Getting The Belfrey Finished
by George Holcomb • Transcribed by Betty McClave • Edited by Alex Brooks
Monday, May 24, 1847: This morning I drove home my oxen from my Rodgers farm and went on to said farm twice more to look for a heifer that had a calf and hid the calf. I found a sheep that was dead and I pulled the wool, it was on said farm. A. Merrills help look for said calf a short spell.
Sunday, May 30: I and part of my family went to meeting to the lecture room, Elder Jones preached, and this evening I called to Sylvenas Carpenter’s and he drew a subscription and signed ten dollars and paid to finish the belfrey to the lecture room and school house. Philander Carpenter signed four dol and paid, Wm Bliss Mason signed three dol and paid and the widow Lucy Carpenter signed and paid one dol and Sarah Carpenter signed and paid one dol and John Russell signed three dol and I signed five dollars.
Tuesday: Today we worked on the highway, our overseer is Frederick Russell. I worked with the ox team and wagon drawing gravel and John F went with team, I had four days credited and Geo P worked his own tax.
Wednesday: Today I and John F. worked on the highway with the ox team to plow and draw gravel and had four days credited.
Sunday, June 6: We turned back our young cattle onto my Rodgers farm, they broke out and came home this morning. On this day which is Saturday June the 5th Ezra Sackett washed our sheep, 100 of them or more, which answers for one day’s work, this is his week to work and only two days worked of his week.
Monday: This afternoon I rode with H. P. Wylie over to Election to Henry Platt’s. I voted for anti-rent Democrats Judges and I got trusted to Charles Wheeler’s store for two hoes 87 cts and three pounds of sheep twine 60 cts and then we returned home. Today Ezra Sackett worked to make up lost time splitting rails.
Tuesday: We hoed corn on my Rodgers farm. Ezra Sackett worked for me a hoeing to make up lost time.
Wednesday: I went to Berlin today with my two horse wagon to the upper village near Streeter’s Tavern to Mr. Road’s saw mill and paid him six dollars and 75 cts for six hundred feet spruce clapboards for use on our school house and lecture room steeple. It took me all day. I took dinner with Mr. Roads. Tonight brother F. J. Wylie and wife stayed with us. They were on their way to the Sulpher Springs west of Albany for said F. J. Wylie’s health is feeble