollers, who went down the 14th, returned last night- Warm weather & ear very dry- changed very cool at night-
18, Clear and cold- I went early to Hyde's store & bought some paper, a hat &c- returned at noon.
19, Weather continues cool and clear- James Taylor came here a brought me my certificates with Int. warrants he drew on them at Auditor's in Richmond. Informed me he had left my account against the U.States for the Depreciation of the year's pay of sup'y Major in Cont'l line- And informed me he could not get anything done with Wm. Taylor's Final Settlement- so returned it. A. Porter's wagon took a load of forty odd Bush Wheat to carry to Blair's- A Porter was here when the Waggon loaded and went away before noon- he found provision &c himself. James Taylor and C. Taylor dined here- The former said it was believed in Richmond that the slaves in the Eastern parts of this State had planned a Revolt but a discovery of their plot had been made. Maj'r Moore & others saw smart white frost this morning. Cold dry weather.
20, [SUNDAY] My father and I went to Court house where Mr. Fry preached a sermon to a tolerable number of people. We came by Uncle Taylor's and dined- Mrs. Madison Mrs Macon, Mrs Burnley & children & Mr. Howard were there.
21, Weather cool, clear, and very dry. My mare foaled last night- has a black, male colt- I rode by Mr. T. Bell's and carried him cucumber seed. Went to Shoemaker, Hodges, got 2 pair shoes he made, paid him 4/- My father sent for making pair shoes- and paid him 6/- the balance I owed for 3 pr made for me- Saw Maj'r Moore & J. Taylor jr at Shoemaker's- In evening had pompion seeks planted in old plant patch. I walked to J. Taylor's after dinner.
22, Cloudy last night but cleared in the morning. Uncle Taylor, J. Taylor & son, H. Pendleton, J. Howie Pendleton and Ch. Taylor dined here- Reu. Taylor, Rich'd Cawthorn & J. Langham called here returning from Court house- but only staid to get 2 quarts brandy my father owed Langham- Very dry continues. Replanted the whole Hog pen.
23, The weather continues cool, clear and very dry. My father went Syl to Abner Porter's, who brought a Small jug and 3 Bus' Salt, his Waggon brought from Blair's, but left a Bar of Iron- The Bees swarmed yesterday and to day, but fear shall not secure the swarms, the first went away-
24, The weather continues cool and dry- I think it was cool enough this morning for frost.

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: MANUSCRIPTS ARE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT.