The Life Of George Holcomb – A Dispute With Brother Sylvester

by Alex Brooks
On January 17, 1815, George attended a town meeting “to make resolves against the conscripts law,” as he was apparently not the only one opposed to the draft. But the danger was past by then, as the peace treaty had been signed in Ghent three weeks earlier.
Celebration in Berlin
On February 22 of 1815 he went to Berlin to Doctor Hammonds, Washington’s Hotel, for a celebration of Washington’s birthday. “A very large procession moved to the meetinghouse and accompanied with the Stephentown bank and prayers attended by Elder Hull, and an oration delivered by —— from Troy. I went with my horses and sleigh and carried Simeon Wylie and Isaac Newton and Sylvester Holcomb. My expenses were only 14 cents, distance 12 miles.”
Music
On Wednesday, Feb. 15 he rode with Elisha Bennet to music meeting to the school house at the meeting house. Apparently inspired by this experience, he started at two o’clock the next morning for Troy “with a cutter, and fetched in Wm. Roberts the music master, and he tuned Cousin Mary Holcomb’s pianofort (piano). I took breakfast to Henry Withers, and when I came with Mr. Roberts we took dinner to Mr. Withers…I got home about sunset, my expenses for the day 34 cents.”
For three days in early March he trimmed his apple trees.
Dispute with Sylvester
Sept. 5, Monday: This day I met with some difficulty with Sylvester. He had locked a door of mine and I demanded it open, but he refused and I burst the door open, and he took me with a summons pretending a case of trespassing, to be tried before Squire Sweet and writ served by Constable Cranston, to appear on the 12th before said Sweet. Today I rode up to Squire Douglass’ to inquire if I had done anything contrary to law, and he told me I had not.
Sept. 7, Wednesday: Today I went up to Squire Martins to ask advice concerning my law suit
Sept. 10 Saturday: Today I went to Lanesborough to Lawyer Hubbards to get him to speak for me, but he could not come.
Sept 11, Sunday: Today Samuel Holcomb went to Sand Lake after Squire Stevens and I engaged him to come and speak for me tomorrow. I gave Samuel 25 cents towards expenses going after Stevens.
Sept. 12, Monday: In the forenoon I dug potatoes. This afternoon Sylvester’s and my trial came on. The difficulty was he refused me going in to a certain shop I had a lease of, and he had it in possession partly but agreed to give it up to me. I demanded him to not lock the door, but he did, and then dared and provoked me to go in, and I burst the door open and went in, because I thought it was my right there. He then took me with a summons pretending I trespassed on him, but he withdrew the action and left it to arbitrators. Sylvester picked Squire Thomas and I picked Squire Douglass. They could not agree, and made choice of the third man, which was Richard Campbell. They then fetch in that I should pay Sylvester 6 dollars and the cost, which was 4 dollars 64 cents, and I gave Stevens 4 dollars to speak for me. We came under bonds to abide by those gentlemen’s judgment, we likewise passed receits from the beginning of the world to this date of what name and nature may require.
On Sept. 26, Monday, he reports: “Sylvester and I settled up all old disputes and quarrels,” and two days later he is exchanging work again with Sylvester.