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DIARY OF FRANCIS TAYLOR, 1788,
1788
January,
26, Hub'd & Reuben Taylor came here from Hare hunting & dined- Bro'rs James & Charles called in the evening & staid a little, they were out with another party a hare hunting. Thw weather in afternoon clear and moderate. Sent corn to Mill.
27, G.Taylor & self went to J Taylors & dined- J.Pendleton & T.Barbour gone to their fathers. Saw T.Barbours son. Mrs Gaines came from Capt Walkers. [Sunday]
28, Killed two Beeves- half of the Steer weighed 190 lbs for Bro. James who is to send for it. Went with G.Taylor to Court, saw W.Gibson who told me had finished another Table for me & settled with him, paid him in full 42/- Many people at Co't for time of year & weather, they seem divided in opinion of New Constitution. [See entry for Jan.11,- Edmund Randolph, Mem. of Constitutional Convention, and Governor of Va., refused to sign the Constitution PFT]
29, About 7 o'clock last night rained & snowed & cont'd till day. Snow about an inch deep. J.Taylor sent in morning by George who car'd half of the Steer killed yesterday. Ralph Quaries came to breakfast & bought half of the Cow killed yesterday, 122 lb at 3rd which he paid G.Taylor 30/6 for. B.Mansrod sent his cart for the other half of the Cow, w't 126 pounds & with his car'd Mr Quarles's. J.Gaines dined here, said he wished to Exchange an order on Sheriff for £30. with me for Warrants. Fine day overhead & a great thaw last night & to day- Windy- Little cooler in evening.
30, Salted the 1/2 Steer kept. Went with G.Taylor to C.Taylors & dined- C.T. had been with others viewing place to fix a School house & got home to dinner. Snowed most of the day but not much in depth (suppose an inch)
31, Clear & cool. G.Taylor went ot C.Taylors to get a pair Breeches made & ret'd about noon. Spence Mozingo was here & let him have 1 Qt brandy.
February,
1, G.Taylor rode to C Taylors & came to J.Taylors where I went. Capt Burnley & family & C Taylor dined there. Frank killed the old Turkey cook. fine day-
2, Good mild weather. Uncle E.Taylor, J.Taylor, J.Pendleton, T.Barbour & C.Taylor dined here.
3, [Sunday] Cloudy & rain, thaw, Snow sank a good deal.
4, Cleared in the night & turned cold- very high wind all day- small shower of snow ab't 11 o'clock- G.Taylor went to Jno Finnels to enquire if he knows anything of hte Negroes who claim freedom. G.Taylor on his way home dined at Hub'd Taylors- The neighbors began about building a School house. Carpenter Moses went to assist, cold evening.
5, Remarkably cold, windy & clear.
6, Aurora Borealis last night-very cold freezing weather. I think the coldest this winter. Cloudy this morning-began to snow before noon & cont'd till night- about 2 inches deep. George went to Mill on my horse.
7, Cleared in night-some clouds but not so cold as it has been for several days past.
8, Snowing in morning and misty evening- I went with G.Taylor to Uncle Taylors and dined- Col'o L.Taliaferro & family called there on their way to a Ball at Col Alcock's-
9, G.Taylor rode to J Taylors & from there proceeded to Alcocks, where I also rode-e dined there, heard there were 36 subscribers to the Ball & a numerous company. Fine day.
10, [Sunday] Dined with my father at home-Snow went away much.
11, The morning warm-some rain-thaw continues-cleared about noon- Maj'r Moore, Maj'r Madison, Capt.Burnley, J.Pendleton, J.Taylor, C.Taylor & Reuben Taylor dined here. Jas Coleman's wife (late Milly Chew) died yesterday. Dildred, dau. of Thomas & Martha (Taylor) Chew, married Dec.19, 1786, James Coleman, she was niece of Col George Taylor. PFT]
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.