George Holcomb

Tuesday, May 9, 1826: We worked on said Rodgers Farm sowing oats. At night I took the single wagon and my wife went and carried our babe George Pease to Lebanon to Doctor Right’s and he looked at the swelling on my child’s cheek and let us have some salve to put on it. I called home by way of John Bull’s and got a chest of cake.
Thursday: Today I went to election to Simon Cranston’s and supported Archibald Bull in preference of Lane. I carried gingerbread and pies, cider and egg cider for sale. I cleared about six dollars.
Sunday: Today my wife and I rode to Dr. Wright’s with our child to see if the swelling was fit to open, but it was not.
Monday: Today we cross plowed our flax ground with our mares but at sunset the bay mare lost her colt. Today we began to plow sward land for corn. We plowed but very little for it was too warm for our oxen.
Wednesday: Today I sent to H. Platt’s store and paid nine cents for one pound of salts for our bay mare. Wm got them, and tameric bark to give said mare.
Thursday: Today I took the single wagon and my wife went and carried our babe George Pease to Doctor Wright’s and had his cheek lanced. This forenoon I rode up to the Shakers and got trusted four dollars and 76 cents of Monson’s office and agreed to pay in corn at 63 cents per bushel.
Saturday, May 20: Today old Mrs. Barnhart was thrown from a wagon. Her horse ran away. She was returning home to Hoosic from brother Wm’s and two of her daughters, but they were not hurt, and Wm took our single wagon and put her and a bed and fetched her from Calvin Carpenter’s home to his house.
Sunday: Today Wm took said Barnhart wagon and horse and carried the two Barnhart girls home and returned home tonight and rode one of their horses.
Tuesday: Today Gideon Barnhart came here from Hoosic. He is crazy. He came without a hat or shoes. Tonight I had him come up from Wm and I took him in a chamber and we were fastened in and we went to bed and slept very well.
Thursday, May 25: Today old Mr. Barnhart and his son Joseph came here with a double wagon after Gideon, but he had cleared out this morning.
Friday, May 26: Today old Mr. Barnhart returned home without his son Gideon.
Tuesday, May 30: Today Mr. John Mott’s wife died. It is thought that her death was caused by a family fight, bruised and took cold.
Tuesday, June 6: This afternoon Wm went after his wife’s brother Gideon that was crazy and had gone to Lebanon a disturbing the school and others. Tonight I stayed to Wm’s and helped take care of him. He was no particular trouble only to watch him.
Wednesday: Today brother Wm’s wife’s mother had got well enough to ride home with the mail carrier.
Thursday: Today Wm stayed home to take care of crazy Gideon and this afternoon his brother came and took our single wagon and carried him home to Hoosic.

Thursday, April 20, 1826: This afternoon I went to school house to a school meeting to try to agree to move the said school house, but it was not agreed on. I called to Asa Goodriches on the way home and got a pair of shoes that was to have been made by Amos Chapman for my wife. Goodrich was employed by said Chapman to make the shoes. Today a disturbance took place with our families.
Friday: I returned the shoes that I got to Goodriches last night, for they were too large. He would not take them for he said that the upper leather was so poor that he could not sell them, but said Goodrich agreed to make another pair for nothing if I could find leather. I told him I would, and went and got my calf skin and borrowed some leather of John Wylie and paid in cash to John Russell’s wife six cents for a quarter of a yard of lace cloth to line said shoes. Today I tended to no work, but tried to get Wm to talk over our concern and make a division of our property but he would not. Mother’s age is 76.
Saturday: I walked over across to Claudius Moffitt’s store and exchanged the shoe that Goodrich made for a pair of Denmark Sattin shoes and paid fifty cents to boot in cash.
Sunday: This evening I walked over to my Rodgers farm to brother Sylvester’s to see to my young cattle.
Monday: Today we tended to putting runners under the school house and this afternoon we went with our oxen to the drawing of said school house. It was drawn from the corner near Simeon Wylie’s to the spot near where the Widow Buten once lived.
Tuesday: This morning I sowed some spring wheat for John Wylie and this forenoon I went and consulted with Mr. Hazard Morey about dividing with brother Wm, our property. He advised us to do it ourselves. This afternoon I plowed stalk ground.
Sunday, April 30: I took the single wagon and carried my wife to the funeral of old Miss Rebecca Douglass, who died on Friday with old age. The old lady was one of the first settlers of this town. She came with her father, Asa Douglass, and she never married. Elder Jones preached at his meetinghouse. After the sermon and burial, one Mr. Taggard preached a short sermon.
Friday, May 5: Today I and my wife and child went to Troy. On the way we called to Mr. Henry Withee’s and took dinner. We peddled out nearly all of our load before we got to Troy.

