George Holcomb

Saturday, June 14, 1834: Today Doc Elijah Graves called and took tea with us and I bargained with him and he inoculated my five children for the kind pox for two doll that is if they have it I was inoculated and Sister Eleanor.

Sunday, June 22: Today I took my double wagon and carried my five children and Susan Wylie to the Shakers to meeting.

Monday: On this morning the widow of James Sweet deceased died of a lingering consumption Wednesday: I took my two horse team and carried my wife and daughter Charlotte and Eliza Wylie and Eunice Watson to the funeral of the widow Sweet. She was the daughter of Old deacon Green of Berlin. Elder Jones preached.

Saturday, June 28, 1834: today Mr. Ostrander hoed for me half a day and I agreed to pay him in cider and towards night I took single wagon and carried my wife to Lebanon. We carried 17 pounds of butter to Edwin A. Briggs store and traded it at 12 cts per pound, and I carried two small bundles of wool to the carding machine on pool hill and left to be carded.

Monday: today Mr. Hiram Thayer began his month work for house rent. Today we cut and drew an oak from the hill and I drew it to E. Goodrich mill and had it sawed into three inch plank and said Goodrich had one for sawing and I had two.  I called to the Morton Farm. Brother Wm was loading up goods to carry to Hoosic where he has moved to. I bought a long stail pitch fork of him and paid 25 cts and a tar bucket and paid 12 cts.

Thursday: Today I took my big double wagon to J.B. Maxon’s and had a new tongue ironed and a new tongue to my covered wagon ironed and a band put on a new block tongue and a plate on the geering, and for the whole work he charged one dol and 25 cts.

Friday, July 4: Today I took the covered wagon and carried my wife and Eliza Wylie to Pittsfield to brother F. Jay Wylie’s on a visit, but he nor his wife was at home. They were gone to Richmond. Then I carried sister Eleanor, she went with us to go to Lanesborough to visit Old Aunt Wheeler at one widow Smith’s. We found the old lady bedridden and helpless. She is 91 years of age, maintained by the town. We took a cup of coffee with said widow Smith and then my sister Eleanor returned with me to Pittsfield to brother Wylie’s where I had left my wife. We all then returned home. We came home by way of both Shaker Villages and got home at ten this evening.

Monday: This afternoon I put my horse to the widow Wylie’s wagon and rode to Lebanon after Doc Right for Platt Wylie, for he has the quinzy throat, very much swollen and painful. I called to the pool and got a bundle rolls that I had left the other day, the wool to be carded. Tonight I watched with Platt Wylie.

Monday, May 12, 1834: This forenoon I rode through the neighborhood to borrow money to pay for a cow that I had bought the other day of Josiah Humphrey. About noon I went to Solomon Carpenters and I borrowed twenty dollars and gave my note on demand and agreed to pay in fifteen days.  This afternoon my wife rode to Lebanon and carried Eunice Watson to let Hull and Bentley know that she would not come to work for them. On the way my wife lost her work pocket and contents.

Wednesday: I worked in the garden and drew out manure. Today my wife rode over to Josiah Humphrey’s and paid him the twenty five dollars for the cow I had of him the other day.  Tonight a severe snow storm, about two feet of snow, but melted fast.

Thursday: This forenoon the storm of snow continued and I was busy in taking care of my cattle and sheep and driving home some cattle from my Rodgers Farm. I lost only one lamb by means of the snow storm.

Saturday: This afternoon my wife rode to Lebanon and found her work pocket and contents that she lost on Monday. It was found near the Shakers’ Mill.

Monday: This morning I took my wagon and horses and fetched Minerva Mattison to teach our school at one dol per week.

Tuesday: This afternoon I went to a raising to J.B. Maxon’s raising a carriage barn and then I furrowed corn ground.

Friday: Today my wife rode over to Philander Carpenter’s and carried my note for twenty dollars but said Carpenter was not to home and my wife left said note with said Carpenter’s wife and left word to have him hand his Father the money and get up my note. My wife paid Mr. Solomon Carpenter the interest, which was five cts.

