George Holcomb

Tuesday, July 14, 1835: Today brother Sylvester came to shingle over the front roof to my house and I helped make stagings and tore off old shingles. Today my wife called to Platt’s store and had ten pounds shingle nails charged. [Read more…] about Shingling The House

Friday, June 19, 1835: Today Peter Surdam used my horse and wagon and then my horse, his wife was quite sick. Tonight a hard rain and a high water which did much damage. today Miss Clark our school teacher began to board with us.

Monday: Today Mr. Lot Swan put Mr. Simon Cranston’s horse stud to my two mares and the bargain is if they have colts I am to pay one dollar a colt, and if no colt, nothing to pay.

Tuesday: I worked on the highway with my team and plow. Today Mr. James Adams Jnr fetched his wife here on a visit and he went to the Shakers to mill. When he returned he took tea with my family. I was on the highway.

Saturday June 27: Today my wife took the wagon and rode to Hancock and Betsey Ham with her. My wife carried about eight pounds butter to Wm Hadsell’s store and traded it and she went to  Wm Lapum’s and had a bottle of blacking charged 17 cts and a peck of lime charged to Charles Taylor’s, ten cts, and then she carried cousin Betsey to Squ Sylvester Howard’s and left her and then came to HL Platt’s mill and got our grist of rye that I sent by Peter Surdam last week on Friday and was ground that day, before the dam broke in the freshet at night.

Monday: We kept an essence peddler, we charged him 25 cts for it was agreed on.

Saturday, July 4: Today I went to the celebration of Independence on Pool Hill in Lebanon at Joseph Lord’s, an oration by Mr. Bush from Lenox at the Baptist meeting house and a prayer by Elder Lands and the Declaration of Independence read by young Doc King. I went with my covered wagon and carried my children, all but George P and Sarah. I put my team into Mr. Clark’s stable and paid six cts and I paid four cts at his bar for drink and I paid three cts at Wm Gay’s bar for drink and I paid fifty cts at said Lord’s for my dinner and I gave fifty cts for powder and I handed Lee Chapman fifty cts to buy cake for my children. Today a hard shower and hail that did damage in some places.

Thursday, June 12, 1835: Today brother J. Wylie and wife was to my house. They came home with my wife and brother Twichel. They went to the widow Sister Betsey Wylie’s and brother Simeon Wylie. They divided the furniture and clothing of the deceased Mother Spring’s into eight shares.
The cow and sheep were not divided. Platt Wylie held them together with eight hundred dollars cash and I hoed in the garden and potatoes. Towards night I went with my wagon and got my wife’s share, which consisted of a string of gold beads, and bedding and clothing.

Saturday, June 13: Some showery. I laid over a wall to my cellar door and laid over wall in the front of my house. I am 44 years of age.

Monday: In the morning I took my wagon and went for brother Twichel to Platt Wylie’s after sister Clemmons and sister Morton’s furniture and fetched it to my house and stored it.  We made a swap with brother Twichel. He let us have sister Clemmon’s old desk and my wife gave up the silk dress that was her mother’s in exchange, and I do agree to deliver said Clemmon’s and Morton’s goods to Troy by the first Sept next, and today I took my covered wagon and carried brother Twichel and wife to Canaan to cousin Calvin Carr’s. From there they were going to Connecticut, my wife went with me.

Tuesday: Asa Sheldon came and sheered my sheep, which pays me up for the use of my team two days last winter. Said Asa tagged and washed said sheep which was included in said bargain for my team and I gave him twelve cts to buy some brandy. Tonight I rode to Hancock and carried nine pounds butter. I called to Mr. Jedediah Breers and got my broad cloth coat that he has made for me, price four dol and fifty cts.

A New Suit And A Visit To The Shakers

Saturday, June 6, 1835: I took my wagon and horses and carried brother Twichel and wife and my wife to the Shakers on a visit and brother Simeon Wylie  and wife went to said Shakers with us and returned home with us and took tea.  We took dinner to the Shakers, we went into their machines and gardens.  Today Hiram Newton worked half a day for me with my team and plow on the highway.

