Geo P. Butchers His Turkeys
by George Holcomb • Transcribed by Betty McClave • Edited by Alex Brook
Sunday, December 19, 1847: Today Andrew Clark’s horse barn burned and a valuable horse burned together with carriages and harnesses and other property, all consumed in a short time. It was accidentally burned by a candle, a boy getting carrots in the celler under the barn.
Tuesday: Today Geo P. butchered 41 of his turkeys and the wife of Wm. Sheldon helped dress the turkeys.
Wednesday: Today Geo P. took the two horse team and sled and carried his turkeys boxed up to Pittsfield and put them on the cars for Boston and then went to Lanesborough and fetched a load potatoes and apples for Wm. Sheldon, and for the same said Sheldon is to work for us. This morning at 4 o’clock James Henry Rich wagon shop was burned up with all its contents, this shop was owned by Wm. Gay.
Saturday, December 25: Today I took my cutter and carried my wife to John Wylie’s on a visit. She stayed tonight and I took tea there and came home. Today I rode up to see Alfred Chase about coming to work on our school house belfrey, but did not make a bargain. I had a promise from Hiram Newton to pay me in rye for Ezra Sackett’s work in haying. Today Geo P. started to go to Albany to bargain his turkeys and Sarah with him to Sand Lake to Mr. Rufus Withees on a visit.
Monday: This evening Geo P. and Sarah returned home and Clarissa Withee came home with Geo P. on a visit, and today I gave two dollars in cash into the hands of Charles Gillett for Andrew Clark to help him for the loss of his barn burning up.
Wednesday: Today I handed brother Simeon Wylie 15 dollars to pay my tax out of it as he was going to pay his own tax to Mr. Allen the collector.
Thursday: I chopped with the help of Russel Palmer’s oldest boy a load of beech wood, half a cord of it and gave it to Aaron Merril for said Merrils is quite sick.
Friday, January 7, 1848: Today Geo P. butchered the remainder of his turkeys, nearly 60 of them, the wife of Wm. Sheldon and Moses Balden helped and all of my family helped.
Saturday: Today Geo P. took the two horse wagon and Moses Baldwin with him and carried his turkeys to Pittsfield to send on the cars for Boston. Some stormy. I went to Seventh Day Meeting but no meeting.
Sunday: Towards night I took my cutter and carried my wife over to see Mr. Aaron Merrils for he remains quite sick.
Monday: This forenoon Wm. Sheldon butchered five pigs for us with my help, and this afternoon I cut up my pork. Today Geo P. took the cutter and carried Clarrissa Withee home to Sand Lake and he stayed tonight.