The Life Of George Holcomb – A Summer As A Hired Laborer

In the last episode, George bargained with his uncle Levi Pease about his wages, and Pease assured George he would be satisfied. But George was not happy with the reckoning:
“when we brought in our accounts, mine was only 55 dollars, for he would not allow me for what I did in September last, he thought my work only paid my board, and his account against me is 28 dollars and 86 cents, of which he makes this debt against me, is the money he has paid me in the time and things to  stores when sick, likewise the doctor bill he has agreed to settle and the shoemaker bill likewise – of which he stands indebted to me now 26 dollars 14 cents, if no mistakes.  One thing more he makes up the debt before-mentioned against me, that is my board, when sick, of which he charged two dollars a week.”
Holcomb clearly was unsatisfied by these reckonings and immediately set out to find work:  “Set out to look me a place for a home and to work.  I went from this town to Worcester.”  He inquired for work all over Worcester in divers establishments.  Finding only one offer, of 5 dollars a month, he set out for the cotton factory at Northbridge but found that no hands were wanted. On the evening of the third day he met up with a man named Levi Lincoln who offered to pay him 95 dollars for six months work.  Holcomb accepted and returned to Shrewsbury that evening.  The next day he packed up his clothes and carried his belongings to Levi Lincoln’s farm near Worcester, beginning work the next morning.
On June 19 Holcomb’s father and sister arrived to visit him, and they all went over to Uncle Levi Pease’s farm in Shrewsbury to spend the Sunday together.  “Father wishes me to come home as quick as the times will do, for he says to me he wants to put his farm under my care, if not part or all in my hands.”
He rose early Monday morning and walked to Worcester, so as to be back at work by six in the morning as usual.  On Tuesday his father and sister came by on their way back to Stephentown, bringing presents of clothing for George.
He worked steadily all through the summer, though he was bothered on several occasions by “disentery symptoms,” even missing one day of work because he was “so out of health.”
At the end of September he secured another Certificate (he has now learned to spell the word correctly) which will discharge him from military duty if he is called on.  The reason for the discharge was “hard of hearing.”
Nov 2, 1813: “Tuesday I worked for Lieut Governor Lincoln on his son Levi account.”
On Nov. 8, Levi Lincoln paid him 97 dollars for his work over the summer and fall, and Levi Pease paid him the remainder of the wages owed him for work done the previous fall and winter.  He settled all his debts with local merchants and set out to go home to Stephentown on November 12.  He arrived home at 4 o’clock November 17, after six days of traveling.  Two days later he began work for his father.