Thursday, May 29: I worked on the highway with my horse team and I had two days credited.

Friday: I worked on the highway with my horse team and plow and had three days credited.

Saturday: Today I planted over corn where the crows pulled, and this afternoon I took my wagon and horses and went to Caleb Joll’s to raising a cider house. Plat and Simeon Wylie rode with me. Today our hired girl that makes our dairy, Eunice Watson, went to Hancock for us, we sent thirteen pounds butter to Wm Hadsell Store and traded it for us excepting twenty five cts for her self, a belt ribbon.

Sunday, June 7: Today I went to the funeral of Lydia Goodrich, the wife of Justice Goodrich. I went with my double wagon and carried my family. The funeral was attended by Elder Jones at the Baptist meeting house by a large congregation.

Thursday, June 12: I hoed corn and I. Newton helped and I am to pay him in a pig.

Saturday: I hoed potatoes in the garden and set out some cabbages.

Tuesday, April 15, 1834: This afternoon I went with my horses and wagon and moved Mr. Henry Ostrander into my house.

Wednesday: This forenoon I finished plowing the gardens. On yesterday: brother Wm moves to Hoosic.

Friday: I walked up to the widow Jane Carpenter’s to buy cows, but could not buy any.

Sunday: On this evening at nine o’clock I started for Troy with a load of calves

Monday: this morning at 7 o’clock I got into Troy and sold my calves, six in number, at three dollars and fifty cts per head to Mr. Allen at the center market. I got home about twelve this evening.

Friday, April 25: This forenoon I went after a load of goods for Mr. Henry Ostrander and for the same charge him 75 cts on account and today I drew off stone and plowed sward land.

Saturday: I called to Abner Bull’s to engage Mrs. Sefrona Booge to teach our school, but she would not engage to keep school. This evening very dark and rainy. I called to Samuel Holcomb and stayed until the moon rose.

Sunday: Today quite a snow storm.

Tuesday: I took my wagon and young horses to Lebanon to engage Minerva Matison to teach our school, but she was not to home.

Thursday, May 1, 1834: (returning from Troy) I came home by way of Seamihorn village to go to Mr. Daniel Sanford’s after his daughter Sarah, but she was not to home, but her father told me she would be home the beginning of the week and ready to come with me to work for me as she agreed last winter.

Sunday: Today I took my wagon and horses and rode to the south west part of the town to Mr. Daniel Sanford’s after his daughter Sarah to come work for us as is before agreed, but she does not come.  I did not see her for she had gone to Schodack, what I was told, to be married.

Monday: This afternoon I took the wagon and horses and carried my wife to Ralph Rose’s on the Thomas G. Carpenter farm. We went there to hire Charlotte Brown, but we could not hire her. This afternoon a very hard rain and wind.

Tuesday: Today I took my horses and wagon and carried a grist of rye and corn to H. Platt’s mill and got ground. From there I went to Allen Main’s and engaged Unice Matson to come and make our cheese and help wash and spin and weave, at one dol per week and to go after her on Thursday. From there I went to Hancock and carried ten pounds of butter to Wm Lapum’s store and traded it at 12 cts per. I bought one pound gun powder, tea, and twelve cts worth coffee.

Thursday: Today my wife went after Eunice Watson as is agreed before.

Tuesday, April 1, 1834: Today I took my horse and wagon and carried my wife to cousin Samuel Holcomb’s on a visit, and from there I walked up to Simon Cranston’s to Town Meeting. Mr. Dike from Lebanon was there selling spoons.  I voted the Jackson ticket, and it was elected. Rufus Rose for Supervisor, Elijah Graves, Town Clerk, and Leland Sheldon JP and all other officers down.

Wednesday: Today I drew out manure and towards night I sent our hired boy Charles Booge after Doc Graves for Mother Holcomb, but said doctor did not come tonight

Thursday: Said Doc Graves came and bled Mother. She was taken numb and helpless. Today I plowed sward on my Rodgers Farm. Tonight I walked over to Doc Graves with brother Wm. We looked over the accounts and said doctor credited copartnership account to each of us and we each pays half of all said doc’s demands.

