A Pint of Rum For A Lame Back
by George Holcomb • Transcribed by Betty McClave • Edited by Alex Brooks
Wednesday, September 10, 1845: Today I was taken with a lame back.
Thursday: I continued with a lame back and a pain through me. Today Zachariah Chapman died with old age.
Saturday: I continued unwell with a lame back. Today Geo P. and Charlotte returned home from Pittsfield. They stayed to their cousin Rufus Kendal last night on a visit. They traded in Pittsfield, sold socks and yarn. Geo P. had his overcoat and frock coat cut out to Gregory’s Shop, which pays me up for the pig and balance due him twenty five cts, and agrees to take apples for pay.
Sunday: Some rainy. I continue quite unwell and I sent six cts and bought Miss Johnson Pills and took physic.
Monday: This afternoon I took my two horse pleasure wagon and carried my two daughters to Pittsfield to a cash cheap New York Store and I paid eight dollars for a cashmir shawl for Charlotte.
Tuesday: I continue a lame back but I took my one horse wagon and carried my wife to John Wylie’s on a visit and I went to Hancock and carried Crandall the wagon maker five bushel of apples at 25 cts per which pays him for repairing my single wagon.
Wednesday: This afternoon I and my wife rode to Canaan to Calvin P. Sackett’s on a visit and stayed.
Thursday: Today while we remained in Canaan we visited to Mr. John Van Citts and took dinner and supper with him and at night we returned to Mr. Sackett’s and left our team and walked to his on Calvin’s and stayed tonight.
Friday: This morning while I was to Calvin Sacketts Jnr., I bargained with Mr. Walker to put my new tire and set my boxes and find band iron and bond the hubs to my new wheels of a double two horse wagon and I am to deliver him barrels of cider next Wednesday at my cider mill for the job, and this forenoon we returned to old Calvin Sackett’s and took dinner and I rode up to Canaan Corners to the rail road depot to Blynn and Lockwoods and they told me that they were satisfied with the cheese I sold them in the weight and quality. This afternoon we came home, on the way I called to Gilbert’s Herbest store in New Lebanon and paid 12 cts for a paper of composition and I called to Gay’s store and paid 12 cts for one pint of rum and borrowed a bottle.
Saturday: Some rainy this morning, my back continues to be some lame and on this afternoon I took my one horse wagon and rode to Hancock Village, I had my horse shod to Palmer and Grant’s shop and said Asa Palmer credits me for fifty cts for two bushels of apples and Mr. Mason, the tanner and shoe maker, credits me for two bushels of apples 50 cts, and I came home by way of Howard’s Post Office and paid ten cts for Charlotte a letter from Eliza Adams in Illinois, and got my news papers and I called on Simmons and Wyatt for pay for the damaged rolls I returned and they both agreed to settle immediately for the returned rolls.
Sunday: On this evening I walked over to Kent Hadsell and he paid me fourteen dollars which pays me up for two beefs.