A Dispute While Farming “On Shares”
by George Holcomb • Transcribed by Betty McClave • Edited by Alex Brooks
Tuesday, July 28, 1846: I reaped rye on said Kirk’s land that we raised on shares.
Wednesday: I this forenoon reaped rye on said Kirk’s land and my son John F. bound up said rye and I had reaped in all 29 shocks, ten sheaves in a shock, and said Kirk reaped 14 shocks, twelve sheaves in a shock and then we pretended to divide it and take every other one or have one half, but I only got twenty, half of the 43 shocks for said Kirk claimed all that had not got bushes stuck in, we made a mistake dividing and said Kirk would not rectify it. I and my son John F. went with both teams of horses and ox team on both wagons and carried a sled and drew the rye off the mountain down to the school house near Elijah Goodrich’s.
Monday, August 3: We hayed on my Rodgers farm and Mr. Aaron Merrils helped toward rent but his health poor not able to do a whole day’s work.
Tuesday: We hayed on said Rodgers farm and said Aaron Merrils helped towards house rent.
Saturday: We hayed until one o’clock and then it was rainy and we got some hay wet. We this afternoon drew and made a fence in the upper end of the south meadow to put the fattening hogs to eat the clover.
Sunday: Today my children all went to the Shakers to meeting and tonight rain.
Wednesday: We hayed, and Mr. Aaron Merrils helped, which pays up the five dollars of the work part towards this year’s rent for house and garden.
We worked at haying and Mr. Aaron Merrils helped, he has agreed to work two days in haying for the alders wood that is in piles in my meadow, and I gave him two gallons of cider.