by Alex Brooks
As the warm weather returned in the spring of 1830, George’s son’s illness seemed to get better, and George hired a boy to help on the farm.
Thursday, April 8, 1830: I called to Munson’s Mill in Canaan and bargained with the miller by the name of Elisha Ingraham for his son Ancil to work for me for one year and I do agree to pay him $26 dols in clothing and cash and to school him three months and he agrees to come and begin next Monday.
Friday: This afternoon I took the single wagon and rode to Robert Runnal’s and got a large cradle to rock my son Geo P. On the way I called to Barnum Clark’s and bought a new plow of Right’s improved patent, price six dol. I paid two dol in cash and for the other four dol I am to deliver him four barrels of cider. I bought a shear of Wooley’s patent, 50 cts and had him charge it.
Sunday, April 11: Today Mr. Ingraham came and left his boy to work for me as we bargained last Thursday. Tonight quite rainy.
Sunday, April 18: This evening I took the single wagon and carried Mother Holcomb up to Brother Wm’s and this evening Wm had a fifth daughter born.
Thursday, April 22: This morning my son Geo P was not so well. I walked up to Calvin P. Sackett’s and left word if Doc Graves came to come to my child. He likewise did. Today I plowed and sowed and harrowed a small piece of peas in the meadow, and this evening I went to Hancock with the wagon and horses with five barrels of cider to Wm Hadsells to sell on shares, and I carried butter and eggs to the amount of 58 cts and said Hadsell credited me the same on account and I got trusted for one vest pattern 44 cts for my hired boy Ancil.
Monday, April 26: This forenoon rainy, I made goose yoke and plowed sward. This afternoon I put up fence on my Rodgers Farm. Today I sent to Hancock by our people and got trusted to Wm Hadsell’s 25 cts for trimmings for my hired boy Ancil Ingraham trimmings for vest. I sent a grist, but they could not grind, and hired girl fetched it home again, Esther Shelden, her name is.
Tuesday: I plowed sward. Tonight our peddler Mr. Clapp stayed with us. I paid my winter schooling to Joshua Maxon, which was one dol and 34 cts. I sent 3 children for 200 days.