Winter 1845-46
by George Holcomb • Transcribed by Betty McClave • Edited by Alex Brooks
Tuesday, December 16, 1845: Today I went with a cutter that Geo P. bought of Sylvester Carpenter to Nathan Runnals shop. I had repaired by said Isaac Lant by the consent of said Nathan Runnals, and said Lant did the work, which pays me up for the barrel of cider which was one dol and 25 cts and a balance due to him of 25 cts and I paid the 25 cts in cash to said Lant.
Wednesday: Today I took my cutter and carried two bushels of corn over to my Rodgers farm for Mr. Merrils to feed to my sheep and carried hay in said barn that had been foddered too bountiful to my sheep and my wife rode along with me to her brother Simeon’s and when I returned I left her to the school house election room to the Universalist meeting which had continued evenings for a week.
Thursday: I made sheep troughs and I took the cutter and rode over to my Rodgers farm and carried a sheep trough and an empty barrel to put grain in for my sheep and I carried hay into the barn that had been foddered too bountiful.
Saturday: Today I drew a load of rails and stone onto my Rodgers farm and while I was over to my Rodgers farm I drew Mr. Aaron Merrils two loads or one cord of hard wood which fulfils the contract for his foddering our sheep as is before mentioned.
Monday: Geo P butchered turkeys and carried them to Wm Gays and Sons and had them credited one hundred weight at 8 cts per, sixteen of them. Today we did learn that Mary Burfett died yesterday with the small pox (14 years, 6 months) the natural way. The said Charles Gay boards with us again this week.
Sunday, Jamuary 4, 1846: Today a funeral to the new school house in our district, a child of Nathan Sackett’s was burned on Thursday by taking fire in her clothes and died yesterday,
Tuesday: Today I have been quite unwell with a dizziness and puking.
Saturday, January 10: On this week another daughter of Mr. Burfett’s died with the small pox, she has been subject to fits and died on Tuesday (18 years)
Friday: This afternoon I chopped and drew a load of wood from the swamp. Today Geo P and H. P. Wylie went to Lanesborough pond fishing, they got twelve pickerel.