George Holcomb’s House
October 14, 2011 Leave a Comment
by Alex Brooks This is the beginning of a series about the life of George Holcomb, a Stephentown farmer of the early Eighteenth Century. He kept a journal of his activities which ultimately filled over 11,000 pages. It is a fascinating document, but the trouble is, the antique script is extremely difficult to read. This [...]
Read more of this articleTo Readers Of The Life Of George Holcomb
July 29, 2011 1 Comment
After thirteen and a half years we have come to the end of the life of George Holcomb. When I put together the first excerpt from the diary of George Holcomb in the early winter of 1998, when my son was 4½ years old, it never occurred to me that I might be still at [...]
Read more of this articleGeorge Holcomb’s Life Comes To An End
July 22, 2011 Leave a Comment
Tuesday, January 22, 1856: This evening John F. took his two horse sleigh and carried his sister Sarah A. and others to the widow of Joseph Brown to a party, tonight I had a very restless night and shaking. Wednesday: I am quite unwell and John F. unwell. This morning Appollas Rollo had a cow [...]
Read more of this articleGeorge Gives Rodgers Farm To John F.
July 15, 2011 Leave a Comment
Tuesday, December 25, 1855: I and my wife continue unwell. This day I sold my son John F. what is called my James Rodgers farm, John F. pays all my debts up to this date and gives me up a note he holds against me. James M. Glass wrote the deed for me, which I [...]
Read more of this articleGeorge And Family Are Not Well
July 1, 2011 Leave a Comment
Wednesday, December 5, 1855: I am not very well Thursday: This forenoon John F. helped James M. Glass to butcher three hogs. I am not very well. Sunday: I am not so well. tonight I am very restless. Quite rainy. Tuesday: I am feeble.
Read more of this articleGeorge Unwell; Winter Coming On
June 24, 2011 Leave a Comment
Monday, November 19, 1855: I am not so well, did but a few chores, and John F. went onto the Rodgers farm and selected out 25 of his meanest sheep and sold to Zenas Goodrich for 32 dollars and then selected the best wethers and drove home.
Read more of this articleGeorge & Son Unwell – A Big Doctor Bill
June 17, 2011 Leave a Comment
Monday, October 29, 1855: I am better today of my gravel complaint. This afternoon at or nearly four o’clock Geo P. starts to go up to Vermont after cattle and sheep and Edwin A. Carpenter with him, and pays fifty cts per day for his passage.
Read more of this articleGeorge Retires, Gives The Farm To John F.
June 10, 2011 Leave a Comment
Wednesday, October 10, 1855: This forenoon John F and Edward Hatch worked with the Shakers’ jack on the cider house and this afternoon John F. returned said jack to the Shakers and paid 75 cts for the use. Thursday: This forenoon I walked up to Alexander Ostrander and paid 37½ cts for three pounds lard. [...]
Read more of this articleTrying To Fix The Cider House
June 3, 2011 Leave a Comment
Saturday, September 29, 1855: This forenoon John F. fetched two horse wagon loads pumpkins from the Rogers farm, and this afternoon he went with my horse and wagon onto the Fairbanks lot to see to the sheep and drove them home, 12 of them, and one lost today.
Read more of this articleJohn F. Wins Prizes For His Fruit
May 27, 2011 Leave a Comment
Tuesday, September 11, 1855: I got some worm wood to the widow Eliza Wylie’s to bathe my wife’s stomach where she was bruised falling into the wagon to the chapel when the horses started. Thursday: this morning I drove the cows to pasture on the Rodgers farm, some rainy. John F. went with my horse [...]
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