8

[LETTERS OF FRANCIS TAYLOR,
Originals in Possession of P.F Taylor, 1913]

Orange 2d, April 1797.

Dear Dicky
I have never had a line from my friends in Jefferson since the fall-
Capt A.Fontaine informed me you left the water a day or two befor Christmas, &
with some others, intended to travel through the woods to get back to Kentucky-
I have not heard since from you, but hope you got safely down. I am very solicitous
to hear from you, and other friends; and hope you have already wrote as you
promised.

I have heard that your cousin Edmund is married to one of Col. Trruston's
daughters- He got here eight or nine days after you- and talked of trying to
overtake you; and has never wrote me.

I had a letter from F.S. Taylor lately, he says they go on with store as well as
he could expect- that the French had taken their goods- £1,600.- coming from
England, for which he seems much displeased with them- the goods fortunately were
insured- He writes that Maj'r Lindsay has been very ill and still very low- and
altho' he left the Naval Office, was obliged to do most of the business still;
Frank does not expect to marry this year, but I expect he is engaged, as you heard
when you was at Port Royal. I wish to hear whether your uncle Ben, you, Colby, Mr.
Woolfolk and your cousin Wm. Taylor, have all got to work on your place as intended.

I will write nothing about your old acquaintances, as your uncle Reuben and cousin
James can give you a full account. I wish I was able to be out with you, but my
health has been pooere of late than for some years before.

I intend to write more fully in my next, request you and your brothers will write
what's going onward. I hope your father will excuse my not writing to him, as I
had nothing particular now; I hope he and all his family have health- Present my
love to him, your mother, and all your brothers and sisters, and wishing that you
may all enjoy much happiness, I am
Dear Dicky
Your affect'e uncle
Fra. Taylor.
Tell your brothers I had so many letters to write I could not answer theirs, but
hope they will continue to write and let me know what they are doing, and the
news, crops &c &c

To Mr. Richard Taylor Jr.
Beargrass Creek, Jefferson county, Kentucky
Favored by Maj'r J.Taylor.

NOTES.
Richard Taylor Jr, nephew of the diarist; was son of Commodore Richard Taylor. He
married, his cousin, Mary Taylor, daughter of Edmund Taylor, brother of Commodore
Richard. Richard Taylor Jr. "Black Dick," was Surveyor of the Lands set
apart in Western Kentucky, for the Officers and soldiers of the Revolution.
Edmund Taylor was son of Edmund and Sarah (Stubbs) Taylor and was brother of Mary,
who married Richard Taylor Jr., He married Eloise Thruston, daughter of Rev.
and Col. Charles Mynn Thruston.
"F.S."-Francis Stubbs Taylor, was son of Edmund and Sarah (Stubbs) Taylor, and
married Oct. 25, 1797, Sarah (or Ann) Lindsay, daughter of Maj'r William Lindsay,
U.S.A.
"Colby" Taylor was fifth son of Commodore Richard.
"Cousin William Taylor," was son of Jonathan and Ann (Berry) Taylor. He married
Susan H.Gibson, and was called "Big Foot Billy."
"Maj'r J. Taylor Jr," was James F. Taylor, son of James, the Clerk, and Ann
(Pendleton) Taylor, He married Dec. 27,1795, Frances C. Moore.
"Uncle Reuben," was Capt. Reuben Taylor, brother of Col. Francis and Com. Richard.