The Life Of George Holcomb – Lucrative Days Peddling Cider & Cake

Monday, October 1, 1827: Today I took the single wagon and went to Canaan peddling cake and cider. I cleared five dollars.
Tuesday: I went peddling cake and cider and pies at Brainard’s Bridge. I cleared about seven dol.
Wednesday: Today I went to Pittsfield to cattle show peddling.  I carried four dollars worth of Whitings and Rosses cake from Greenbush and two dollars 12 cents worth of J. Bull’s of Lebanon, and sold out and 20 gal of cider.  I cleared eight dollars.
Thursday I returned to Pittsfield peddling with a chest of Bull’s cake and half a barrel of cider.  I sold out.  I cleared about nine dollars today.
Thursday, October 11: Carted two loads of cider to H. Platt’s still, six casks each.  I got two gal of cider brandy towards my brandy that I am having stilled.  Tonight I went to our annual school meeting.
Saturday, October 13: We gathered apples.  Tonight we ground apples for cider.  I paid my school bill to brother Wm, as he is one of the trustees.  My schooling for this summer for two children is one dol and fifty two cts.
Saturday, October 20: Today I took the single wagon and carried my wife’s sister Hannah Twichel to Troy and got a passage for her on a Canal boat.  She is to pay one cent per.  I crossed over into West Troy to see Mr. James Landon about his paying me up a note which was the remainder for a pair of fat cattle, but he was not at home, and I was informed by his neighbors that he was broke down and stopped business.  I returned into Troy and left said note with the City Collector Mr. Wilson. I stayed tonight to a tavern opposite Price’s tavern
Sunday, October 21: This morning I paid my bill was 19 cts, and today I came home.  My gate fee was 29 cts and my bill was ten cts for wine going and I paid 3 cts for cider to Woodward’s and I fetched home with me a 14 year old by the name of Hosnocker, and if both parties is suited, I keep her this winter and school her only enough to have her living.
Tuesday: Today I took the wagon and my wife and I went to the Shakers, went there and asked them to give Mrs. Polly Hasket some things to keep house with.  We consider the said Shakers is indebted to her for her work there all her days, but they would give her nothing, because they said Mr. Hasket had abused them.  Tonight we husked corn a spell.
Wednesday: We gathered apples and ground some apples this evening.
Thursday: We gathered some apples and we made cider, and this evening we made cider.