Sunday: Today I took my single wagon and carried brother John Twichel to the Shakers to meeting.

Monday: I rode to Hosey Brown’s store and got trusted to the amount of six dol and 29 cts a black velvet vest which was 88 cts and black cambrick lining and six yds bleached shirting at 1/6 per. Then I rode up to Hancock village to the tailor’s Mr Breers and left my vest pattern to be cut out. Today brother Twichel took my horse and wagon and carried my wife and his wife to brother Simeon’s on a visit and lamed my horse by tying a rope to bate him and got his foot hung and galled it.

Tuesday: Today brother Twichel took my span of old horses and carried his wife and my wife to Pittsfield to brother F. Jay Wylie’s on a visit. This evening at nine o’clock I started for Troy and Mr. R. Danford went with me. My loading was one hundred and a half of skim cheese and 3½ bushel oat. We traveled all night in the morning.

Wednesday: This morning we stopped to Knight’s Tavern at the Troy factorys and had tea and bitters nine cts, and then we went into Troy.  I sold my cheese to Henry Herrick for six dollars and I bought of him one barrel of flour, and three bushel salt, two pounds sugar and half pound tea. Eleanor sent 50 cts and I bought her six pounds tobacco. We came out of Troy about three o’clock and came to Sand Lake to Henry Withees and took tea, and then we came home. We got home at midnight.

Friday, May 15, 1835: I tended to hampering or blinding a cow with a board before her eyes for she was unruly. The cow was one that I swapped for with Mr. Abraham. I carried my wife on a wheelbarrow to the widow Wylie’s on a visit, and fetched her home the same way at night.

Saturday: I beat manure and mended fence, but quite rainy. Today I sent my daughter Angeline to Mr. Hiram Mattison with the 45 dollars, which pays him for teaching our school 4½ months last winter.

Sunday: I took my wife into the wagon and rode with her. We went to cousin Jessa Egleston’s and took dinner. On the way we called to Asa Sheldon’s and told him that if his sister Hester wanted to come and make our cheese this summer he must send her word for she had been to our house three times this spring to have us hire her to make our cheese.

Friday, May 22: Tonight I rode to Hancock. I carried a piece of broadcloth and left with Mr. Jedediah Breer for him to cut me a coat and trouser and to make the coat and I do agree to pay him four dollars and 59 cts in team work.

Sunday: I went over to my Rodgers farm to see brother Sylvester for he was quite unwell. On the way home I called to Zach Chapman’s and paid 12 cts for one more runnet.

Friday: I planted potatoes. I borrowed two quarts peas and two quarts beans of Mr. R. Danford and I planted peas. Some rainy. I went to my Rodgers farm and came home with my horses.

Saturday: I went and drew four loads timber and boards for Mr. Jedediah Breer from Mr. Scranton Sweet’s sawmill, measuring nearly twenty two hundred feet, price not agreed on for drawing said loads but he credits me on account for laboring.

Thursday: Today Mr. John Twichel and wife came to town from Cincinnatti.

Friday: I worked on the highway this forenoon and this afternoon rainy. I laid up rail fence. I went to the highway this afternoon and the rain stopped. I only had one and a half day credit me for myself and team and plow. Today brother Twichel and wife got to our house.

Sunday, April 26, 1835: Today Doctor Right came and he encourages to the amending of my wife’s health.

Tuesday: It was quite stormy with snow rain and a hard wind. It blew down fences. Today Mr. Lyman Kingman summoned me and my son Geo P to appear before Squ Strait on Monday next at nine in the morning on a case of tresspass, as he calls it, in favor of Henry Ostrander pretending that I dogged his hog and killed it.

Thursday: I ride up to Squ Nathan Howard’s and counciled with him concerning my suit with Ostrander and he has agreed to answer to my name on Monday to C. Moffitt’s and manage for me and I do agree to pay him fifty cts and if any more service or carry the suit through I am to pay one dol and 50 cts more.

Thursday: Today I collected the school tax of several in the district. My wife’s health does seem to be on a mend but quite a hard cough attend her.

