113

[109] 22.
DIARY OF FRANCIS TAYLOR, 1788,
1788,
October,
28, J.Taylor & son set out for Richmond- Cloudy, Thunder & some rain. I carried 10 1/2 yds Linen for Mrs. Burnley to make me 3 shirts- She & Capt Burnley came from home and went to C.Taylor's-
29, Dug Sweet Potatoes- Went to dinner at J.Taylor's with my father & G.C.Taylor- Mrs Thomas, John Thomas, C.Taylor & his family were there. Smart white Frost & weather cold- Bit tender leaves for first this fall.
30, Moved necessary house- Killed a Beef. Sharp Frost this morning, Killed Tobacco succors &c. I ret'd 2 dollars which I borrowed the 27th to Maj'r Lee.
31, Sent 3 Bus' Old wheat to Mill. Ice and very Cold this morning- After dinner I went to Court house- bought at Lee's 250, 4d Nails for G.Taylor- Mr. Reader singing- Put on Flannel Jacket.
November,
1, Cold and Cloudy- rain about 9 o'clock & cleared away- I went to J.Taylor's, he got home from Richmond last night. He paid Register's fees pr rec't on four Surveys Military Land £.3.12.6- for a pair Shoes 15/- and Cash £30.2.6. Amounting to £54.6.6. Interest Warrants he carried to Richmond. I rode with him to Singing at Court house-
2, I went with G.Taylor to J.Taylor's, who with T.Barbour & his son were gone to Singing but ret'd to dinner. G.C.Taylor went from singing & dined at Maj'r Moore's, he came home & went to Capt.Conway's where Misses Sally Madison & Polly Moore were to meet him on the way to Caroline- Weather warm- J.Pendleton &c went home this morning- [Sunday]
3, Finished digging Sweet Potatoes. Capt Burnley came here to grind some tools & dined. Very warm.
4, Jas Taylor came over after breakfast- My father let him have 1 shoulder & 2 Midlings, 27 lb Bacon. J.Clark went rolling G.T's Tobacco. Very warm weather.
5, Went with G.Taylor to C.Taylor's- J.Taylor, T.Barbour and wife dined there. J.Bickers got Lecense to be married tomorrow-
6, J.Taylor & sons, T.Barbour & wife, C.Taylor & family, dined here. Weather continues very warm for season-
7, Rode with G.Taylor to Court house to Singing. G.Taylor called with Uncle Taylor to dinner- I staid till evening- I bought a few trinkets of Shepherd & Lee. My horse broke away and I walked home. Windy weather & a little cooler.
8, Went with G.Taylor again to Signing- we came home in evening to dinner. Windy & cool.
9, [Sunday] Smart frost but no ice- C.Taylor & M.B.Porter came here to breakfast and set off with G.Taylor to Fredericksburg about 8 o'clock- J.Taylor also breakfasted here- I went to Court house- Mr Reader finished singing. I dined at J.Taylor's- Mr.Reader do., T.Barbour &c- Very pleasant day- I sent £30. by my father to Ben Taylor w'ch I lend him.
10, I walked to Court house to a Sale, but before anything sold came with John & Rob't Taylor & dined at Uncle Taylor's and came by J.Taylor's, who lent me the Debates of Convention. I lent J.T. 6- to pay Reader. It began to rain about middle of day & cont'd moderate till night.
11, Rained all last night, very stiff South wind & cool all night and continued cold, cleared after morning.
12, Ground frosted very much this morning-& cold. Pretty good day- clear & more mild than yesterday- Digging Irish potatoes- began the 10th-
13, Jos Clark sent for Nails to fix 4 Hnds Tob'o, sent 500, 10d- I walked to Court house- bought 1M, 2d Nails for G.Taylor at Lees- also 2 yds Bearskin for Frank at Lees. came home to dinner- fine mild weather.
14, Some clouds, cleared without rain, finished dig'g I potatoes-
15, Clear and frost- not very severe- I went to J.Taylor's dined there- only his family- T.Barbour went to his father's yesterday- J.Taylor went to J.Pendleton's the day before. I saw at J.Taylor's one Nath'l Offut of Maryland who said his brother was going to Kentucky & wanted to buy land- I gave him the courses of B.Taylor's Fayette Land-
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.