Friday, March 24, 1826: I chopped wood to the door, some rainy. We had a cow jump out of the lot. I went to E Pierce’s and H. Morey’s and Adam Brown’s and Ezra Sackett’s after her, but could not find her. The said cow James Glass had turned into the highway and she ran away, but brother Wm had found the said cow in Sylvenas Carpenter’s swamp before I had returned tonight from looking for her.
Saturday: I am quite unwell with a bad cold and head ache.
Saturday, April 1: This forenoon Wm and I went to Hancock mountain on to Elijah Douglas land to chop coal wood but it was so steep that we returned home and concluded not to get any wood there.
Monday, April 3: I see Henry Hull to Gardner’s and he came with me down to my Rodgers Farm and he bought four cows of me at nineteen dol per head and gave me a note on demand. I then walked over to Jobe Green’s this afternoon where this town was putting in town officers.
Tuesday: I took John Wylie’s single wagon and went to Lebanon to Jones to town meeting. I carried five dollars worth of Bull’s gingerbread at 3 cts a card and sold it at five cts per card, and sold six gallons of cider and one peck of apples. I got six dol and fifty cts in cash and a new half bushel for my day’s work. Today I carried my mother to Mr. A.J. Booge’s and left her until I returned at night. Today brother Wm sold five dollars worth of gingerbread and five gallons of cider in this town to Joseph Green’s to town meeting and he cleared four dol and fifty cts.
Thursday: This morning Wm and I helped Mr. R. Danford get a hearth stone and place it in the south room of that house where he lives. Today a young girl that was brought up among the Shakers came here to get work. Her name is Eunice Adeline Welch.
Friday: Today I tended to helping to make soap and chop wood to the door yard. Today this said Eunice Adeline Welch began to spin for us a week at fifty cts.
Saturday: Today we gave Charlotte some phisic for she is quite unwell and has been for two days with a pain in her head and ear and swelled neck and lost her appetite.
Sunday: Our daughter continues quite unwell. Today the funeral of thc daughter of old Mr. Salmon Wheeler, aged about 13 years old. She died at Mr. Sylvanus Carpenter’s and the funeral at his house, and we did not hear of it, not until it was too late. She died yesterday. Elder Jones preached.
Monday: I am quite unwell and today a very snowy day.
Tuesday: We yoked up two yoke of steers and drew manure with one yoke a spell. We, Wm and I, then made corn brooms. Today Moses Hunter came and paid up the note of one hundred and four dollars for the sheep he bought of us last month, the money nearly all of it on Pittsfield bank and the remainder on Albany excepting two bills, one on Greenfield and the other bill on New York. Tonight brother Wm went up to Edward Carr’s and paid him seven dollars, the interest on the one hundred dollars that was due last May, and Wm went to Calvin and offered him the money for my note I gave the 20th December last, but he refused taking the money, for he said the note was on demand, and he had not demanded it, and Wm fetched the money home again.
Wednesday: Today I walked up to Erastus Brown’s store. I reckoned with him. When I returned home I called to Calvin Carpenter’s and took up my note of 106 dollars and 26 cts interest and principal given the 20th of December last. I paid him all in Pittsfield bills except in one dol and 26 cts in specie. He had a choice not to take his pay yet.
Thursday: This forenoon I took the single wagon and my wife went with me and we carried Charlotte to Doctor Graves and he gave us some drops and castile soap to put in her ear, and some phisic and some things to put into wine. We called to H. Platt’s and paid 12 cents for a bottle and nine cents for wine, and today I paid Eunice Adeline Welch 50 cts for her week’s work and she went away.

Tuesday, March 7, 1826: Today I walked to Pittsfield to The American Press and got 75 advertisements printed, and paid 50 cts, and paid 50 cts to have the advertisements put into the paper. In those advertisements Wm and I have advertised 22 cows, one pair of oxen, two steers, 60 sheep, and one cart and two wagons all at auction if not sold at private sale before the 20th. I began to scatter my advertisements every direction.
Wednesday: I walked to Hancock and put up my advertisements. I sent an advertisement to the north part of town. On the way home I called to Mr. Ezekiel Sheldon’s and got some colt’s foot for my children that has got the whooping cough.
Thursday: Today I walked to Andrew Snyder’s and engaged him to come and auction off this aforementioned property. I went round by the way of Lebanon Meeting House to put up advertisement and came home by way of Claudius Moffitt’s store.
Wednesday, March 15: Today we drove a part of our stock home from the Rodgers Farm and had six cows appraised off to Peter Wylie, which filled his note of 95 dol and eight dol over, and took my note, and we had seven cows and a pair of year-old steers appraised off to sister Miriam Campbell for 142 dol, which filled my note that she sent by said Wylie, and I keep it for sale in next Monday at auction with my stock.
Monday: Today we tended selling the property that we advertised. The stock that I turned out to Peter Wylie and Miriam Campbell last week, the said property of theirs was sold at auction for 14 cents on the dol less than it was appraised. I then put up a cart and covered wagon, but I had a by bidder and had them returned on to my hands. Caleb Chapman Jnr bid of our old double wagon at 23 dol and 75 cts. I offered six months credit but leaves it on our hands. George Landon bid off a hog at 2 dol and 22 cts but did not pay. I put up three cows but had them struck off to a buy bidder. I bargained with Hosey Bennet for two cow at 18 dollars each and have his note. Tonight our auctioner James Snyder returned home with us and took supper. I then paid him his cash, two dol for his services today. Today a very stormy damp, and chilly day.

