The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

The Life Of George Holcomb – Hiring A Schoolmaster

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Monday, October 27, 1828: This morning I walked over to Adam Brown’s to see about hiring a school teacher that had called on us to take our school.  His name is Fuller, but said Brown thinks that Fuller’s learning is not sufficient and talks sending to Williams College for a teacher and today I drew a load of wood from my Rodgers farm and we made a pressing of sweet apples.
Tuesday, November 11: This morning I went into the city of Troy.  I got home at 7 o’clock this evening. I bated at J. Gregory’s going out and had a pint of cider three cts and coming home at Deboys a man treated that rode with me and while my horses were bating I went in pursuit of a school master, but could not get any.  Tonight a snow storm.
Wednesday: Today we husked corn and I walked over to Adam Brown’s to see about hiring a school teacher, and this evening we sorted apples.
Thursday: We drew out manure and drew corn from the barn to the crib, and this afternoon I walked up to Sylvester Gardner’s to engage him to teach our school, but I could not bargain for he asks 12 dol per.  I called to Nathan Howard and got a bundle of Watchman papers.
Friday: I went to Adam Brown’s and the neighbors to notify them that this afternoon we repair the schoolhouse.  We draw out manure and this afternoon we bank up and repair the school house.
Monday, November 17: Today I sent by George W. Glass to Pittsfield and got my bible that I left to be bound over, and I paid one dol and 37 cents.
Tuesday our school began.  I engaged George W. Glass to keep for eleven dollars and board himself.  This morning I went part of the way to school with my three children, and carried my son George P. in my arms today is the first of sending him to school.
Friday, November 21: I carried my buck over to Rodgers Farm and put with my sheep and we cut and drew a load of wood to the schoolhouse and one load home.  We mended causeway or a bridge in said swamp and brother Sylvester helped, for he draws wood to improve the road too.
Saturday: We drew two loads of stone with our twin oxen and it snowed.  We sorted and drew and cribbed corn.  I cut down and watered a cider cheese that Geo. W. Glass left on the press.  I got out one barrel of cider beer.