The Life Of George Holcomb – Mid-Summer, 1822

Friday July 12, 1822: This forenoon continues a heavy rain which did a great deal of damage, carrying off bridges and fences and flooding meadows.
Saturday: We mended the fence, where the water washed it away, and then we went over to my farm and hoed potatoes and cut Canada Thistles and briars.
July 19, Friday: Today I started for Albany with a load of cider of five barrels. I called to Mr. Reuben Chapman’s and took tea. Today quite warm weather. I sold four barrels on the road, and this evening I got to Bath (Rensselaer). I did not go to bed, for the night was far spent.
20, Saturday: This morning I went into Albany. I sold the other barrel of cider and got one dol and 50 cts per. I carried near one bushel of dried apple, and sold them for 75 cents and got tobacco and sugar with it. I carried seven yards of carsey for Mother, and sold it for 1/ 6 pence per and bought five yards of calico at 1/10 pence per yard in exchange for the carsey. I bought two scythes, cost 2 dol 37 cts and two dollars worth of iron and steel and I paid 34 cents for 3½ pounds of sugar and 56 cts for one and a half gallons of molasses and 56 cts for one bushel of salt, only I turned in 3/4 of a bushel of oats at 37 cts per bushel towards said salt. I bought one paper of brad shoe nails.
I likewise called to Stephen Van Rensselaer’s office and paid up my last year’s rent, which was seven dollars and 23 cts, and took a receit from Robert Danber, and this afternoon started for home.  I called to John Coons and took tea, and old Mrs. Nolton came to Zach Chapman’s with me. We only got to old Mr. Joseph Enos tonight, for the rain detained us. I paid 3/6 for gate and ferry, no other expenses.
21, Sunday: This morning we rode home from Nassau before breakfast, from old Mr. Enos’. He did not charge us anything for expenses.
George works steadily in the fields for the next three weeks together with his brother and his tenant, and others. Then, an injury:
August 14, Wednesday: Today we worked at haying. Today at noon I was drawing the double wagon by hand down from the cider house into the road, and slipped down and fell, my side across the wagon tongue. It hurt me quite badly, but I kept on working, but I worked in pain.
Thursday: It is some rainy, and my side continues to be lame so that I do not work handy today. This afternoon I took the single wagon and rode over to my farm to Mr. Isaac Newton’s, and he agreed to come and help hay tomorrow. Hiram Spring rode with me.
Friday: We hayed. Mr. I. Newton helped. I did not mow. I stirred and raked for my side continues very lame.
His side continued lame until the end of August, and on top of that, there was an outbreak of dysentery in his family the next week, which at that time was a life-threatening illness.
Saturday, August 17, 1822:  Today Father and Mother took the single wagon and rode to Lebanon to Doctor Stephen Hall’s with my child Charlotte and got some medicine, for she has a relapse of dysentery and to ride with the child I sent four cents and got eight crackers for the child.