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30 [218] DIARY OF FRANCIS TAYLOR, 1792, 1792, December, 19, Very fine mild weather- I offered Macon Biggers (who has not got a place) that if he would find his own & family's provision, I would employ him & give him at the year's end 50/- and one tenth of Wheat, Corn & Tobacco, making deduction for Wheat sown, but we made no positive agreement. I wrote to Mess'rs Blairs to send me 2 8d, & 2M 10d, Nails, also about 30 lb Iron & some steel- I rode to Court house & gave the letter to Phil Ballard, who was going with a Hnd Tob'o to Fredericks'g- I bartered with Mr C.P.Howard- 3 pair Thread hose co 3/- Stg. pair, say 18.0. Cash, 2/- = £1.0.0.: For 1 pair flat irons bo't the 14th, 5.0. 1 Handsaw to day, 5/9, 1 set Knives & forks 8.5, = £1.0.0. 20, Sent 3 Bus' Wheat to Dade's Mill and Rec'd ____ Flour and seconds ___. Began to clear at the foot of the mountain. I walked to the Quarter, Moses about framing a house there- went to the Barn, the Overseer, Davy and Israel prizing the third Hnd Tobacco, there will be some left. Benjamin Powell got Licence to marry Esther Pickett, Thomas Walker his security. Cloudy morning with spits snow & cold- 21, Clear day and good weather- J.Taylor sent & got 20 Barrels corn which he bought at the Sale. He rode here but did not stay, said he was going to Court house &c Roger Bell was here & saw the corn measured. After dinner I rode to Smith's Store & bought Diapr 2 1/4 yards for a large Table Cloth. 22, Warm with some clouds- Joseph Bickers came and received 10 Barrels, making 10 he ahd before the Quantity bought by him at the Sale 20 barrels. After dinner I went to J.Taylor's, J.Pendleton, his wife and family were there, they got over last night. Whilst I was at J.Taylor's- Mr John W.Berry (who married one of Jonathan Taylor's daughters) got there, #He brought several letters from Kentucky friends & said he saw J.Taylor jun'r, who arrived with Maj'r Lee &c in that country about 10 days before he left it. [#Ann, dau. of Jonathan Taylor, born 1776, m.June 1792, John Washington Berry.] 23, J.Taylor, J.Pendleton, J.W.Berry, Charles Taylor, Reu Taylor & sons- Billy & Frank-Gibson Taylor & J.Pendleton's son James, were here to dinner. Mr.Berry staid here. John Ford came with two negro men for 3 cows he bought at the sale, they staid here and in the morning of the 24th he paid me in part of his bond £6.3.1 & carried off his cows. --[SUNDAY]-- 24, Rained last night and this morning- Mr.J.W.Berry intended on his journey but the wetness of the morning occasioned him to defer it- He went with me to Court, there was not a sufficient number of Magistrates to make a Court- I took some bonds from purchasers at teh Sale the 10th & 11th past, who did not give them then. Mr Berry returned home with me. 25, Ceased raining last evening- some clouds to day. John W.Berry proceeded on his journey to his father's. I staid at home- Capt Burnley came over in evening and chatted two or three hours. Macon Biggers was here after sunset- 26, Hazy morning, clear evening- moderately cold. I agreed to give Carpenter Moses for working on Overseer's house 1/3 day in Holidays & he went to work- Sent to Court house & got some nails sent me from Blairs- Also a bundle, supposed sent by B.Taylor. I went to J.Taylor's to dinner. J.Pendleton & family, T.Barbour jr & do. - Col.T.Barbour & do. Maj'r Ambrose Madison & do' dined there- A.Barbour paid me 29/- for T.Doolin's order on him in fav'r of G.Taylor dec'd. 27, I was desired at Court to meet at Mr.Dade's to assist in laying off the Slaves Mrs Dade would be entitled to for her Dower- The Court did not meet so that no order could be made- but it was said that if persons would meet & do the business now & were hereafter appointed by Court, it was reasonable to expect they would have the same opinion afterwards, unless some alteration by accident &c. Mr Thos Bell, Maj'r W.Moore, Col.T.Barbour, Mr.Geo Proctor, Mr.Ben Porter, Cha's Taylor & F.Taylor signed the state of a division in w'ch 12 slaves were allotted Mrs Dade for 1/3 value- 25 were for the children (2 of whom we did not see) At Mrs Dade's beside the above mentioned were Col.Law'ce Taliaferro, Col A.Maury, J.Taylor & J.Pendleton, they dined there- I went by A Maury's Store- The day was very cold & a little hazy. 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.