The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

George Holcomb

A Mistake Counting Money

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Saturday, July 13, 1839: This forenoon I walked to Lebanon. I called to N. Nichols Store and got trusted for a pitchfork, 50 cts, and I called to Edwin Griggs store and bargained with him to fetch a load from Troy. He sent one hundred and thirty two dollars to pay up old bills and to purchase goods and he sent an order for flour to Grant and Harringtons and I returned home, some rainy. I cleaned my harness and wagons.

Monday: Today Old Edward Carr called and paid to my wife six dol and 43 cts which he thinks pay up the back rent on my Rodgers farm what he calls his share.

Tuesday: Today I took my team and carried brother John Twichel to Troy and his baggage. There I left him at the York House to go on to Pittstown to his wife at Ira Humphrey’s. Today or towards night I tended to getting a load to fetch in for Edwin Griggs. I in the first place paid to Harrington’s and Company sixty three dollars and then I paid to Hunter’s and Co fifty dollars. I then presented an order from said Griggs to Herrington for flour and I got seven barrels, price was six dol and 25 cts per. I then opened a paper that had money that said Griggs sent to buy Sundry articles. I soon discovered that there was not as much money in to two dollars as was marked on said wrapper. I found only seventeen dollars. I paid 37 cts for primers for Angeline to give her scholars. I got out of Troy at dark and I came on to Knight’s Tavern and stayed tonight.

Wedesday: I came on to Lebanon to Edwin Griggs Store and unloaded. I handed him nine dollars and told him to charge me eighteen cts that was his change due to him on the case I carried to purchase articles, and I told him I did not find as much cash by two dol as I expected by the mark, but said Griggs is positive he did not make any mistake in said money in counting and we both left it to consider where the mistake is. I got home about sundown.

Tuesday August 6: This afternoon Augustus Rollo and Humphrey Broadway hogs got into my oats and potatoes on my Rodgers farm and I drove them home and put them into my stable, 14 in number and sent my son Geo P to notify said Rollo and said Broadway came tonight and drove said hogs home but did not pay me for the damage nor trouble.

George Engages As A Teamster

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Wednesday June 19, 1839: Today brother Wylie did a trifling smith work to my wagon. Today we reckoned and I took up the three hundred dollars note and gave a new note dated back to the 20th March. I paid fifty three cts cash and reckoned one cheese and a half which pays up the interest to the date of said note. Today brother Wylie went with us to view the rail road where they were building said road and about three this afternoon I and my wife started for home. On the way home I called at Lebanon to Edwin Griggs and he handed me sixty four dollars to buy him a load of flour and some other small articles in Troy.

Thursday: Today I went to Troy for said Griggs. I got into Troy at four o’clock. I bought eight barrels of flour at six dollars and 75 cts per barrel. I called to The Budget office and paid for the Budget paper, from Feb 13 1839 to Feb 13 1840, which was one dol and 50 cts and I called to the County Treasury and got my pay for being on the Petty Jury a year ago last March. I got for five days service and travelling fees three dol and 63 cts.

Saturday, June 22, 1839: Today some rainy. We pounded out corn and made a pig pen and towards night I walked up on to what is called West Hill in Lebanon at the school house to hear Wilcox preach, but he did not come and there was no meeting. I walked over to Capt Spencer Carr’s to see if he would tend to settling the rent for his father to the Patroon’s. He agreed to call to my house next week and go with me to his father’s and settle it.

Wednesday: I plowed out corn and my boys hoed a half hilling and Stephen Wheeler helped us hoe which pays up for his last week’s board. Today Mr. Nichols sent the cash to me by Mr. John Russel for to fetch him a load of flour and liquor from Albany. He sent one hundred and four dollars.

An Injury From Spring Plowing

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Thursday, April 4, 1839: I plowed corn hills. Today my plow hitched to a fast stone and the plow handle struck partly in my side and then I stumbled and hurt my back.

Friday: Today I was quite lame with my side and back.

Monday: Today I remain quite unwell with my back and side and I took physic, but this afternoon we plowed corn hills and this afternoon Stephen Van Rensselaer Wheeler came to board with me and work at shoe making and agrees to work two days out of each week to pay for his board.

Tuesday: This afternoon I took the single wagon and rode up to Birt’s tavern and was qualified with the other three assessors for that office and I paid three cents for bitters. Today said Stephen Wheeler mended my harness and mended shoes for me.

Wednesday: Today I walked to John Smith near the pool to see Mrs. Sophia Crocker if she had sold the shoe maker tools that her husband left, but she had sold them.

Thursday: I took my covered wagon and carried my wife and two oldest daughters to the Union Meeting house near Alps on the line of this town. Mr. Wilcox the Universalist minister was married to the daughter of Juni Chittendon, her name is Sarah.

Saturday: I walked to Hancock to Mr. Amos Delanie’s and hired a watch for this season for my daughter Angeline to keep the time in school, and I called to old Deacon Edward Carr’s to have him come and pay up the back rent I paid for his daughter to Stephen Van Rensselaer’s office. I called to Hiram Brown’s and helped elect Elijah Graves as a trustee for Old Stephentown to draw towns money.