Getting A Swarm of Bees Home
by George Holcomb
• Transcribed by Betty McClave • Edited by Alex Brooks
Monday, March 22, 1841: Today I went to Squ Nathan Howard’s. I carried a cheese as was agreed on Saturday last, the said cheese weight 34 pounds, price eight cts per, and the remaining cash I paid one dol 28 cts which makes out the six dollars that I bargained for a swarm of young bees that he warranteed to live till a new season for making honey and these bees are my son Geo P’s that he pay me the cash five dol and 50 cts and then I bargained with said Howard for my self a swarm of bees for four dollars. I paid him cash in hand two dol and 12 cts and for the remainder I am to deliver him two bushels of corn and one bushel of onions and my two sons were with me when I got the bees and we fetched them on the pung and we drove slow and steady, the hives and we got them home without any injury.
Tuesday, March 30: We chopped and drew hard maple wood from my meadow and towards night I took my young oxen and went to Hiram Newton’s after my sled and fetched my daughters Angeline and Sarah home. They walked over to Hiram Newton’s to help them pack up their goods to move half a mile above Hancock Village to Mr. Eldridge farm to work on shares. Said Hiram Newton moves tomorrow.
Wednesday: Today Mr. Ephraim Pierce came and paid up for Fleetus Pierce’s board with me for fifteen weeks at one dollar per week, and paid me one dollar for the school teacher’s board and fuel while said Fleetus attended school while boarding with me, and I receited for 16 dollars to said Ephraim Pierce.