Boosums and Bills
by George Holcomb • Transcribed by Betty McClave • Edited by Alex Brooks
Wednesday, February 20, 1850: I tended to chores and this evening I rode up to Rastus Runnals but he had not got any boosums for us from Troy and then I rode round by Howards post office and took out a letter from Windsor from one Mr. Pierce. The letter was concerning the hundred dollars that I was owing the estate of Samuel Minor deceased and I called to Charles Wheelers store to inquire for some one going to Troy.
Thursday: Today I and my son fanned up the last of my oats fifteen bushels of them. This afternoon I walked to Mr. Canadas and engaged him to fetch and carry a bag of boosums when he went to Troy and I engaged to pay him 12½ cents for each time he carried and fetched and I likewise engaged Mr. Armstrong to call to Mr. Bennetts when he went to Troy and get boosums for us if he could. I today received a letter from Thomas Gold concerning my daughter’s suit in law at Lenox.
Friday: I took Geo P’s cutter and carried my wife to Pittsfield to brother F. at Wylies on a visit and I called to Thomas Golds office and paid him seven dollars and 26 cents cash to defray the expenses of the depositions that he had taken in the Illinois and said Gold credited me one dollar for one bushel greening apples. I then took dinner with F. Jay Wylie and then took my horse and cutter and went to Windsor to the widow Polly Minor and took supper and took up a note that Ruth Minor held against me of fifty dollars and paid three years interest. I then gave Ruth Minor a new note of fifty dollars dated back to the 13th of January of the present year and then I walked up to Samuel Minors and stayed tonight.
Saturday: This morning I took breakfast with Samuel Minor and then walked to the east part of Windsor by the Windsor hill and meeting house on my way to Mr. Reubin Pierces and I met said Pierce half a mile before I got to his house. I then returned with him and we stopped to his brother’s store and post office on Windsor hill and said Reubin Pierce gave me up a note that Samuel Minor held against me at his decease. I then rode along with said Pierce till I went cross lots on my way to the widow Minor’s where I left my horse last night and I went to the widow Minor’s and took dinner and I took my horse and cutter and started for Pittsfield, on the way before I got down the mountain I lost my umbrella. I got to Pittsfield about 3 o’clock and took some refreshment to brother Wylie’s. I then took my wife and came home by six o’clock this evening