The Life Of George Holcomb – Father Is Very Ill

Monday, March 1, 1824: This morning about 1 o’clock Father waked me and sent me after Wm and he came and father set him to read his will. He likewise did and Father told Wm in the morning he must go after Wm Bailey, for he wants to make some alterations and this forenoon Wm went and got Mr. Bailey, and he came and drew a will according to Father’s directions. Today we chopped to the door and tended to chores. Father is getting quite unwell.
Today Mr. Rowland Danford’s horse ran way with him and he jumped out of his wagon and the horse ran from Mr. John Russel’s to Capt. Hunter’s and broke the wagon to pieces. I followed down as far as Mr. Booges by the time that the horses were stopped by Mr. Wm Bailey and Brother Wm.
Tuesday, March 2, 1824: We chopped saw logs rail timber and wood in my swamp and drew out. Tonight Father is quite distressed and we are awake with him a good part of the night.
Wednesday: This morning I walked over after Doctor Graves and he came and bled Father, and he was some easy, and he bled my wife. This afternoon I loaded up a load of cider and apples for market.
Thursday: Today I went to Troy. I carried three barrels and a quarter of cider and sold it for four dol and 82 cents, and about ten bushels of apples. Tonight I stayed to a private house on the hill. Just before I got into the city to one Mr. Merchant’s. My expenses for lodging and horse stable and tea, twice I gave three pecks of apples, price 38 cts.
Friday: This morning I finished selling out my load…I got home about ten o’clock and I found Father very sick, and Wm had got Doctor Right and bled father about eleven this evening. Tonight Mr. John Russel and Rowland Danford watched. Father fell on his breast on to a chair pummel last night and bruised him very much. Tonight I took but little rest.
Saturday: Today Uncle Josiah Holcomb came to see father and Cousin Jess Eggleston’s wife and his mother, all on account of Father’s being so very sick. Today Dr. Graves called twice and a number of the neighbors came in. He is in great distress by turns. Mr. Newton and wife came here to see father and she stayed all night. Tonight Mr. Ephraim Pierce and Joshua Phillips watched.
Sunday: Today I tended up on Father. He is not in so much distress, only by spells.
Monday: I tended to Father. I sent 12 cents to H. Platt’s store and got it in gin for Father.
Tuesday and Wednesday continued much the same, with Holcomb doing not much but tending to his father, his fathers’condition much the same but growing weaker, and new people coming to watch with him each night.