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DIARY OF FRANCIS TAYLOR, 1788
1788
March,
10, Clearn, dry & windy, about 9 o'clock perceived a smoke at Caslow's house- She being at the kitchen- before any person got to her house the flames broke through & she lost all her cloaths &c &c- The fire was sudden & rapid- While it was on fire-C.Taylor, Reu Taylor & Hub'd Taylor rode up but did not stay being on their way to Courthouse &c- Heard Frogs cry first since winter, Capt Burnley came here after fire, but soon returned- I very unwell.
11, Continue unwell- staid at home- Weather fine- Frogs singing.
12, G.T. rode to Mrs Thomas's to see the Register- I went to Court house where G.Taylor came, Col'o Madison came by & e dined at Mr.E.Taylor's- I paid Mr.Hansbrough for 1/2 doz plates &c. Aunt Taylor gave me some Colewart sedd which I had sown in the upper plant patch, Had a few Cabbage seed sown in the lower one this morning, Lettuce was also sown in both. Saw a Leather winged Bat in evening-
13, Went with G.Taylor to J.Taylor's dined there with Uncle E.Taylor, Rob't Taylor & their wives, Mrs Burnley & children & C.Taylor-
14, Uncle Taylor, Rob't Taylor, J.Taylor, J.Pendleton, Maj'r Moore & C.Taylor dined at Midland. Alex Gordon came to see Uncle Taylor about age of a horse. After dinner Hub Taylor who had been to Culpeper called by. Lent 1/2 Gross Corks to J.Taylor. Weather warm, windy, Smoky & Cloudy.
15, Hub Taylors waggon brought home 8 Bus' salt, a Grindstone, 67 yrds br'n Linen 1 lb Saltpetre & yds Cotton for G.Taylor-and left here a small Keg Molasses & 3 Bus's Salt for C.Taylor wch he sent for in evening. C.Taylor came here & went with us to Muster- Saw A.Madison at Maj'r Lee's & paid him for my note to G.Lamson & Co., £3.19.2. in full and took in the note- Ralph Quarles pd for 14 1/2 lb Bacon del'd the 1st instant, 10/9 which I paid my father- Came by School house on way home- Mr Shepherd, Mr.T Bell, Maj'r Moore &c &c there.
16, Brother James was here in morning to change Guinea, Gave him some Rice- he pd me 2/6- Went with G.Taylor to C.Taylors to dinner, C.Taylor was gone to Col Madisons- came home in evening. W.Madison with him going tomorrow to Culpeper Court. [Sunday]
17 Went with G.T. to the schoolhouse, where some neighbors were at work laying the floor, cramming &c, did not finish- Several had cold victuals & Spirits & we dined there., viz't UncleTaylor, Mr T Bell, J.Taylor, Capt Burnley, Maj'r Lee, Jas' Burnley, Jas Bell, & Chs Bell- Mr Shepherd came in the evening- Brewed Persimmon Beer.
18, Clear & fine morning- Cloudy & windy evening. I went to Court house, got 1/2 lb Fig blue w'ch Mr Wilson left at Mr Shepherd's & I paid him for it 2/- There were some Sheriffs Sales at C't house & good many persons there- I gave in my List to A.Porter. Hear the River is past fording. Mr. Goodlett began to teach at Schoolhouse.
20, Boiled Persimmon Beer. J.Taylor came & got some Cimblings for seed & said he hears Col Madison will be up in a few days. [This was Col.James Madison-President U.S. 1809-17. WKA]
21, Went with G.Taylor to J.Taylors & dined - after dinner W.Madison came there & intends tomorrow to go to a Muster near the Chestnut Mountain. J.Clark was working on the Road.
22, Hub'd Taylor's boy called here & told us Col J[ames] Taylor was at his Master's who sent for us to go there. J.Clark breakfasted here & got Iron & Steel- Uncle E.Taylor came by, G.Taylor & I went with him to Hub'd Taylors, but Maj'r Moore (expecting that Col.Madison would be at his house to-day) had sent for H.Taylor, Col Taylor & Maj'r Minor, and we went with them and dined there. R'n Taylor & wife were there but Col.Madison did not get there before we came away- unwell all day.
23, [Sunday] Hear that Col.Madison got to Maj'r Moore's last night & proceeded to-day to his father's - I went with G.Taylor to H'd Taylor's and dined there with Col.Ja's Taylor, Major Minor, bror's James & Reuben, & John Moore. Cloudy & rain, several showers- Unwell in evening. Capt Burnley after we got home sat 2 or 3 hours w'th us.
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.