The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

The Life Of George Holcomb – A Muddy Christmas

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Monday, December 25, 1826: Today I took the cart and oxen and went in to our Rodgers swamp and I got a load of wood and Wm started to come home with it and got into Mr. Sylvenas Carpenter’s lot and the cart mired in the mud and the oxen broke the yoke and we came home and got another and we went, lifted it out and it came home.
Wednesday: Today I took the cutter and went and fetched Abigail Meachum to our house to work.  I went by way of Nathan Howard’s to Post Office and took out a letter from Cincinnati from Sister Hannah Twichel, price 25 cents.  I called to H. Platt’s Store and paid Wm’s and my tax to Stephen S. Kittle, Collector, which was five dol and four cents.
Saturday: Today snowy and brother Wm took the cutter and carried his wife’s sister home to Hoosic, it was Meriah Barnhart.  She had been to Wm’s about four months.  On this week we carry and fetch our children to school.
Sunday: Today quite snowy and blowing and today Wm returned from Hoosic.
Wednesday: Today I took the ox team and made a path into our swamp and got part of a load of wood.  While I was gone from home Mr. Hosey Bennett came and paid up a note of 36 dol given the 20th of last March.  The interest was one dol and 98 cents and he paid one dol and 50 cts of the interest and there is 48 cents remains unpaid.  The whole amount interest and principal he paid was 38 dol in bank bills, and my wife handed him 50 cents in change according to his request, to make it correct by his calculation.
Friday we went with both teams and drew wood for Mr. Rowland Danford.  He had a bee for a spell, and at night he provided a most excellent supper.
Tuesday, June 2, 1827: This evening Wm and I took the single wagon and rode to Lebanon. We went to the Shakers to see what they would pay for wool. We did not market ours for the price was so low, Wm marketed his reel. We then called to Elem Tilden’s store and I paid in cash 33 cts for calico, paregoric, and corosive supplements. On this day Wm and I divided our oxen and horses. He had his choice and took the oxen and yearling colt, and I had a span of mares.
Wednesday: Tonight I came home with the cart and oxen and fetched butternut bark and part of a load of old wood. I am 36 years old.