George’s Sons Break Rocks
by George Holcomb • Transcribed by Betty McClave • Edited by Alex Brooks
Saturday, August 12, 1848: We bound up wheat and drew into the barn, I and my two sons. Today about four o’clock Mr. Reuben Powers and wife and a young lady by the name of Susan Taylor called from Hoosic and stayed on this evening. Geo P. and his two sisters went with them to the Springs to Lebanon. Geo P. carried a box of butter to Hulls and trusted it.
Sunday: Today my family all but myself went to the Shaker meeting with Reuben Powers and wife and Susan Taylor.
Monday: I and my two sons hayed. Today Elder Ford from Canaan called and took their dinner with us and I paid him 37 cts for two kinds of pills for my wife and this evening Geo P. carried Susan Taylor to the Springs for her to take the stage for Troy in the morning, Mrs. Powers rode to the Springs and returned here tonight with Geo P.
Tuesday: This morning Mr. Reuben Powers and wife left for home. Today I and my two sons hayed.
Thursday: Today I and my two sons hayed and towards night a hard shower and some rainy. Tonight two peddlers put up with us, each had a team of one horse, one was a tin peddler and the other had dry goods and essence, they paid half a dollar each in trade, they both were from Canaan.
Saturday: Today I and my two sons mowed and raked and stacked up hay on the hill in the young orchard and on this evening John F. rode to the Springs.
Sunday: Today I took my two wheel carriage and carried my oldest daughter to Elder Havens meeting to the Chapel and my wife rode to Hiram Newton’s and stayed till we returned from meeting for her health is poor and this afternoon Geo P. took the two horse team and carried his two sisters to the Presbyterian meeting.
Tuesday: Today I cut weeds and burdocks in my yards. Today my two sons and two daughters went in our two horse lumber wagon to the north part of town and picked blackberries and my wife rode with them to John Wylie’s and stayed on a visit till they returned.
Friday: I repaired ox sled and helped a little my two sons dig stone and heat rocks and break by putting on water.
Saturday: I this morning took my one horse wagon and carried my wife and Charlotte E. to Mr. Simeon Wylie’s and left them on a visit. This forenoon my two sons heat rocks and put on water and break them to pieces in the meadow. This afternoon my two sons patched the roof of my barn on the north side and I chopped and drew a load of wood from off the hill.