by Alex Brooks
In the last issue, George Holcomb’s first-born son George Jay died of an illness, leaving Holcomb and his wife, who have been married for about a year and a half, temporarily childless. Holcomb makes very little concession to his grief. He doesn’t do much work the day after the boy’s funeral, but Tuesday, the day after, he is back to work, building a house for Barnum Clark, who is to be the blacksmith in the blacksmith shop business that George runs along with his brother William. However, on Thursday he takes his wife on an outing to Pittsfield. They went to the fair, and heard an oration, and he bought his wife a nice crepe hat. For a fellow who is normally all business, this day evinces a touching concern to rally his wife’s spirits.
After this he writes no more of grief or mourning, except on November 10: “I paid Mrs. Jessup 25 cents for coloring some things black for my wife,” though despite his reserve one can well imagine how the death of his son might have marked him in some way, for life. His is a world where people close to him can die suddenly, and medical remedies have only a limited effectiveness.
Wednesday, November 22, 1821: This day the oldest daughter of Issacher Rowley died with the colic. Her name is Louisa, died very sudden.
Wednesday, January 24: This morning at 1 o’clock Wm called me up and I walked over after Doctor Graves for his wife. I walked on account of the weather being extremely cold, and rode home with said doctor in a cutter. This day Wm’s second child was born, a daughter.
Saturday, February 17: This afternoon I took the sleigh and colts and went to Doctor Graves and he was not at home. I left word for him to come over to Brother Wm’s to lance a swelling on his second child’s throat and neck, a very large and dangerous one.
Sunday, February 18: Today Doctor Graves came and lanced said swelling on Wm’s child’s neck, and it discharged an abundance. The child apparently soon recovered after that.
Wednesday, March 28: This morning early I took the cutter and fetched Mother Spring down and then I went after Doctor Elijah Graves for my wife, and John Wylie fetched Simeon Wylie’s wife, and I fetched Ephraim Pierce’s wife, and at evening I fetched Hazard Morey’s wife, and about fifteen or twenty minutes before eight o’clock I had a daughter born. After supper, I took the cutter and carried Mrs. Morey and Mrs. Pierce home. The Doctor charged his bill. Mrs. P. Wylie watched tonight.”