The Life Of George Holcomb – A Division of Property Agreement – Called Off

Wednesday, April 4, 1827:  Today the arbitrators came on, Adam Brown, Solomon Carpenter, and John Russell, and they proposed to Wm and me for one to buy the other out, and I proposed to Wm to set a price and I would agree to take it or let him likewise.  He did by holding a council with these three arbitrators.  Their judgement agreed to a dollar, and Wm’s was fifty dollars higher, and the price was nine hundred and fifty dollars for the one to pay the other that went away, one year from this date, and the one that stayed to have all of Mother’s furniture such as stove, brass or iron kettle, and whatever likewise Mother’s two cows and so forth at her decease, and I agreed to take said farm together with the encumbrances, but Wm is to improve one half for this year and support Mother for this year, one half, and I now take Samuel we signed notes of two hundred dol to each other if either give back to forfeit the same.  On this evening I called down to Wm Bailey’s according as brother Wm directed as his business is to give me a deed and get said Bailey to do the writings, moreover Wm is to lease me the ground that the house stands on that Wm lives and the platform in front as long as the house stands.
Monday, April 9: Today we began to plow stalk ground.  Wm and I do not divide, we manage our home farm together, each one to do half of the work for this year and each one to do his equal part in providing for our mother, and Samuel comes now into my hands as is agreed on the 4th of the present month.  Today Gideon Barnhart came to buy our young oxen and today Mr. Rowland Danford moves from Wm’s house to Lebanon.  Tonight Samuel drove our young oxen home from my Rodgers farm so that we could have a chance for Barnhart to see them if he wants to buy.  Today sister Eleanor began to help us do our work, for my wife is quite unwell.