Saturday: Today I went with my wagon and moved Peter Surdam into my house where Henry Ostrander moved from, and for moving him he agrees to pay me in work and to begin the second week in July and to work every other week.

Sunday: Today I took my wagon and rode up to Squ Nathan Howard’s and paid 12 cts for one pound honey for my wife a syrup.

Monday: Today Squ Nathan Howard ans to my suit in defence of Henry Ostrander concerning his hog drinking my brine I poured on the ground. He adjourned to the 13th of the month.

Wednesday: On this evening Hiram Newton rode up to Squ Nathan Howard’s and got me a line concerning my suit with Mr. Ostrander.

Sunday: I walked over to John Sackett and his son Ezra went with me and got some slippery elm for my wife. Towards night I rode up to Squ Nathan Howard’s to council with him concerning my suit with Henry Ostrander and I took my papers out of the post office. Tonight Eliza Wylie came to make our cheese this summer at one dol per. Wednesday: This forenoon I took my team and helped Peter Surdam draw apple brush from my orchard. This afternoon I took my wagon and rode over to Claudius Moffitt’s to defend case in a suit that Henry Ostrander sued me for tresspass on a hog. It did not come to a trial. We left it to arbitrators Squ Nathan Howard and Christopher Clifford.  They brought in that I should pay the Squires fees which was fifty cts and the Constable’s fees which was 62 cts and pay said Ostrander four dollars and that should settle the whole concern of the hog. I paid said Ostrander two dollars cash and told him that when he came and reckoned with me the other two dollars could come into the account, and I paid said Howard fifty cts for his tending to suit and I paid 12 cts for one pint brandy to treat with. Peter Surdam rode over with me for did expect him to be a witness for he see the hog drinking the brine. This morning Doctor Right youngest son died.

Tuesday, April 21, 1835: I rode up to Sylvester Howard’s to get the school money but he was not to home. I rode up to Caleb Gardner’s in hopes to see said Howard but did not see him. He had gone to help look for Mr. Langford Green who had gone off in the night and not to be found.  From there I rode to John Lee’s to see Mr. Peter Surdam and to know if he is depending to hire my house, he was not to home. I left word with his wife to come immediately and see me.  On the way home I called to the post office and took out a letter for sister Eleanor from sister Lucretia but did not pay the postage which was 12 cts because they could not make change.

Wednesday: Today Peter Surdam came and trimmed apple trees for the wood and tonight he stayed with me. Today Mr. Henry Ostrander’s hog came into my door yard and ate salt and drank brine and whey and I drove the hog about 40 rods with my dog and the hog lay down and died.  We searched the hog and found no bruise nor hurt. One ear was marked a little but not to any damage.

Thursday: This forenoon I drew a load of slate stone off the hill and laid a new hearth in my house where Mr. Henry Ostrander lived last year.

Friday: This forenoon I went and helped Mr. Rowland Danford take down the old Landers house and this afternoon I sowed and harrowed rye in my south meadow.

Saturday: Today quite a snow storm. I had five lambs and one died. He froze. My wife is on a mend or rather gaining her health.

Friday, April 10, 1835: I plowed sward. Today Doctor Right came to doctor my wife. She was taken while I was gone to Troy and the doctor called.

Sunday: Today Doctor Right came as well as every day to attend to my wife. She has a run of fever. Towards night I took the wagon and fetched Harriet Chapman to work for us this season. Tonight Charlotte Pierce watched with my wife.

Monday: I rode over to Sylvester Carpenter’s the second and paid him for a cow that I bought of him a few days past. The price agreed on was twenty-three dollars, but he took off one dollar on the account of one of the tits failing.

Wednesday: I plowed sward and finished plowing my corn ground. Said doctor continues to come to my wife, her fever does not abate.

Thursday: I cut straw, snowy and in the afternoon I drew a load stone on to my Rodgers farm and drew rails, I moved a meadow fence. Brother Sylvester’s wife rode home with me and watched with my wife tonight. Said Doctor Right attended to my wife as usual, fever still continues to rage.

