Midwinter – Butchering A Cow

Friday December 16, 1853: Today I began to look over accounts with Allen Bartlett, but I fetched the wrong book, I made a mistake. He says his account is 51 dol and 11 cts against me. John F. fetched a load tan bark from Mr. Mason Tannery to Geo P. for his Ice house.
Saturday: I this forenoon went with my horse and wagon to Russell Palmer’s and carried him three bushels turnips at 25 cts per and he ground me 52 pounds sausage meat at one cent and a half per pound, and 20 pounds for the widow Eliza Wylie. I had him charge the grinding said Widow’s meat to me and he is to pay me 30 cts. I delivered one bushel paid turnips to Edmund Cherevoy, and towards night I went to Hancock Mill and got the grist provender. I went by way of R.A. Brown’s and carried shirts and boosums for Geo P.’s wife and my two daughters roade to Simeon Wylie’s on a short visit. John F. fixed his sheep hovel.
Tuesday: I mixed mortar for john Merrels to plaster to Geo P.’s where he made alterations in his house.
Wednesday: This forenoon I took my one horse wagon and carried my wife to brother Simeon Wylie’s and left her for brother Simeon is quite unwell, Doctor Dixon tends him.
Thursday: I am unwell. Tonight two oxcart men stayed with us from Pittsfield, their names is Johnson and Sprague, and horse keep and half bushel oats, and paid 94 cts.
Monday, January 2, 1854: Russel Palmer came to my house and butchered my fat cow and I am to pay him two bushels turnips and he cut up three quarters and I am to pay him one half bushel of turnips. He butchered a heifer for John F.
Tuesday: I fetched one of our stove kettles from Geo P. and cut up tallow for our women to try up.
Wednesday: I shelled one half bushel of corn and went to Hancock and carried it to the Union Store. Mr. Mason credits me for a beef hide 70 pounds at 5½ cents per and I carried a hide for John F. 55 pounds and he paid me the cash, and paid the cash for two hides that John F. had left before.