The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Midsummer Haying

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Thursday, June 30, 1853: Today John F. and Patrick hoed potatoes on the hill above the woods and this afternoon P. hoed beans on the hill and Geo P. hoed his potatoes in the same lot, John Marrils and an Irishman hoed for him, and Geo P. went over the hill to C. Moffit’s store, he was supoened as jury on a liquor court but it was adjourned. He returned to his work.
Friday, July 1: I only tended to chores and John F. and Patrick hoed potatoes on the hill and George P. hoed on the hill in the same lot and three Irishmen hoed for him. Brother Simeon visited with us today. Today I had a sow die that had pigs two months old, the hog was worth 13 dollars.
Monday: I tended to chores and I paid Patrick one dollar cash, I gave Patrick his time today. Today John F. took my horse and wagon and carried Ira Humphrey and James Carpenter to the Pool. Tonight Geo P. returned home, I sent by him $1.75 for 25 pounds mackeral.
Thursday: I and John F. and Patrick hayed and Mr. James MacFeelie worked for me haying towards his rent.
Saturday: This forenoon John F. went onto my Rodgers farm and John Merrils with him and they sheared five sheep and said Merrils returned home by half past nine o’clock. This forenoon on said Rodgers farm I walked over towards noon and had John F. and Patrick come home and get in hay, this afternoon we hayed and Mr. James MacFeelie worked for us, a small shower towards night.
Monday: Towards night I dug one bushel new potatoes and this evening John F. carried them on Pool Hill but could not sell them.
Tuesday we hayed, I and John F. and Patrick and J. McFeelie.
They hayed the rest of the week, with pretty much the same crew.
Saturday: This evening John F. rode to Lebanon, he carried a bushel new potatoes but could not sell them. He called down to the railroad near the gate near Mr. Gaik’s but could not engage old potatoes.
Monday: I went to Lebanon, I sold Anson one bushel new potatoes for 75 cts and eight pounds 14 oz butter at 15 cts per for cash. I had one new shoe and two toed, 37½ cts to the Walker shop and agreed to take pay in new potatoes, price agreed 88 cts per. bushel.