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[122] 8
DIARY OF FRANCIS TAYLOR, 1789,
1789,
April,
8, Yesterday & last night windy and cold- Ice and Ground frozen this morning. I went to School-house. Mr.Goodlett got there to-day and says he fell in the river yesterday-Hub'd Taylor here in evening and returned Int Warrant. 7 chickens hatched-
9, Rained a little before day and in morning- C.Taylor dined here. The Cart & Oxen brought two loads of hay from Hub'd Taylor's-
10, Rain before day- showery morning and very windy day- J.Taylor got home from Spotsylv'a last night, came here after breakfast. Willis and Dawson Elected Representatives for Spotsylvania. J.T. left the newspapers and ret'd before dinner.
11, Cold-windy, some showers of snow, not enough to cover ground.
12, [Sunday] Smart frost- ground frozen- snowed a little. Tay'r Jones brought 100 lb Rice, sent by Rich'd Taylor to G.Taylor- Reu.Taylor walked here and dined. negro Will came from John Pendleton's-
13, Ground frozen hard- G.C.T. came from A.Madison's. My father, G.C.T. & I went to J.Taylor's and dined there, C.Taylor & Capt Burnley & Betty Chew there also Richard & Colby went to C.Taylor's to dinner. I went to Court-house after dinner and saw Doct'r Williams, who promised to convey a letter to Mr.Nath'l Offatt at George Town-
14, I went as far as the Church with my gun, killed a Squirrel and two doves, the fish would not bite in the run. MR.*Shepherd & Rob't Wilson passed while I was there. Saw Maj'r Moore, who told me Battaile was left out in Caroline & Callis in Louisa, in Elections. C.Taylor dined here & left some medicine for Will. -[*James Shepherd, m.Oct.15, 1824; Lucinda, dau. of Robert, and gr-dau of Erasmus Taylor]-
15, Had Caslow's old pen plowed. Negro Moses &c who went down the County returned to-day. Rec'd a letter from Ben Taylor-
16, J.Taylor jr and Richard Barbour jr. came here from school-house and dined-Shot Rifle at mark- Whip-poor Will cried at night.
17, Capt Burnley came here and asked us to dine w'th him. I went with my father & G.C.T. Col.Burnley & wife, Mr.T.Bell & wife, Maj'r Moore & wife & Rowland Thomas jr dined there.
18, Very white frost and smoky-Moses Perry had 2 1/2 Bus' Wheat to send to Mill- Had beans and Cimblings planted & carrots sown in the Pen. G.C.T., Richard & Colby Taylor went to C.Taylor's to dinner. G.Taylor went to Maj'r Moore's. I was about to go there and mounted my horse who ran away with and threw me on the hard ground, which sprained my thumb and hurt my back much- after some time I sent for the Doctor to bleed me, he was from home but came at night when I declined being bled.
19, My pain from the fall yesterday is not so great, but a soreness continues. G.C.T went to Hub'd Taylor's. Very smoky and dry weather, till about noon, when it rained a little. J.Taylor brought over newspapers and dined here. In evening Tavernor Jones brought up from Fredericksburg a Hnd Molasses which Rich'd Taylor had sent for G.Taylor. I bought 2 doz Herrings of T.Jones & pd 2/- for them. He had a Quart of Brandy of G.T.- [Sunday]-
20, I lent G.C.T. my horse to go to Culpeper Election. H.Burnley called for him and went early. Planted some sweet potatoes, some Cucumber seeds &c in the garden Dodd's sort in row next the house & some B.Taylor sent in the other two beds- Sowed parsnip seed in the pen- A little rain with thunder in the sky- Began to plant corn-
21, Good deal of rain & thunder before day, a little in the day- Stuck forward pea-patch- G.Taylor went to C.Taylor's to dinner. G.C.T. returned from Culpeper & says Strother & Jameson were elected. Madison had within four votes of Jameson Dipped candles.
22, Planted some more Potatoes- Cucumber seed round- Geo. Shepherd and C.Taylor dined here. After dinner I walked with C.Taylor to Capt Burnley's- Hear that Robt Taylor went to housekeeping yesterday-
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.