by Alex Brooks
In the last episode, George and his brother William (always referred to as Wm) were trying to come up with an equitable arrangement for dividing their property, which had become common property by years of the two of them working together on everything. Together they had worked the home farm passed down to them by their father, worked and improved a new farm which they had bought a few years before (referred to as the Rodgers farm), and built a still and a blacksmith shop. Their first agreement gave the Rodgers farm and the still to George and the blacksmith shop to Wm, but did not deal with dividing the home farm. They drew up a written agreement and they both signed, but Wm then went to Hoosick to consult with his father in law Mr. Barnhart about the division of property. It starts to become evident that this is going to be a difficult and protracted negotiation.
Wednesday, March 28: On this day Wm took our sorrel mare and rode to Hoosic. He went to ask advice of his Father Barnhart concerning we dividing.
Thursday: Wm returned from Hoosic. He came home with the horse sick, and this evening he went to Lebanon and got Allen Spencer to come and doctor the horse. We tended to it until midnight.
Friday: We tended to doctoring said horse. Samuel Harrington called and contended for two dollars for the services of his horse last summer, the 20th of June – you can see the bargain. Now rather than to have a dispute I do agree to carry him two bushels of rye or corn which he agrees to take for his demands. Today Wm and I tryed to come to some agreement about dividing the remainder of our property, but we could not agree, but we agreed to leave it to Mr. Hazard Morey for the third man, and I choose Mr. John Russell, and he chose Mr. Solomon Carpenter. I called to see Mr. Morey and Mr. Russell and he called to see Mr. Carpenter. This afternoon I went over to my farm and salted our cattle.
Monday, April 2: This morning Wm and I met to agree on the terms of the dividing of our property by the men that we agreed on on Saturday, but he would not consent to Hazard Morey as was agreed on Saturday, and he chose Adam Brown in his place, and we agreed on Wednesday to divide our farm that father left. Today I called to Adam Brown’s and got two quarts of milk. Today Wm took the single wagon and carried Samuel Harrington two bushels of corn, which pays him for the use of his horse last June. Now we have fulfilled what we have agreed. I went to see Cousin Orsemas Holcomb. He is very sick and considered dangerous. They had a jury of doctors.
Tuesday, April 3. Today I took the single wagon and went to Lebanon to town meeting peddling Bull’s cake, and I carried about 12 gallons of cider. I sold the cake, nearly all of it for six cts per card. I cleared eight dol today.