The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

A Chilly April; A Death In The Family

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Friday, April 2, 1852: Today some stormy, I laid up some new rail fence that the wind had blown down on the meadow joining the widow Wylie. Towards night Geo P. rode to Lebanon and got his pay to Babcock’s for his fat oxen and today Wm. B. Maxon called and Geo P. paid him up for the rent of his farm for the coming year in advance, which was 150 dollars and said Maxon is to pay the taxes.
Monday: today is the first that Geo P. works the oxen that he bought of Samuel Minor, drawing manure up into the young orchard.
Tuesday: today some snow squalls. Today my two sons went to town meeting to Lanson Carpenter’s and Mr. Ralph Rose was re-elected town clerk and today the Runnals family moved into my house for one year from the first day of April.
Thursday: I took my one horse wagon and carried my two daughters and Miss Mack to Edmond Harrison’s to quilting
Friday: Today a Bardin boy came to hire to me and he did ask five dol per month. I told him to go home and tell his father I would pay four dollars per month as long as he suited and if his father would let him work for four dollars he might come and begin work next Monday.
Saturday: Today I and John F. went with two yoke oxen up on wagon with manure into the young orchard and Mr. Runnals shovelled for me and I paid him the cash 50 cts and the Irishman Edward  ditched for me in my meadow north of the barn but I did not pay him.
Monday: Today John F. took the one horse wagon and carried his sister Charlotte E. to Rufus Kendall’s, for his wife is at the point of death, and John F. returned home tonight.
Wednesday: I paid James Runnals 50 cts cash for shovelling manure
Today and John F. and I went with two yoke oxen and drew it up into the young orchard. Tonight I took the one horse wagon and rode over to Sylvenas Carpenter’s to let Hiram Newton know that Rufus Kendall’s wife was dead. She died yesterday at ten o’clock.
Thursday: A rainy and windy and snowy day, Geo P. took his horse and wagon and Sarah with him and went to Rufus Kendall’s tonight, the funeral was at his house. Today Stephen Sheldon died with heart complaint, one and  a half days sick.