The Life Of George Holcomb – George Gets Married

by Alex Brooks
The first mention of George’s wedding is on April 13 of 1819.  In the midst of recording a multitude of errands, he slips in:
I called to Wm Clark’s store and bought goods for my wedding to the amount of $3.68.
April 15, Thursday: On this day at seven in the afternoon I was married to Miss Lucinda Wylie by the Rev. Mr. Churchill of New Lebanon.  We were married at the house of Mrs. Widow Deborah Springs and Mr. John Wylies in this town, priest tax two dollars.
There is no honeymoon or much in the way of festivities noted down in the journal.  Saturday  “I fetched my wife home,” and there was a gathering of her relations and his and some others.  Soon after, he and his wife take a couple of trips to buy furniture, one to a cabinetmaker and the other to buy chairs.  Other than that, there is no mention of his wife or his changed domestic circumstances until May 25-26, when they go to Albany.
Today I went to Albany with a two-horse wagon, My wife and Sister Eleanor went with me, my wife went to buy furniture and sister went to help.  We carried nothing to market but seven dozen and two eggs and sold them at one shilling per.  We went by way of Sand Lake, I paid one gate and we crossed in the horse boat.  After beating them on their prices on the account of money being so scarce,  my wife paid $46 for crockery and furniture, $11.25 for a looking glass, $5.25 for bed curtains, $1.88 for two brass candlesticks, 3.75 for a tea pot, $4.75 for a pair of brass andirons, and many other items.
A Problem with the Shakers
May 19: This afternoon I took the single wagon and carried the widow Cousin Hannah Potter to see if the Shakers would not let her have her two young daughters that she left behind, but they would not let them come.  Said Shakers told us we must come again.
May 28:  This afternoon I took the double wagon and carried Mrs. Potter once more to the Shakers to see if they would give up her children, but Calvin Green would not, said Shakers abused us most shamefully.  We called as we returned at Lebanon Meeting House to E.F. Booge Esquire’s office and said Booge informed the widow Potter that she can get her children by law.
Holcomb’s New Bride Is Injured
As we came home, I found my wife to Mr. Morey’s hurt quite bad by a horse running away with the wagon and pitching her over the fence.  I fetched her home.  Isaac Humphrey was driving when his Aunt Lucinda fell out.
Three days later they went off to get curtains for the house, so she was presumably OK by then.
June 3: Today I move my wife home.
Friday and half of Saturday he worked on the highway.
In June he makes several attempts to buy land, but does not find what he wants.
July 1 Thursday – This morning I walked over to Mr. Simeon Wylies to engage to buy that Rodgers farm with me but no answer.”