Friday, April 4: I went to the Shakers with single wagon and carried two hides, 16 pounds at ten cts and one small hide at 38 cts, and veal at 3 and 4 cts per. the whole amount for hides and veal that the Shakers credit me at Munson office to be endorsed on my notes was four dol and 14 cts.

Monday, April 7: I plowed stalk ground. Today Eliza Wylie began to work for us for the season.

Tuesday: I rode to Simon Cranston’s, the town officers met there, I went as a school trustee and got the State’s money, which was eleven dollars and 90 cts and town’s money which was nine dollars and 29 cts.

Thursday: Today Charles Booge time out, I paid 50 cts to him.

Friday: Today Mr. Henry Ostrander came and agreed for my John Sackett house, the rent a month in haying and I am to have the control of the house what his family to consist of and if he drinks too much I am to have the liberty to clear him and his family and if he behaves and obeys he is to stay till the first day of April next.  On yesterday when said Charles Booge time was out the 50 cts I paid him made up the twelve dol I agreed to pay his mother.

Saturday: I plowed in seed rye and collected in the school tax on my part of the district.

Sunday: On this evening I carried the money that I collected within my district together with my school tax and paid over to Joshua B. Maxon. The whole I paid over was 28 dol and 45 cts and my school bill was five dol and 58 cts, included in the before-mentioned sum.

Friday, Feb 28, 1834: On this evening I went to Joshua B. Maxon’s and Adam Brown’s and carried a paper that our school teacher drew, Hiram Mattison, for us trustees to sign. It was a certificate we are to deliver to the Town Clerk concerning the number of children that draws States money.

Saturday: Today I repaired an old sled, made one new runner and two new beams. Today I sent my hired boy on a horse to Hancock to Wm Hadsell’s store after a quarter yard of calico and six skeins cotton thread and had it charged but said boy Charles Booge bought sugar toys without leave and had charged to my account, The quantity and price I have not assertained.

Wednesday, March 3: Today I took my single wagon and carried nine pails to Mr. Dabills to be repaired and I carried a list of the children that draw States money to Doc E. Graves the town clerk, and I called to Randal A Brown’s the Supervisor and he paid me thirteen dol and seventy five cts for my services for the town, and I paid him one dol for the services of his horse.

Thursday, March 6: This morning I walked over the hill with Mr. Hiram Thayer  and looked at Mr. Rensselaer Jolls wood lot and we did see a quantity of dry wood down and then said Thayer went to see said Jolls to try to buy the wood to boil sap, but said Jolls would not sell any wood. Friday: I walked over the hill in view of going to see Ebb and Bart Tyler if I could bargain with them to come and make me shingle but when I got to Green Worden’s I was advised not to employ them for they were drunken men and would not do my turn. I then returned home. On the way I went to Samuel Griggs to see if I could buy cows and geese, but I did not bargain – the cows was sold and geese too dear. Today I gave old Caleb Sheldon 25 cts cash.

Monday, March 10: Today I tapped a few sap trees.  This afternoon I took my single wagon and went to the north part of the town for Hiram Thayer after his wife’s grandmother, the old widow Swan, she was to her son Smith Swan’s.  Said Thayer agrees to do me a day’s work for fetching her. On the way I got the nine pails that I left the other day to be repaired. The expense of repairing said pails was 50 cts.

Wednesday March 12: I tapped maple trees and gathered sap.

Thursday: I tended to tapping sap trees and gathering sap and getting dry wood. Tonight Peres Swan stayed with us. He bargained to make me chestnut and Hemlock shingles. He agreed to help chop and saw the timber and then make them, and I do agree to pay him one dol per thousand.

Friday: Today said Swan helped me chop and drew chestnut shingle timber. I gathered sap.  Tonight Hiram Thayer had a daughter born and he had the use of my horses tonight.

Sunday: Today I gathered sap and tonight I boiled sap all night.

