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28[345] OF FRANCIS TAYLOR, 1797, 1797, December, 14, Thin clouds, soft, moderate. Cleaned some Wheat at the Barn from the Chaff and brought about 30 bushels to Wheat house-a little left. Frank carried Cloth to Mrs Burnley to get a Coat made. 15, Friday, Moderate rain-smoky, warm. I caught an Opossum by the Spring this Morning. I staid at home. Davy making shoes for E.Chew. 16, Fair mild ans pleasant. Nothing remarkable. T.Doolin came to ask if I w'd hire my cart to bring some corn from Langham's- I was using it & did not comply. 17, [SUNDAY], Thin clouds and cool. Ambrose Powell came here last night, brought a letterfrom Col'o J.Madison jr.,who he had told that he had served as a soldier under me & had not received his pay &c. I believe it to be a story of his own fabrication. I sent him to lodge at Nanny's house- He went away about noon. I went to Sermon at Court house. Thincongregation- dined at Aunt Taylor's- Mres Burnley & C.Taylor there. 18, Some clouds in morn, moderate weather, fair evening. I had 2 pair of young Steers yoked. Walked to J.Taylor's after dinner-Carried E,Chew a pair of shoes (Davy made) & pr old worsted stockings- T.Barbour's wife & children, Sally & Betsy Taylor at J.Taylor's. 19, Hard Frost. Cold clear day-thin clouds in evening. M.Biggers went to Shop, got some axes &c. John Biggers wife was here & asked me to lend £20, which it did not suit me to do. 20, Wednesday, Hard Frost- Thin clouds & not very cold-Changed at night to cooler & strong north wind. Began to work one pair of young Steers in the cart. Had a Cart load Turneps put in Turnep house.- 21, Last night very windy & extremely cold- Clear cold day. Worked the smallest of young steers. Cutting wood &c. 22, Very cold. Clouds and spits of snow in morning. J.Taylor called here & brought me from Court house. Two Letters, one from J.Dawson about my Military Land &c, the other Letter from Jonathan Taylor Jr. J.Taylor jr came here after his father was gone, & asked if I would Lend him some money towards paying for part of the Tract of Land, where Cawthon lives, w'ch he has purchased of Wm. Quarles- I promised if I got of Mess'rs Barbours to Lend him 4 or 500 dollars, he wou'd not stay to dinner. M.Biggers & wife was here in the evening, the latter asked for a Turkey for Christmas, which I promised to give her, sent her next morning A young Cock. 23, Cold serene and clear. Finished cleaning about 10 bushels wheat, which was in the chaff and brought from barn, putinto Wheat house and cellar- There is now 21 Hnds of Clean Wheat. Wm Truisdale brought me 11 dollars & paid for money Lent 1st Oct'r. I paid him 2/- for 400 small nails. J.Taylor jr, C.P.Howard, Rich'dBarbour, Capt Jno.Moore and C.Taylor dined here. 24, Sunday, Cold continues, tho' a little milder- Clear. I went to J.Taylor's to dinner- T.Barbour's wife and children there- J.Taylor jr was gone to Jno daniels. 25, Thin clouds-wind South-not very cold. I went to Court-Rec'd a Letter from Col. James Taylor and do, from F.S.Taylor dated Richmond. Sent letter to James Coleman p/r Capt Raine. Bought some trifles for self & 2 yards fine Linen for Eliza chew, of Pedlar, 9/3. 26, Cloudy with a little rain, very mild, changed cold in the night. I staid at home.--- *[Essex, a slave belongingto--]--Col.J.Taylor[IV.W.K.A.] came & solicited me to write to his master about buying him w'ch I did in night. *[Insert here"Essex a slave belonging to"- Vide entry Jan'y 3 1798-WKA] 27, Wednesday, Hard frost-very cold and clear. I was at home- Saw no white person but M.Biggers. 28, Cold hard frost- Fair, evening moderate. Wrote (by Joe) to Mess'rs Blairs to send me a Jug of Molasses. Patsy Leathers was here in morning- Said her brother Charles was sick & bought a Quart of honey. I was very unwell last night- Took Castor oil to day and rather better in evening. 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.