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DIARY OF FRANCIS TAYLOR,
1786
April
1, Very cold, windy, Hail & Snow, continued from before day until sometime in night the Hail & Snow 2 or 3 inches deep and the weather unusually cold for the season-My cold with cough & sore stomach very bad.
2, Clear, but still cold, fine evening Cough continues bad to day- Mr. Hubbard Taylor, Maj'r Moore, Ch Taylor & Reuben Taylor dined here. H.Taylor's wagon loaded with 2 Hhds Tob'o to carry to Fredericksburg for bro'r James.
3, Hard frost last night, the snow would bear a man & ground Quite hard. Bro'r Reuben came here & Dined, after Dinner he & brother James set off for Fred'g intending to Mr.Jno.Gibsons. Mrs James came here & stayed till the 6th.
4, Rainy from about 8 o'clock and cold. My cold somewhat better.
5, Continued rainy, cold & windy-with a few flakes of snow-Cleared about 9 o'clock at night.
6, Smart frost, the ground raised by it-the day fine. Considerable fresh in river. Went to Mr.Terrill's. Mr. Lelane did not meet and the funeral deferred. Called on return from Mr.Terrill's at Mr.E.Taylor's & dined-Mrs.Moore, Mrs.Burnley, Doct'r Taylor and the Miss Gilberts there. Cousin Rob't Taylor got home from Spotsylv'a Court-Page & Dawson Elected burgesses. Bro'r James returned from Fred'g much fatigued- Heard to day that Maj'r Lee had rec'd a letter from Z.Taylor & P.Taylor which mentioned he expected Col.Richard & Maj'r William Taylor would set off in a little after. hope to see them soon. (Z.T. and Col.R.T. were nephews or grandsons of Maj'r. Lee-W.K.A.-) (Maj'r Wm.T. was brother of the diarist. -W.K.A.-)
7, Fine weather clear, but a little windy. Jno.Taylor & WmZimmerman called going & returning to & from Ch's Taylors but staid very little. Ch's Taylor called on way to Col.Madisons. Rec'd a letter yesterday from my father by bro'r James inclosing £5. Certificates to pay taxes.
8, Very unwell, took Salts-went with John & Rob't Taylor to Ch's Taylor's shooting birds &c. Hubbard Taylor & bro'r James joined- Uncle E. Taylor was there. Mr.P.Pendleton's son James called here on his way to Culpeper-
9, Continue ill, took another dose of Salts, the weather Cloudy.
10, Went to sale of Mr.W.Bell dec'd Estate. Paid Majr.Lee for Cloth &c bought last month in full per rec't £5.15.3. Rec'd of Reuben Taylor, to be placed to to the Credit of Amorose Madisons bond to C.Taylor £9.19.0. which R.T. owed him for corn. Agreed with Charles Porter jr. to pay at next Court £4.10.0. for 1500 feet of Scantling to be delivered where my father is to build by the 1st of June or sooner if Mr.Ingram will want it before. Mr. Ingram & Robert Taylor was present. Mr. Ingram says he will come to work next week. Joseph Bickers who has had a Barrel of corn for Timber he is to let my father have, applied for another Barrel, which I directed Joe Clark to let him have. Heard Col.Burnley say that Cek.Dickenson had promised to be at his house to work tomorrow-w'ch is thetime he agreed to come to work for my father. I requested Col.Burnley to tell him I expected him, when done at his house. From the opinions of those I conversed with about the ensuing election think Col Madison will certainly be elected. John Taylor had a return of Ague & fever. Called at Mr.E.Taylor's as I walked back from sale. Col.Madison jr there, I did not stay. The Stock & furniture advertised sold. Bro'r James's son Harry been unwell for several days-Had Hoct'r Taylor-
11, Cool windy weather for the season and cloudy, but without rain.
12. Paid Mr.Jas.Gaines for my taxes and Levies-12/- for Specie tax, 24/- Certificate & 2/6 for 2 Levies-
For my father £ 8.9.4.for Specie Tax for
Spence Mazingo 1.0.0. (for work at J.Clarks)
13 County Levies 16.3
10.5.7. Warr'ts£ 10.1.5.
Cash 4.2.
Certificate tax 10.4.4. including 17 / 9 1/2
which was unpaid last year.
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.