by Alex Brooks
In the last issue Holcomb struck a deal to buy a farm, which he calls the Rodgers Farm. In the two weeks following, he borrowed money from a good many people in anticipation of the closing day, May 1. This is where we pick up the story today.
May 1, Tuesday: This day I paid one hundred dollars in cash and one hundred and ninety-eight dol in neat cattle towards the Rodgers Farm, and a one-horse wagon fifty dollars, the interest money and the rest of the interest money is fifty five dol and seventy cents, and one half to be paid in blacksmithing when called for, and I am to find stock for small work and to work at cash price. The other half is to be paid in cash at the end of three years. The said Carrs did not give me the lease today because it was not acknowledged, but gave me a receit for what I paid them, refer back to the ninth day of April for the bargain. The persons that Spencer Carr and I chose to finish said stock and wagon he chose Squ Wm. Douglass and Capt Adam Brown and I choose Hazard Morey. They appraised the yoke of seven year-old oxen seventy two dol, and the other yoke of five year-old oxen fifty four dol, and they appraised the wooden axeltree wagon fifty dol. A new one, that cost me to build it rising of sixty dollars. The four cows we agreed at 18 dol per head, and now the cash that I owe said Carrs for said farm is 529 dol 85 cents, to be paid in five annual installments from this date without interest.
On this same day Wm moved Isaac Newton into my Rodgers house. He has the back kitchen, a privilege to put one bed in the south chamber and a privilege in the barn, one-half the fruit that belongs to me on the farm, and the old hemlock that lies down on the pasture for fire wood, and a quarter acre for a garden, and he agrees to pay one dol per month in his work.
May 3, Thursday: I sowed rye and then I took the wagon and the horses and took the plow in and Father and I went over to the Rodgers farm. I agreed with the widow Rodgers to plow and sow her thirds on shares. I agree to plow and sow and find one-half the seed, and harvest and get in to the barn and to have one-half of said crops.