Looking For A School For Geo P.
by George Holcomb • Transcribed by Betty McClave • Edited by Alex Brooks
Monday, November 25, 1844: Today I took my one horse wagon and my oldest daughter Charlotte with me, we started for Albany and Geo P. with us to look for a school where he can study and board with the teacher. We only went to Sand Lake and stayed to Rufus Withee and while we were to said Withees he took his team and carried I and my son Geo P. to the Rev. Mr. Sessions School to see how we like it, and we found the school to be in high standing. We did not make any bargain at present on account of the terms come higher than in Troy to Mr. Gibbs Select School and we returned home with said Withee and stayed tonight, and I paid said Withee one hundred dollars and had it endorsed on a note of one hundred and fifty dollars.
Tuesday: This morning we went on to Sand Lake from said Withees and called to Wynantskill to blacksmith shop and had a bolt mended, and while we stopped I walked up to James Bush’s to make inquiry about Mr. Gibbs Select School and from Wynantskill we went into Troy and called to Wm Chapman’s and I paid six cts for myself a drink of gin and Geo P. went and saw Mr. Gibbs but did not bargain with him for he had not got any school room engaged nor could not tell for a certainty when his school would begin and from Troy I and Charlotte rode down to Albany and Geo P. returned to Brunswick to James Bush’s. Charlotte sold six pairs of socks in Troy and we got into Albany at two o’clock. We crossed at the railroad bridge and paid nine cents. We only sold six pair cash. This evening we went into stores looking at the goods, and we went down to Mr. Murphy’s in Norton St. and took supper and Charlotte stayed there and I went up to Louk tavern in Washington St and stayed. I had my horse keeping and lodging, which was 31 cts.
Wednesday: This forenoon we sold the remainder of our socks and we started out of Albany at eleven o’clock and the bridge again nine cents and went into East Troy. I called to a hardware store, paid 63 cts for two lids to my stove, and then we went on from Troy to Wynantskill Village and I walked up to James Bush’s where Geo P. was and had him come with me to the Village Wynantskill and get his trunk and I handed him 27 dol and seventy five cts to pay his schooling and board and to pay for some small articles. He is to remain to James Bush’s until I had found a place for him.