Monday, Feb 17, 1834: Today brother Wm fetched his wife here on a visit and then he took me into his wagon and carried me to the northeast part of Pittsfield on the Dalton road near the Dalton line. Brother Wm went to look of a farm to work on shares that belongs to one old Mr. Marrels. We took some bitters at the tavern near said Marrels and Wm paid it and then we were waiting to said Marrels for him to return home and we took dinner with his family and then we went about three miles to see his son that was in the wood lot about his farm to let, but no prospect of making a bargain. We then returned to the old gentleman’s and he agreed that if he did not sell his farm he stood ready to bargain to let it to brother Wm, and if disposed of he agreed to write by mail by Saturday. We took the horses from the wagon and tied them to a tree and when we returned to the wagon after we untied them and a turning the wagon by hand the horses started for home. I jumped and got hold the lines, but the lines being put through the harness I could not hold them. The horses started and pulled me down and pulled the lines out of my hands and then went back to the stream at the tavern near old Mr. Marrel’s.  We had the trouble to walk after the horses nearly three miles and take them back to the wagon.. We then started for home.

Friday, February 21, 1834: I chopped alders in my swamp. On this evening my wife and I walked up to Mr. Hiram Thayer’s on a visit and tonight I bargained with him for to hire the south half of the house on my Rodgers Farm where brother Sylvester lives and the south garden for one year from the first day of April next and said Thayer agrees to work for me for one month to commence the beginning of haying and to work every other week until he works the month.

Saturday: I chopped alders in my swamp and my boys piled up said poles.

Monday: I called to see Mr. Solomon Carpenter for he is quite unwell so that he has watches, and I agreed to come tomorrow night and watch. On this evening I went up to the widow Betsey Wylie’s for she was quite sick and called the doctor. My wife stayed all night with her.

Tuesday: I tended to chores and chopped wood to the door. Tonight I watched with Mr. Solomon Carpenter and tonight a snow storm.

Wednesday: Today I drew two loads wood to Doc Dwight Right and he credits the same to my account.

Thursday: I drew two loads wood to said Doc Right which makes two cords for four loads.

Friday I drew a load of wood home from my Rodgers Farm. Today I lent brother Sylvester four dollars. He wanted the money to pay E. Pierce for his old cheese house and today brother Sylvester had a drawing and drew said building onto his land, onto part of the Rodgers Farm east of my Rodgers house on a piece of land he bought from Joseph Brown.  I helped brother Sylvester today about getting said building onto his land. He had a little misfortune about drawing said building, he had one end sill tore out and post and siding.

Thursday, December 26, 1833: Tonight I took the cutter and my wife and my son Geo Pease, we took him to the widow Ryan’s to be measured for a frock coat and then we went to Lewis M. Brown’s store and paid 52 cts for trimmings and linings the boy’s coat. The said widow Ryan rode to the store and home again with us.

Wed., Jan. 1, 1834: Today I took the cutter and my wife went with me to the west part of town. I went to pay Fanna Roberts the ten dollars I owe her for making cheese, but she was not to home and I did not pay her.  We called to Old Mr. Huntington’s and Old Mr. Bishop’s and Green Worden’s, and we called to Lewis M. Brown’s and paid 23 cts for trimmings for my boy’s great coats and we paid 14 cts to H. Platt’s store for candle wicking, and I fetched a grist buckwheat from the mill for the widow Ryan. Today she stopped and she cut out another greatcoat for Geo P for the other she cut was too small and John F had it made for him.

Friday Today I took the cutter and carried my wife to Richmond. We went by the way of Canaan and came home by the way of the Shaker Village. We went to brother Jay Wylie’s on a visit too and pay him interest money. I paid him twenty one dollars, which is the interest paid up to last March on the three hundred dollars.

Sunday, January 26, 1834: On this evening I walked up to Thomas G. Carpenter to see how he did. Said Carpenter continues to be more feeble and is entirely senseless, blind and helpless. He will not remain but a short time.

Tuesday: Today I took my cutter and my wife went with me to Nassau to Tycol Dibble to see if we could hire his daughter to come and work for us next summer. We could not make a bargain certain. On the way home we heard of Sarah Sanford the daughter of Daniel Sanford. We returned and went to said Sanford’s and bargained with her at one dol per week for this season to come and make our cheese and milk wash and do other work.

