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14[299] DIARY OF FRANCIS TAYLOR, 1796,
1796,
June,
22, Foggy morn, Clouds & sunshine. Cutting & Cocking Wheat. Killed a Shoat (M.B.a quarter. J Pendleton was here in evening.
23, Thursday, Clouds & Sunshine- Heavy rain ab't sunset & in night. I walked to J.Taylor's- Put 10 dollars in Eliz'a Pendleton's hands & requested her to carry to Aunt Thomas. I went from J.Taylor's to Aunt Taylor's with J.Pendleton his wife, J.Taylor, J.Taylor jr & wife & Nancy Taylor- Old Mr Howard, Mr D. Triplett & wife, Miss Richards, Rob't Taylor's family- Mrs Burnley & family. Fanny Madison, Miss A.Payne & Milley Glassell dined there. After dinner all the Company went to M.Gouliere's dancing school at T.Bell's, where a large company were set &c- I got home just as a heavy rain began, very little Wind.
24, Cloudy, a little rain, warm. Shower in evening. Began(in morning) to cut Wheat in Mount'n field, in evening Cocking Early Wheat, which finished cutting yesterday- the rain stopped cocking.
25, Thick fog, warm day, clouds & sunshine. Cutting Wheat in mountain field in morning- finished cocking the Early & Cocked some in Mount'n field. I walked in evening to J.Taylor's- John Pendleton & family, went home this morning. J.Taylor jr & wife at Maj'r Moore's.
26, Warm Sunny day- a few clouds & a light rain in Even'g. I rode to Court house- heard a Sermon was expected there or at Church- but there was not. Saw one Null with a cask of Whisky in Waggon, offere him 5/- p/r Gallon- he refused & went to Court house but did not sell there & returned with it to my house. I took it & paid him for 54 Gallons, 45 silver dollars, I let him have a large Iron bound cask for that the Wisky is in- the Cask not full- he said he put 54 Gallons in it- & I trusted his word- I bought 1? chickens of Willis's Bob & paid a Dollar. Rec'd 3/- back for a pr old Breeches. I walked in Evening to J.Taylor's. Aunt Thomas had just got there- ----[SUNDAY]----
27, Fine mornin, and day. I went to Court- I delivered to Mr James Blair $15. and requested him to pay it to Order of F.S.Taylor- I got of Mrs Pearce a cheese 12 lb (made by Bishop) & aid her 10/6- C.Taylor said he would gladly take half- Bought a box pills 1/6 & Turlington's balsam 2/- of Gibbons. Harry Daingerfield came with me from Court. Cutting Wheat, had work ret'd from C.Taylor's & help from W.Edwards- 5 Bottles Whisky sent out.
28, Cool pleasant morn, hazy. H.Daingerfield went homewards about 8 o'clock- C.Taylor had 2 jugs brought here & he came to breakfast. I filled the jugs with whisky 4,11/16 Gallons at 6/- he paid for 28/-. I gauged the Cask of Whisky(bought the 26th) the Diagonal was 27 inches nearly, it wanted near 3 inches of being full, & if full would be only 53 Gallons. I sent Frank & had the Cheese I bought yesterday brought home from Court house- Sent 6 lb Cheese p/r Hannah to C.Taylor's. Wm Pollock Dep'ty Sheriff came here, I paid him Taxes as follows p/r Receipt:
Tax on 8 Slaves, at 1/8, 13. 4.
8 Levies, 3/4, 1. 6. 8
7 Horses 4d, 2. 4
Land Tax-on 400 acres, 6. 9
2. 9. 1
I also paid said Pollock 40 Cents, 2/5 for fee bill from Clk Spots'a, Taylor's Exor's ve O'Neal.
29, Cloudy morn & some drops rain- fair after. Let M.Biggers have 1 gallon Whisky Finished cutting and Cocking wheat.
30, Fair pleasant day. I went to C.Taylor's to Barbecue at John Waugh's, made by Richard, Hay & Baldwin Taliaferro. There was a genteel company.

From the TAYLOR DIARY, #1907-z in the Southern Historical Collection, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. FOR REFERENCE ONLY: PERMISSION TO PUBLIS H MUST BE REQUESTED. WARNING: MOST MANUSCRIPTS ARE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT.