The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

George Holcomb

Death In The Family

By

Friday, May 29, 1840: This afternoon I took my covered wagon and took my two oldest daughters and went to Albany. We went through Lebanon the south road and we called to Bigeloe’s tavern and I bated and paid two cents for beer. We stayed to Smith’s tavern near the ferry. We had tea and our own victuals we carried, and I found our own hay.

Saturday: This morning we had tea to said Smith’s and then I paid my bill which was one dol and 25 cts. We walked over into Albany and I left my team to said Smith’s. We returned from Albany to Greenbush about noon to said Smith where our team was. I paid sixteen cts for four of us crossing the river over and back. On the way coming home four miles on the way one of my tires came off and we all walked nearly two miles and I paid 63 cts to have a smith set said tire. We bated to Lowree’s tavern near Union Village. We got home about 11 o’clock tonight.

Thursday, June 4: I took my two horse team and wagon and carried Asa Sheldon six bushels potatoes which pays him for tagging, washing, and shearing my sheep, 29 in number. This afternoon I took my single wagon and carried my wife to John Wylie’s for his wife is dangerous sick, and I called up to Hancock to Barber’s Factory and Peter Surdam paid me eight dol for his child’s board at my house, and I called to Jabez Babcock’s and he paid me for a cheese he bought of me this spring, at nine cts per pound, weight 20 pounds, and I called to the Navarino to Amos Morey’s to see if he would pay me for the cheese he had of me last fall, but I did not get my pay. Quite rainy this evening.

Saturday: I drew two loads manure onto my Rodgers farm and put into potato hill and my two sons planted the potatoes. On this morning the wife of John Wylie died. Tonight brother Jay Wylie and wife stayed with us and I paid him ten dollars interest money.

Sunday: I went with my covered wagon and carried my wife and two oldest daughters and my son John F and sister widow Eliza Wylie to the funeral of John Wylie’s wife Elizabeth, 36, Garfield cemetery. Elder Grant preached the funeral sermon at the Seventh Day Baptist meeting house.

Monday: This afternoon brother F. Jay Wylie and wife called a spell and took tea and Mr. Bush the singing master called and took tea.