by Alex Brooks
In the last episode, Holcomb’s first-born son, less than a year old, had taken ill. The last entry was in mid-July of 1820. There is then a period of two months in which Holcomb does not say anything about his baby being ill. He talks about buying cap-ribbon and shoelaces for the boy. Whether the illness went away or just subsided a bit is impossible to tell, but Holcomb is not writing about any illness in his baby. In early September he even takes the baby on a trip up to Fort Edward to visit relatives.
September 25, Monday: This night my son Geo Jay appears restless and feverly and a swelling on his eye and has been swolled for a number of days.
Tuesday: This night my little son George Jay was quite restless and had a fever, but we thought only a cold.
Wednesday: This morning I rode to Lebanon after Doctor Stephen Hall to come and doctor my son Geo Jay. He came and said his case was dangerous, without immediate relief, for he thought the inflammatory disease had taken place in the head, for the eye and above the eye being swollen. This night we took but little rest. The child appeared to be in distress some part of the time. Sister Eleanor sat up nearly all night, and we were up all night.
Thursday: This morning Dr. Hall called, and he had some hopes of better, not so high a fever this morning….I called to Hancock Village and paid six cents for a cake for my son, but he could not eat any of it. This evening Wm went after Dr. Hall, and he came and stayed all night and doctored the child. We got but little rest tonight.
Friday: This day my son Geo Jay lies quite stupid, only spells of spasms and a burning fever, a-lapping his tongue and craving drink.
The doctor left with some hope that the child would recover, but Holcomb sent for him again. When they could not find Dr. Hall, they sent for Dr. Graves and Dr. Right – “then daybreak and now we have a council of three doctors and their skill is tried…but all to no purposs.”
Sept. 30, Saturday: This morning Dr. Hall adopted and tried one more effort for relief, but to no purposs. He applied a warm bath. It at first seemed to ease the pains and keep off the spasms. The bath was applied from about six in the morning until nearly the middle of the day, and then all hopes was gone. The child appeared to be in pangs of distress by turns until about two o’clock when it breathed out its last breath seemingly with ease, like a person agoing to sleep without a struggle. Dear child drew its last breath while we all in tears awaiting to see the last, to relieve the little distressed body from the pangs of this world, and now he sleeps in eternal happiness above.
Oct. 1, Sunday: Today the funeral of my son George Jay was attended to our house, with quite an audience of people.
Monday: Today I did but little.