The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

The Life Of George Holcomb – George’s Daughter Angeline Is Born

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June 13, 1823, Friday: We plastered corn and at night I rode over to H. Platt’s store and paid 1/9 pence for ¼ pound of wrought nails. Tonight kept an essence peddler from Northampton. His name I did not learn. This day I am 32 years of age.
June 16, Monday: In the middle of the day I rode after Doctor Graves to come and bleed my wife, but he was not to home and did not come.
June 17, Tuesday: We worked on the highway today. I took a single wagon and borrowed the scraper on Mr. J. B. Maxon’s district.
June 18, Wednesday: We worked on said highway. I returned said scraper to J. B. Maxon. We worked nearly one day with said scraper.
June 21, Saturday: I rode over and got Dr. Graves to come and bleed my wife, for she has the pleurisy in the side….I went to the Shakers and gave my note of five dollars and eleven cents for leather. I had 12 pounds of shoe leather at 28 cents per and half a side of upper leather one dol and 75 cts, which makes out the 5 dol 11 cts. I agreed to pay in bark if I could get it peeled. Some rain before I got home.
June 23, Monday: I hoed corn. This morning I rode over and got Doctor Graves to come and bleed my wife for the pleurisy in the side, and I borrowed Mr. Ephraim Pierce’s cheese press. This evening I rode over and had Doctor Graves come and stay all night, for my wife continues unwell.
July 1, Tuesday: Today Wm and I pealed hemlock bark in my swamp.
July 2, Wednesday: We drew out of the swamp the bark into a pile and drew the white oak bark off the hill. Tonight we kept a tin peddler. His name is Hugaboon. We bought a tin pail for his keeping and we owe him 12 cents he is to take in barter.
July 3, Thursday: Today Wm and I drew oak and hemlock bark to the Shakers. We went twice apiece with the double and single wagon.
July 4, Friday: Today Wm and I drew each a load of bark to the Shakers with the double and single wagons, which makes 85 feet of oak and 220 feet of Hemlock at three dollars per cord and oak at five dollars per cord. The whole amount eight dollar and 51 cts and I took a note of 5 dol and eleven cts and said Munson paid me the balance in cash the three dol and 40 cts.
July 7, Monday: I called to said Platt’s store and paid ten pence for a rubbing stone and my little girl Charlotte came with me and I paid one penny for her a handful of raisins.
July 12, Saturday: This morning I rode over to Dr. Graves. He came and this evening betwixt nine and ten o’clock I had a daughter born for my third child and the second daughter.