Thursday: On this evening Mr. Thomas G. Carpenter died.

Friday: Today I took my cutter and carried my wife to Berlin on a visit to cousin Betsey Hums. We went in company with Samuel Holcomb and wife.  I paid 1 cts to R.A. Brown’s store, cap lace, and six cts in Berlin for shoe ribbon.

Saturday February 1: I went with my two horse sleigh and carried my family eight in number to the funeral of Thomas G. Carpenter at Seventh Day Meeting House near Nathaniel Bishop’s. Elder Satterley preached.

Tuesday Feb. 11: A thaw, some rain. I am unwell with a pain in my neck and shoulder.

Wednesday: A very sudden change of the weather. It is severe cold. Today I walked up to Moses Rouns to see if he had a bull to sell. He had one but it was too old for me and to see if his daughter worked out, but the girl was not rugged to do what we wanted.  On the way home I called to Squ Nathan Howard’s and had a double tooth drawn, and I paid him twelve cts.

Monday, November 25, 1833: Today I went and took up two notes I owed to Hazard Morey. The first note of 45 dols we calculated the interest for one year and nine months, which was five dol and 55 cts, and the sixty dollars we calculated nine months, which was three dol and fiteen cents, which makes one hundred and thirteen dol and seventy cts.  I paid eighty dol and gave a note of thirty three dol and seventy cents.  Today I went to Thomas G. Carpenter’s and took up a note of sixty dol and interest six dol and twenty six cents, said note given to his daughter Cornelia Sweet.  I walked to Hancock to Squ John Gardner’s to see if he would change some Adams money and let me have this state money. He told me to go to Jerid Rifle and get other money and he would take the Adams money of him. I went to said Rifle and he changed fifty five dol and gave me Troy money and Daniel Gardner changed twenty dol and gave me Pittsfield.  This evening I chopped up wood, quite snowy today.

Tuesday, December 17: Today quite snowy and a heavy wind. I only tended to my chores. The snow drifted our roads and stopped the passing.

Wednesday: In the forenoon I tended to chores and chopped to the door and this afternoon I shoveled snow on the highway.

Thursday: I shoveled snow on the highway all day.

Friday: I went to Troy with my sleigh and horses. I had to get Platt Wylie to help me through the drifts to Russel’s corner, and then I went by the way of Eliah Douglass’s to get on to the north turnpike on account of the drifts. My wife went with me to Sand Lake to Mr. Withees on a visit, and I carried the widow Sefrona Booge to Troy. I called to Philip Kilmer’s and bated. I had some wine and pie and cider and paid seven cents.  From Philip Kilmer’s I drove into Troy, where I left the widow Sefrona Booge to Price’s Tavern.  I peddled off part of my load of apples. At evening I returned to said Price’s and put out my horses on my own hay.  This evening I walked down River Street and called in to Kimbles and Hills book store and paid 56 cts for a book called  The Scientific Class. I paid 12 cts for a pamphlet called The Reply to Hawes Reasons. I returned to said Price’s and went to bed.

Monday, December 23, 1833: I tended to chores and chopped wood to the door. Tonight the schoolmaster Hiram Mattison began to board with us.

Tuesday: Today some stormy. Platt Wylie took his ox team and I went with him to beat the highway road about two hours. Tonight we kept a trunk peddler by the name of Wheeler.

Wednesday (XMAS) This morning said Wheeler’s bill was 31 cts. We traded it and paid him about twelve cts more in cash. The vial of oil of soap pine was 18 cts and my wife traded out the remainder in pine.

Sunday, November 3, 1833: This evening I rode over to Christopher after a Hays girl that my wife bargained to come and work for us, but the girl did not come.  Her excuse she was not able to do the work.