Friday: Today Kent Harrison came and bargained for eight calves which was all I had on hand. He agreed to pay me two dollars and fifty cts per head and eight runnets for the whole.  He took four of said calves and paid ten dollars, and told me he would take two more calves the fore part of the week and take the other two when they were four weeks old and he would fetch the eight runnets as soon as it was convenient. Today Doctor Right came and tended to my wife, her fever continues, today quite cold for the time year. Deborah Wylie watched with my wife.

Saturday: I drew out manure on to my garden. Said Doctor Right came and tended to my wife, her fever has abated a little.

Sunday: Towards night Kent Harrison came and took two more calves and paid me five dollars but said he could not get any of the runnets conveniently, yet.

Monday: I walked to Lebanon. I went to N. Nichols store and paid 19 cts for a pint of wine, and I called to Ludwicks Babcock’s tavern and paid six cts for six sugar cakes and I paid two cts for a lemon to Joseph Lord’s tavern, these things for my wife, she is getting better.

Thursday, April 2, 1835: This forenoon I shoveled out the hog pen and I paid 39 cts cash to an Indian for bottoming three chairs and my wife gave them some victuals and apples for bottoming one chair.  This afternoon I walked up to Simon Cranston’s to meet a committee to make out a nomination for town meeting. We made choice of Rufus Rose for Supervisor and Hosea Brown Town Clerk and Christopher Clifford for Justice and others, I do not mention. Simon Cranston paid me one dol for taking care of Old Mr. Simpson when he was a town pauper. Saturday: I drew stone and this afternoon I carried a load stone on to my Rodgers farm and then I went to Hancock with one hundred and 61 lbs of old castings to Wm Lapum’s and he credit me One dol and 63 cts.  Mr. Amos Chapman rode with me. I through a mistake broke his bottle brandy and I gave him twelve cts to buy more.

Sunday: High wind and rainy. Tuesday: Some rainy. I walked to town meeting at Capt. Abner Bull’s. The Jackson ticket had a small majority. Two Jackson men ran for Justice peace, straight run on the Whig and got a mull(?) majority of 70 more than Clifford.

Wednesday: Today I went to Troy with a load of seven calves. I got to Troy about seven this evening and stayed to Squ. Nicholas Harrington’s. I took my calves out the wagon and untied them and put them in a yard.

Thursday: This morning I took three of my calves to the market that was the smallest and sold them at three dol a head and I got three runnits to boot. I then returned to the tavern and got the other four calves and sold them for 16 dol and two runnits, and I paid 50 cts for four runnets more, and I paid three dol and 50 cts for half a barrel mackerel. I then returned to said Nicholas Harrington’s and ate some of victuals and took some spirits to drink, and I treated the hostler twice and my bill was 31 cts.  I started at ten o’clock for home. I got stuck in the mud near Mr. Chittendon’s and got help and got out, roads bad, I got home at ten this evening.

Friday: I went with both teams and drew two loads stone for brother Sylvester. He had a bee and had fifteen loads carried that came out the chimney of the old house that he bought of E. Pierce, and then we went on to my Rodgers Farm with both teams and got two saw logs and carried to E. Goodrich mill.  My son Geo P. drove one team. Towards night I went over after my wife to brother Newton. He remains quite low and helpless.

Saturday: I tended to chores and chopped wood, quite warm day. Tonight I am quite unwell with a relax.

Sunday a snow storm and high wind.  On this evening Sylvenas Carpenter the son of Solomon Carpenter deceased sent the cow to me this evening by Henry Ostrander that I bargained for on Friday last. I agreed to pay twenty-three dollars providing there is no deficiency.

Wednesday, March 25: This forenoon I took my sleigh and moved a load of goods that consisted of a bureau and chest and clock for Mr. Amos Chapman into my Rodgers house. Today Mr. Hiram Mattison school was out and he brought his sister Minerva and took dinner with us.

Saturday: I tended to my chores, chopped some to the door, and I walked over to Wm Brown’s store to choose committee to nominate town officers. They made choice of me for one of the five to meet the other fifteen on Thursday next. I paid three cts for candy for my children to said Wm Brown’s store.