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5 [227] DIARY OF FRANCIS TAYLOR, 1794, 1794, February, 24, Turned very cold by the morning, clouds, windy and a Shower of Snow-and remarkably cold windy day, being Orange Court, I went to Court- Received £10. by James Bell, which John Waugh paid at Culpeper Court in part of his bond to G.T's Exrs I paid Zach Herndon 10/- in full for Plank. Paid Armistead Hill 25/1 for Macon Bigger's note to Wm Smith- Mr B.Porter said he wou'd pay 30/6 for Wm Finnell's debt to Mrs James- Morgan Finnell and T.Doolin promised to pay shortly their debts due her to me, which she is to have Credit for when rec'd. Mr Camp Porter said he owed a balance to M.Finnell (but did not know how much) which he would pay. I paid Jos' Chapman 1/6 (half price) for his Waggon bringing a Barrel rotten Limes from Fredericksburg last summer. Paid for Ginger 7 1/2 Expences 2/7 1/2. I dined at Nooe's. Extreme cold evening. 25, Hardest Frost that has been felt this winter- Cold clear day- and a little windy It was so cold I did not go to Court, which was adjourned to this morning- Not very well. 26, Continues cold with Clouds & appearance of Snow to S.West. Wm Leathers was here & got some seeds. T.Barbour jr was here & got some do and I let him have a Side of Soal Leather sent to me by B.Hide but was thicker than I wanted, weighing 15 lb. Macon Biggers bought for me of Hastings, 4 horse collars 6/- & paid him 20/- Cash & a Hog skin 4/- He killed the fattened Sow which he kept for Pork I found him, she weighed 185 Nett. Also let him have 1/4 Bus Salt. I was very unwell last night and this morning. Bro'r James was here to see me in evening when I was better- Gave him some mustard seed. 27, Weather more moderate, wind South & thaw. J.Taylor jun'r walked here in evening- I gave him my sword. Elijah Brockman & Roger Bell was here & searched the Negroe's houses for sundry Clothes stolen from the former, but made no discovery. 28, I sent r Will a Hive of Bees to John Pendleton, also some Cabbage seeds. I rode to Mr.Shepherd's-paid him £4.19.7. the balance of my Smith's acco't to this date. Bought & paid Jenkins for Cloth and trimmings for a Coat- Came by T.Doolin's, who took measure to make it- Left Cloth &c with him. Pleasant day- road bad. [table] March, 1, Some Clouds, but mild warm day- I rode by J.Taylor's- I paid Aunt Taylor 10/- for Venus delivering Sary. Mr.T.Bell, James Bell, Nancy Bell, Mrs Burnish [?], J.Taylor his wife & daughter Nancy dined there. After dinner I rode to Jenkin's bought 1/2 yard Buckram & Left at Doolin's. 2, [SUNDAY] Cloudy morning, rainy warm evening. I walked to C.Taylor's, he & Daughters were going to W.Dade's I went on to J.Taylor's & dined there- J.Taylor jr was gone to meeting, the rest of family were at home. 3, Rained in the night, distant Lightning Southw'd. Cloudy rainy morning-Sunshine & Showery, warm till evening when it changed to cool. I went to Court house- Alex'r Shepherd's Charles was hung for murder. A great number of Spectators, the greater part Blacks- I did not permit mine to go- I got home to dinner between 3 & 4 o'clock. Elijah Cook called & wanted waggon work- I did not engage any. 4, Smart frost. Cool fair day. Last night some person opened the Slip-gap & had cut some Cabbages, when I alarmed them & they ran out at the Gap, leaving 9 heads they had cut. Three lambs fell last night (M.B. says he thinks from one ewe) two of them dead- the other dead the 6th. Mr T.Bell sent & got 9 lb Hemp. This morning sent Joe AHive of Bees (sorry)-for Mr.T.Barbour jr. 5, Began to snow very early and Snowed all day. At home alone. 6, Snow and Sleet in the night and this morning- afterwards thick mist till night-the Snow was about 6 inches deep this morning, but sunk with the mist & thaw, very close & heavy. I staid at home. 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.