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DIARY OF FRANCIS TAYLOR, 1796,

1796,
March,
13, (Continued) I walked to J. Taylor's- His wife appears very low in health. Robert
Taylor and family dined at J. Taylor's. J. Taylor jr & wife and E. Chew were there.

14, Smoky, warm & hazy. L. Taliaferro jr came & got some Onion seed before breakfast
M. Biggers Sowed a Seed patch in the Cornfield by Gum and another on the Branch
below his house. William Taylor came here and staid at night.

15, Warm, clouds and Sunshire. Wm Taylor after breakfast went to John Leathers's
to try to get him carry a trunk to Charlottesville, said he intended going to
Col Collins's (Louisa) on business. I sowed Peas, 6 rows next little house, Marrowfat,
the other 7 the Midling garden peas.

16, Wednesday, Last night Lightning West, North & East- a little shower with thunder
changed very cold in morning, Snowed several times - Very high wind through the
day, clear evening.

17, Very high wind all night, cold and clear, ice 1/4 inch thick on the water this
morn. Windy till evening, then moderate. J. Taylor's with my people with R. Bell
& M. Biggers worked on the road- Reuben Taylor called here and dined with me,
said he had been in quest of some things brought from Fred'g for him and found
them at J. Taylor's- One Ewe had 2 lambs last night (1 dead) being the first
since the 7 Jan'y- and 146 days since the Ram was turned to them, the 23rd October last.

18, Cool, cloudy & a very little rain, Clear windy evening. Reuben Taylor was here
with a Cart & got 40 Apple trees to plant- Gave him a Hamper of Cabbages, bottle
honey, Cabbage & other seeds. Sent Rob't Cawthon Onion seeds. Charles Taylor
came over after dinner, we settled our small account- I gave him Credit
& Charged G.C. Taylor £3.10.0 for balance Sary's hire last year: (which G.C. Taylor's
l're to C. Taylor directed him to get for Miss M. Conway's use) & C. Taylor
paid Cash 20/4 w'ch balanced the small account. I gave him Cabbage & other
seeds. M. Biggers got seeds to sow in plant bed, old sheep pen.

19, Very severe frost- Ice all day, windy & clear, dry. I sent 37 lb Spun wool by
Frank to Joseph Clark's- Mrs Clark told Frank she wou'd weave. got the cloth
home the 26th April, 46 yds, 43 lb same yarn ret'd. I wrote to Mr. Triplett
by Macon Biggers to send me an account of the wheat he had received from me
particularly that delivered the 14 January last, he did not send the one I
wrote for, I had the others before, & he in answer ment'd the account had been
sent to Court house some time ago.

20, Sunday, Cool and hazy, ice near 1/4 inch on piggin, 1/2 inch yesterday. I walked to
J. Taylor's- J. Taylor jr & wife went to Maj'r Moore's. T. Barbour's wife & children
were at J. Taylor's after dinner J.T. went part of the way, intending to
Culp'r Court tomorrow.

21, White frost, smoky, some clouds and mild. Sowing & plowing in Oats beyond the
Meadow. Sowed Timothy seed next the meadow with the oats. I trimmed all the
Peach trees in Mountain field Orchard.

22, Smoky, a little hazy and mild. Finished sowing Oats, suppose 7 or 8 bushels.
Heard that C. Taylor was sick, but getting better.

23, Smoky, windy & warm- with some thin clouds. After dinner I walked to C. Taylor's,
who has recovered from his illness so much that he went to day to Mrs Bell's
and got home whilst I was there. Tho's Barbour jr called here in evening, came
from Major Moore's, his brother Richard and Polly Moore were married yesterday
Mr. T. Barbour told me he cou'd pay me some money in Bank Notes- I did not receive
them but told him if he would have them at Orange Court & Mr J. Blair
would receive them will take as much as will pay him. A few blossoms on Peach
& Apricot trees.

24, Turned cool after morning. Some spits snow, very cold night. Burned a bed in
Garden, Sowed sundry seeds in that and 'Sparagus bed- Yellow & white Carrots
by Cresses- William Taylor & Jon'a Gibson got here to dinner, came from John
Gibson's. J. Taylor walked here in evening- W. Taylor went to W. Hancock's to
get him carry a Trunk to Charlottesville.

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.