The Life Of George Holcomb – A Trip North To Buy Cows

Wednesday, December 20, 1825: On this morning brother Wm and myself started a journey to the northward to look for cows. We walked on foot. We got to Hoosick Falls and stayed to brother Wm’s Father Barnhart’s.
Thursday: We started on and went into Vermont, through Shaftsbury into Arlington and stayed to Hill’s Tavern and had supper, lodging and bitters and we paid 75 cents and went on to Sandgate. We called to Baker’s tavern before we left Arlington, and paid 50 cents for breakfast. We could not find any cows. We turned our course into York State. We came into Salem and stayed. We stayed at a private house and paid 31 cents for supper and lodging.
Saturday morning we passed on through Argyle to Cousin Abel Potters. We went a crooked road in pursuit of cows, but not any.
(XMAS) Sunday: We continued to Cousin Patten’s. Today stormy.
Monday, December 26: This morning we started on from Cousin Potter’s. We called to Cousin Fullerton’s a few minutes, but he was not at home. We saw his wife Cousin Miriam and Aunt. Cousin Abil walked with us as far as Fort Edwards Village. We then passed on through Kingsburgh and Sand Hill Village into Fort Ann and stayed to Jonathan Osborn’s and he had cows for sale. We had supper.
Tuesday: This morning wc bought three heifers at ten dol and fifty cents per head and a new milk cow at eleven dol and said Osborn gavc in our keeping. We then came on onto Hartford and I bought a heifer at nine dollars and then I returned back to Granville. I rode with one Mr. Man and stayed with him and took supper and Wm stayed in Hartford with the five head of cows.
Wednesday: This morning I bought said Man’s cow and paid tcn dol. I then came on into Hartford to Dixon’s, and thcn Wm and I came on in to Argyle and paid 22 dollars forty cents for two cows. We thcn came to Fort Edwards to Cousin Potter’s and stayed with our stock.
Thursday, December 29: We continue at Cousin Potter’s with our stock. Today quite stormy. Today I went out and bought one cow of one Mr. MacCoy, and he drove the cow to said Cousin Potter’s and I paid him ten dollars. I walked all day in the neighborhoods round Potter’s but could not buy any more cows.
Friday: This morning we took breakfast with Abram Sebron and then we paid him 44 dol for four cows and then we paid one Mr. Lee ten dollars for a heifer, and we paid one Mr. Mack Mullins 21 dol for two cows and we drove the seven to Cousin Potter’s, which makes 15 in all. We continue there for it is very stormy.
Saturday, December 31, 1825: This morning we started for home with our drove of cattle. Said Potter would not take any pay for the trouble of our cattle. Today we paid nineteen dol and fifty cents for two more cows in Argyle, and we swapped a heifer for a cow and paid two dol to boot in the town of Jackson. Today we traveled 18 miles and stayed in the town of Jackson to old Mr. Fullman’s, and had supper and our cattle well tended. Today quite stormy and some slippery driving cattle.
They bought one more cow in Hoosick on their way home, and returned the next day through stormy slippery traveling. They ended up with nineteen cows, for which they paid $201.50. – Alex Brooks