Tuesday: This morning I walked down to Widow Hunter’s with brother Peter Wylie to collect money for cows, and to Hazard Morey’s and Ephraim Pierce’s. Today I bargained and sold our sheep to Moses Hunter at two dol per head, and took his note of 104 dol payable the 15th of April without interest. We helped him get the sheep home and took the wagon and horses and carried one that would not or could not walk. Today the money was all collected that was due on said Wylie and M. Campbell’s stock and handed to said Wylie and he is to return M. Campbell’s to her, 122.25 cts all cash and said Wylie’s $88.25. I took brother Wylie in to my wagon and carried him to Hancock to Squ John Gardner’s and left him to take the stage. As I returned I called to my Rodgers Farm and Hosea Bennet came after his cows. He examined one of his cows and found that she was lowsey. I offered him to leave her and take another, but he would not. He likewise took the two that he bargained for last night. He gave a note of 36 dol payable in six months with interest.Tonight I walked over to George Landon’s to get my pay, which is 2.22 cts for the hog he bid off, but he denies- paying me. He makes an excuse the hog is sick.

Sunday, February 5, 1826: Today I took the cutter and carried my wife and children over to brother Sylvester’s. I carried all three of my children to have thern ride for the whooping cough.
Monday: This morning I took the cutter and my wife went with me and carried our son G. Pease to Doctor E. Graves and had his teeth cut, and we got some phisic for Angeline. Tonight I went to debating school at the school house near Simeon Wylie’s.
[Read more…] about The Life Of George Holcomb – The Kids Get Whooping Cough

After returning from a trip up to Vermont in which he bought 19 cows, he continued to buy cows nearer to home
Tuesday, January 3, 1826: Today we went over to our Rodgers farm and salted our new flock of cattle and chopped and drew a load of wood home. Today we paid Francis Buten the ten dollars in cash for his cow that was agreed here before, and drove her home. I went with the cutter after Charlotte to school. Tonight and this evening I went up to Mrs. Smalley’s and bargained with her son, Philander Woodard, for his cow at eleven dollars and fifty cents, and came in the morning after said cow and pay him in silver.
[Read more…] about The Life Of George Holcomb – A Cold Winter

Wednesday, December 20, 1825: On this morning brother Wm and myself started a journey to the northward to look for cows. We walked on foot. We got to Hoosick Falls and stayed to brother Wm’s Father Barnhart’s.
[Read more…] about The Life Of George Holcomb – A Trip North To Buy Cows

September 1, 1825, Thursday: This forenoon I rode to Lebanon after Doctor Right for Sylvester’s wife, and he cut stalks in my room while I was gone.
Sept. 2, Friday: I took the covered wagon and carried our people to the funeral of Hosea Moffitt. Mr. Shepard from Lenox preached and this evening we made a small pressing of cider.
Scpt. 5, Monday: Today Sylvester pealed and got about two dol and eighty cents apiece for us for Saturday, and today on this morning I rode over to Josiah Eggleston’s and his daughter Amanda rode my horse home and I walked. She came to work, for my wifc’s hand continues lame with the swelling on it.
[Read more…] about The Life Of George Holcomb – Selling Apples

by Alex Brooks

Sunday, August 7, 1825: Today I rode to Richmond with my covered wagon and carried my wife, my second daughter L. Angeline, and our babe G. Pease, and Charlotte Pierce. We went to Dr. Merryman’s and he gave us some medicine to give our Angeline for the rickets, and on our way home we called to Elem Tilden’s and I paid 17 cts for one pint of brandy to put said medicine in. I borrowed a bottle to get said brandy in. We called to brother Jay Wylie’s while there was a shower, and when we were returning home we called to the Shakers and took refreshment.
[Read more…] about The Life Of George Holcomb – Medical Remedies For Angeline

Friday, March 18, 1825: I set bar posts and mended stone wall and chopped wood in the woods. Tonight said post rider stays with us. He fetched me a book. The title is, “The Spiritual Mustard Pot.” The author is Mr. Amos Morey, a neighbor of mine. I paid one dollar for said book, and I have sold it in eight shares, or eight of us pays twelve and a half cents each.
March 2 l, Monday: This morning at one o’clock Wm awakened me and I took the single wagon and fetched some of the neighboring women to his house while he went after Doctor Graves, and bcforc daylight he had a daughter born.
[Read more…] about The Life Of George Holcomb – Angeline Falls Into The Fire