Monday: I today attended election as one of the board to the west part of town to John Babcock’s Jnr Inn. I paid 31 cts for my dinner and 3 cts for grog. This evening I went up to the widow Betsy Wylie’s and reckoned with her daughter Eliza for her work for us this season, which was 31 weeks at 75 cts per week, which was 23 dol 25 cts and for the same I paid her cash. Tonight severe cold weather for the time of year.

Tuesday: I attended election to Claudius Moffitt’s I attended as one of the board and I paid 31 cts for my dinner.

Wednesday we continued the election to Simon Cranston’s and this evening we canvassed the votes. Our Jackson Party got a handsome majority. I paid 31 cts for my dinner and I paid twelve cts for grog and in the evening I paid 25 cts for brandy wine and crackers and my two little sons went to election with me and I paid 19 cts for them, cake.

Saturday, November 16: On this evening I rode up to cousin Samuel Holcomb to a Universalist Society meeting, but it was bad weather and we did not do any business.

Sunday: Today Mother Spring slipped down or fell over backwards. It hurt her bad, and sent for the doctor and was bled.

Monday: I chopped wood to the door. Today our school began. Hiram Mattison keeps for ten dollars per month. My five children all goes to school and I give my hired boy a chance to go but said boy Charles Booge is not quite ready on account of clothes. I paid him 31 cts and today he went to the store to buy trimmings for his clothes.

Sunday: I walked over to Mr. Philander Carpenter’s to the funeral of his infant daughter. Elder Jones preached.  On this evening Mr. Moses Rouns came to my house and took Mrs. Dean and her goods and started for Albany, and Mrs. Dean gave me two old chairs and an old hoe for what trouble she had been to us.

Sunday, August 25, 1833: Today brother Samuel continues to be more weaker and tonight Frederick Russel watched and after nine we perceived that Samuel was struck with death, and I went and got Mr. John Sackett and wife and we all sat up.

Monday: On this morning, a few minutes past three o’clock brother Samuel died and today we prepared for the funeral. I sent for Elder Jones to preach and engaged John Sackett and Frederick Russell to dig the grave. I rode up and got brother William and we pointed out the ground to bury Samuel near sister Newton’s grave. I then rode up to Squ Nathan Howard’s and engaged him to make the coffin. Towards night I took the wagon and I carried my wife to Lebanon and we got trusted to H. Nichols and I paid cash for a corn broom to Edwin Wylie and Charlotte Pierce watched with the corpse.

Tuesday: Today the funeral was attended by Elder Jones at my house at twelve o’clock. This evening I rode over to Henry Platt’s and returned the cloth.  Tonight I watched part of the night at the grave of Samuel for fear the body would be taken for dissection.

Wednesday: We hayed on my Rodgers Farm and brother Sylvester helped towards his rent and tonight brother Sylvester and brother William watched at the grave of brother Samuel.

Thursday: We hayed on my Rodgers Farm and brother Sylvester helped til noon and has worked out his rent. This afternoon some rainy. I mowed.

Friday: I hayed on my Rodgers Farm with only the help of Charles Booge, the boy that lives with me, 12 years old.

Saturday, August 31: This morning Mr. Philander Carpenter’s child died, a daughter about two years old. The child died of dysentery.

Saturday, October 19, 1833: Today I sent my hired boy Charles Booge to Henry Runnels and got two new shoes set. On this evening I tended to school meeting. Adam Brown, Joshua Maxon and myself put in trustees, and I paid my summer school tax which was three dolls 44 cts, and a-coming home I called to Frederick Russel’s and paid him for helping Mr. John Sackett dig the grave of Brother Samuel 37 cts.

Monday: Quite rainy. I made cider and this afternoon I met the town officers to appoint the places of election and clerks. We met at Randal A Brown’s store to do our town business.

Thursday: I gathered winter apples and dug potatoes.

Monday, Oct 28: Today I wagoned two loads of cheese to Hancock Village to Wm Hadsell’s. I delivered 3790 pounds at 6½ cts per pound and said Hadsell paid me cash, which was 246 dol and 35 cts.

Wednesday: Tonight it froze to spoil vegetables and fruit.

Saturday, Nov 2: We drew in pumpkins they are damaged with the frost.