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DIARY OF FRANCIS TAYLOR, 1790,
1790, April,
1, Not so much frost as was two or three days preceding- We went with T.Daniel & Edm'd Taylor to J.Taylor's- J.Pendleton's wife & children, Mrs Thomas, Wmm.Buckner & wife, Maj'r Moore, Ch.Taylor & Reuben Taylor dined there.
2, Began to rain early in morning- J.Taylor came here, we intended to Reu Taylor's but it was so rainy that we did not go & J.Taylor stayed here till evening when the rain ceased & cleared at night. Moses Perry returned from rolling Tob'o to Fredericksburg, the crop was 4 Hnds which was passed. He informed that WmGlassell was acquitted on his trial in Spotsylvania Court for having killed Robert Ritchie in a Duel on Saturday last the 27, March-
3, Fine day- G.C.Taylor, Edm'd Taylor & Capt T.Daniel set off on their way to Kentucky, via Redstone- I went to Court house with them. On their way there Capt Daniel exchanged his mare for my horse & a guinea I gave to boot. About 11 o'clock they left Mr.Shepherd's & I returned home to dinner. I told Capt Daniel if his bargain proved a bad one I would hereafter pay him 20/- but do not expect it. Sent my watch & a dollar to pay for its cleaning by G.C.Taylor to Mr.Balmain, requesting him to get Mills of Winchester to clean it &c and send it back by Jenny Taylor, who is going to Winchester. Grafted 2 doz Rall's Gennets below the stable- Some Peach & Cherry trees in bloom a day or two ago, Gennets below the stable- Some Peach & Cherry trees in bloom a day or two ago, very few blossoms, most of them killed in the bud.
4, [SUNDAY] Ben Taylor's mare foaled a Sorrel horse colt- verypoor and weak-Weather warm & hazy. I dined at home with my father, had fish M.Perry bought at Herndon's Mill, 3 Carp for 7 1/2 d. After dinner walked to J.Taylor's. John Pendleton came there last night-
5, Got 12 yds Oznab's of G.Taylor which he got of Urq'nart at 1/3 pr yd. Went with my father to Court house- this day was appointed to Elect overseers for the Poor, but so few people attended that no election was held- We ret'd home in the evening. Weather warm.
6, Rained before day- Cloudy & misty in morning- Rainy day & windy evening. J.Taylor & J.Pendleton dined here. G.Taylor & myself gave yesterday our lists of Taxable property & Tithables to A.Porter Commissioner.
7, Very cold morning & severe frost, cont'd cold all day- Sent Wheat to mill, 3 bus
8, Clouded in the night, saw no frost to-day. Joseph Bell came here to Breakfast & cut two colts for my father, one of them one, the other two years old. Corn planted in the home field. A fire burnt some of Capt Burnley's fence and burnt fiercely very high my father's New ground, whose people assisted to put it out. Capt Burnley & John Burnley here in the evening. Planted red Beans in the Pea patch next the gate.
9, Brother James came & got some Simbling seed. I sowed Lavender, Wormwood & Sage in bed next the gate toward meat house. Sowed Cabbage, Lettcue, Parsley & White Mustard seeds in Beds. Planted forward and white Cucumber, some water-Melon (from Hanover) & Large Muskmelon seeds in the N.West square of garden. Sent 4/6 by M.Perry to buy Flax seed. T.Jones brought the bags he carried wheat in.
10, Weather warm & windy- Some thunder & a few drops rain about noon. M.Perry sowed part of Flax seed above the Plant patch & Timothy seed with it- Hear that brother James had a son born last night. Had some Spanish potatoes, ab't a peck, planted- S.Daniel said they were all that were sowed belonging to Mozingo.
11, [SUNDAY] Reuben Taylor walked here, My father and I went with him & dined at J.Taylor's. Old Mrs Thomas & J.Pendleton's wife &c also. Aunt Taylor came after dinner- Very warm, the Trees begin to Spring & look a little green.
12, Had Sweet Potatoes taken up and planted about 1 1/2 Bushels- G.Taylor went to D.Davis's & agreed to let him have 100 lb. Bacon at 7 1/2. After dinner I went below John Leathers's & cut some Seven-Bark canes- Whilst I was gone, Bro'rs James & Charles came here, the latter staid till I returned.
13, Capt Burnley was here about an hour, said he saw J[ohn] Bell & wife yesterday, both in a low (the former very low) state of health. Rained about noon & continued moderately the whole evening- 3 dozen Herrings were sent here from Moses Perry's. [John Bell, son of Thomas, who m'd Elizabeth Taylor-WKA] John Bell's wife was Judith Burnley, probably sister of Capt. Garland Burnley]
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.