The Life Of George Holcomb – Military Service

George’s first military service, was a military training event for two days in the fall of 1809, when he was 18. He trained again on Monday, September 3, but the following Saturday he went up to Captain Bull’s to see if he could help “clear me from training.” Two days later he went to Dr. William Scott, who gave him a “Stificate” (certificate?) from military duty, and Capt. Abner Bull signed the “stificate.”
Scott, the surgeon of the regiment, “he cleared me on the account hard of hearing. I give John Wylie one dollar for helping me on the account of getting clear.” Nevertheless, on September 26 he went to general training at Abner Bull’s, and that night went to a ball at the same location.
The issue of military duty arises again a few years later:
May 25, 1812: Monday I planted corn. Today I was ordered to training by sargeant Wm. Dixon to appear at Nilses Inn for to stand draft the 28th.
May 28: Today the training is on. I did not appear on account of I am hard of hearing and received a certificate Sept. the 10, 1810 and have not D—from that day to this. I was put in the draft and drafted.
May 29: Friday in the morning I went to Doc Mains and got a line to carry to Doc Scott, the Surgeon of our regiment. Main thinks me not fit for duty on two scales – one I had been unwell the winter past and the other he believes hard of hearing. I keep these words to give Scott, I came home and planted melons. In the afternoon I went to Doc King’s and he give me some more medicine, and wrote a line to Doc Scott that my complaints, he believes, is such that I am not fit for military duty and I goes to Scott and he examines me and still finds me deficient. He writes to Col. Carr and Capt. Miller that I hold a final discharge and he requests them their duty to find a volunteer to fill my place. I made Scott a present 50 cts.
May 30: Saturday Father carries this letter to Miller and Carr and Carr told him that my name on the drafted roll should be erased.
June 13, 1812: Saturday I worked on the high way for Father. This day I am 21 years of age.
June 15: Monday I hoed corn for Father. I now work for him and he promises me a share in his crops.
June 26: Friday I carried three barrels of cider to Albany and it would not sell for it was not sweet enough and I bought 4 quarts of molasses and put it in the cider, and then I sold it for 3 dollars per barrel.
Added later in the margin:
On the 19th of June, 1812 Congress Declared War against Great Britain.
July 4, 1812: Saturday I went to Independence at Pittsfield Village at Wm. Merrick’s Hotel where all we Washingtonians celebrated the day – there was about 14 hundred members walked in procession besides a large concourse of other citizens.