Geo P. Buys Christmas Turkeys
by George Holcomb • Transcribed by Betty McClave • Edited by Alex Brooks
Tuesday, November 7, 1848: Today I and my son Geo P. went to election to Zebulon Simmons and we voted the free soil Van Buren ticket. Today I paid Philander Hatch one dollar for the use of his oxen to draw stone and Mr. Crago paid me 50 cents for the two bushel of turnips he had of me the other day. John F. pulled turnips today. This evening I walked over to Manuel Buten’s and engaged him to husk corn for every twelfth one, the corn in my Rodgers barn.
Wednesday: I hewed a plate to an addition to the hog house and helped Geo P. work at the addition and John F. pulled turnips. Tonight quite a snow squall. Today said Buten came and gave up husking for he was lame.
Thursday: This morning I walked up and engaged Wm. Sheldon to husk for the same as Mr. Buten engaged. I paid Russel Palmer one dol cash and agreed to pay seven bushel of carrots for the potatoes I had of him in 1843.
Friday: Today it is quite freezing all day. I carried into the celler carrots from the cheese house and carried turnips and pumpkins from the cider house and I carried in cabbages from the garden into the celler. This morning my two sons started in pursuit to buy turkeys, they went with two horse team.
Saturday: I tended to chores and carried corn from the barn to the crib and tonight or nearly sunset my two sons returned home with 90 turkeys, they paid from 40 to 50 cents per head and bought them in Cheshire, and Geo P. paid in Lanesborough ninety dollars to Mr. Manchester for a pair of three year old oxen.
Sunday: Today quite a wind and snow. This evening Geo P. walked over to Kent Hadsell to know why he did not send for my pork as he had bargained at six dollars per hundred. He had no excuse, only he could not pay for it and he refused to take it.
Monday: I rode to Geo M. Glass factory and tried to engage my pork but could not. Today Geo P. worked on the hog house and John F. husked corn, and Mr. Macnaut husked eight baskets for one tenth.
Tuesday: Today my two sons drew manure with their young oxen that they bought on Saturday.
Wednesday: This afternoon I took my two horse wagon and carried ten bushels of carrots and one of turnips to Russel Palmer which pays him up for the potatoes he says I had of him to plant over the ground in 1843 and one dollar balance due to me and I took 56 cents worth fresh meat. Today Geo P. bought 32 turkeys of Hiram Newton, 15 dol 95.
Thursday: This afternoon Mr. Ralph Odal began to make shingle for us out of chestnut timber. He has agreed to help saw the timber and make and pack said shingle at 75 cents per thousand.