The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

The Life Of George Holcomb – Some Sharp Trading

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Wednesday Nov. 26, 1828: This morning at one o’clock I started for Troy with nearly a barrel of apple sauce and 12 bushel of apples and Nathaniel Wylie with me.  This morning at eight o’clock near the gate in Sand Lake, One of my hind wagon wheels broke every spoke from the fellow and then I got Mr. Henry Withees wagon and took on my load and went to Troy.  I sold nearly out.
Friday: Today we came home, and this morning I borrowed sixty dollars of Rufus Withy and gave a note on demand.  We got home about sunset.  The roads were so bad that I had not any gateage.
Wednesday I took the wagon and carried Samuel Holcomb ten bushels of potatoes at 25 cts per and got my wagon wheel that I left the other day to be repaired.  I carried my wife to said Samuel’s on a visit.  While his apprentice was finishing the wheel and my wife was visiting, I walked to Hancock Village and paid up the account that Gregory and Hadsell had against myself and brother Wm is to pay one half.  It was a debt before we desolved partnership, the amount 3 dol and 64 cents.
Thursday, December 4: Today I took the wagon and carried my wife and family to the Presbyterian meeting house to hear Mr. Beech preach a Thanksgiving sermon that was proclamated by Lieutenant Governor Pitchor.
Monday, Dec. 8: Today I took the wagon and went to Adam Brown’s and got 12 bushels of apples and paid one dol and 91 cts for them, and today I paid 7 dol and 62 cts which was my taxes, and I chopped up wood to the school house.
Tuesday: Today I started for Troy with 16 bushels of apples.  I carried brother Sylvester’s wife and my wagon wheel that I got repaired.  We got to Sand Lake to Henry Withees and exchanged wagons.  He did not charge anything for his wagon, and I put my load on to my wagon.  It was nearly night and we stayed all night to said Withees.
Wednesday: Today we went into Troy.  I left sister Betsey to her cousin Fuller’s.  I sold my apples nearly all to the cotton factory.  I sold 3/4 of them at 37 cts and 1/4 at 50 cts per.
Much of December and January were taken up with chopping wood and hauling wood.
Monday, January 26: I sledded wood from my Rodgers Farm with my ox team.  This evening I went to Adam Brown’s and engaged apples for market.
Tuesday: We opened an apple hole and took out eight bushels and a half and washed them.  I went round to Adam Brown’s and bought five bushels of apples and paid 37 cts per.  Tonight a snow.
Wednesday: I loaded apples and cider for market.
Thursday: This morning at one o’clock I started for Troy with the double sleigh with one barrel of cider and 13 bushels of apples, and ten gallons of applesauce.  I sold my apples before I got to Troy for 59 cts per and the sauce for 25 cts per gal.  I went into Troy but I could not sell my cider.