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The Life Of George Holcomb – Visits With The Shakers

February 14, 2014 By eastwickpress

Monday, July 5, 1830: We began to hay. I mowed. Asa Shelden began to work for me by the month to pay his rent as is before agreed to work every other week.

Tuesday: Today I am unwell with the disentery.  I worked some at the hay towards night, said Shelden continues at haying.  Today a load of Shakers men and women called and put their horses in our pasture and gathered Elder Blows.  They fetched their dinner and we made them tea. Amongst them was cousin Adanilla Potter.  She made a present to my wife a cotton handkerchief and a present of a sauce basket for my daughter Charlotte.

Sunday, July 25, 1830: We rode over to Doc Elijah Graves with my son Geo P, but said Graves was not to home.  We returned and towards night we rode to Lebanon to Doc Right’s with my boy.  He ordered us to puke and then phisic the boy.  He said the complaint was on the lungs and bowels.  Tonight we puke the boy and I am up from my rest.

Tuesday: This forenoon I mowed and then I took the single wagon and my wife and I rode to Lebanon to Doc Right’s with our son Geo P and got some medicine for him.  I called to Elem Tilden’s store and paid six cents for Jesuit’s Bark for Mother Holcomb and I paid one cent for liquorish ball for my sick boy.  This afternoon we drew in hay on my Rodgers Farm that we cut last week.

Thursday: I mowed and the boys hoed corn.  Tonight I rode over after brother Sylvester to come and reap spring rye.  I called to I. Newton’s.  Aseneth is sick with a fever.  Today Mr. Waner Merrels buried a daughter about eight years old, the complaint water in the chest.

Monday, August 2: We hayed and pulled flax and today Mr. Asa Sheldon works with us.  It is his week to work to make out his month to pay his rent.

Tuesday: We hayed and said Asa with us and brother Sylvester reaped spring rye for us towards his rent.

Thursday: This afternoon I went into my Rodgers swamp to look for my cattle that was missing.  I found part of them.  On this evening I rode over to brother Sylvester’s to see if my young cattle had come.  They had.

Saturday, Aug. 7: Today my wife went with the single wagon to the Shakers and carried the two hind quarters of veal, 42 pounds at 3½ cents per and hide 9½ pounds at ten cents per pound and said Munson credits the same to my account.  My wife stayed the day and made my cousin Potter girls a visit.  Charlotte and Angeline went and the cousin Shaker Potter girls made them some small presents.

Monday: On this evening brother Sylvester came and told me my cattle had broken out of the pasture, and I rode over and he helped me get them back into my lot.  We found them in the highway.

Filed Under: George Holcomb

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