George Holcomb

Tuesday: Mr. John Sackett helped today. Said Sackett began his month’s work for house rent.

Wednesday: Today rainy. Said John Sackett began to work this morning chopping wood at the door. He chopped about two hours and cut his boot and quit work. I took the single wagon and my wife and I rode to Hancock. I carried 43 pounds old cast iron to Hulls and Thomas Furnace to one cent per pound and bought in exchange a plow point.

Thursday: This forenoon I hoed in the garden and this afternoon I plowed on my fallow. Tonight sister Eleanor returned from the westward, from sister Lucretia Wylie’s and sister Miriam Campbell’s.

Saturday: Today said John Sackett worked again towards his rent. We began to mow.

Monday: On this day brother Sylvester began his month’s work for house rent.

Wednesday: We hayed on my Rodgers farm, Sylvester and J. Sackett helped.

Sunday July 14: Today a hard thunderstorm and wind. It did considerable damage blowing down fences and timber.  I put up fence on my Rodgers Farm after the shower.

Monday: Today I put up fence on both farms that blew down in the storm yesterday and where the water floated it down.

Sunday, August 11: This afternoon I took the single wagon and my wife and I rode with my oldest daughter Charlotte for she has the Asthma. We called to Lebanon to Lias Dike’s to see if he had medicine for that complaint. He was not home.

Friday August 23: Tonight I fetched Aseneth Newton home to watch with brother Samuel.

Saturday: We hayed on my Rodgers Farm and today brother Sylvester helped. Tonight Mr. James Madison Glass watched with Samuel.

Friday, June 21, 1833: I took my young horse and one old one up to brother Wm and had them shod. I helped make some new shoes and had my wagon mended some, and today I went to Orsemas Holcomb machine a bundle wool to be carded, but they told me they did not do any custom work, and then I fetched the said wool to Cherevoy’s factory and got it carded, ten pounds at  six cts per, and I bargained with said Cherevoy and Brown to fetch them a barrel soap, price agreed, four dollars. Today continues rainy.

Saturday: I worked on the highway with my boy, team, and tools and worked out my assessment, 10¾ days in all.

Sunday: This evening I rode over to my Rodgers Farm and Miss Right paid me the sixteen dollars for the house rent.

Monday: I plowed and hoed potatoes in my old onion yard, my hired boy is not returned, he went home yesterday.

Tuesday: This afternoon my hired boy returned.

Wednesday: I met with the other assessors to see if the taxable inhabitants was satisfied with the assessment. We found that it was proper to make some little alterations.

Sunday, June 30: On this evening I took my single wagon and rode to the pool and brother Wm went with me. We went to see if the Caravan of Animals had got there and we likewise went to try to make a bargain for our families to see the caravan, but we did not make any bargain for the overseer had not got along.

Monday July 1: This forenoon I rode up to Randal A Brown’s our Supervisor. There we three assessors out of four met together with the town clerk Elijah Graves, and the other two assessors was Rufus Rose and Levi Culver. We drew from our list of taxable inhabitants all the men that was competent, capable of being jurymen and witnessed to send to our county clerk, and at noon I returned home. I took my two horse team and carried my wife and five children and our hired girl Fanna Roberts and our hired boy Charles Booge all on to Pool Hill and I paid one dol and 75 cts for us all to go into the caravan shows.

Thursday, May 16: I went to Troy with my double wagon, my wife and daughter Angeline went and I carried sister Eleanor and she took the canal for the westward. We carried nearly 14 pounds butter and sold it at 1/6 pence per. We carried three new cheeses and sold them at six pence per pound.  We stayed in Troy to Jeremiah Harrington’s. I went into an oyster celler and paid nine cts for oysters for my wife to eat with her supper and tea.

Friday: This morning my wife and I went out to the stores and did our trading. We bought our two eldest daughters dress handkerchiefs 63 cts apiece and our youngest daughter Sarah a straw bonnet and we bought John Franklyn a cap, one dol, and myself a vest pattern 31 cts and self a palm leaf hat 1/6 pence and I had said hat stole. I paid 88 cts for an umbrella and one dol and 50 cts for Fanna Roberts a dress handkerchief. I gave L. Angeline 59 cts and she bought beads with the money, and I gave her a number of cts and she bought sugar toys and oranges. I paid my bill to Harrington, which was 63 cts and gateage 50 cts. We came on to Henry Withees and took dinner and we got home about eight this evening.

Saturday: I planted cucumbers and melons and I tended to a cow that is about to loose the milk of two tits.

Tuesday, May 21, 1833: I walked to the east and north and west of the district taking the value of property in order how much to assess each man for to pay taxes.

Thursday: I worked on the highway with my team and plow and boy. I had on a plow one and a half days. My pathmaster credited me seven and a half days. Today I called on a number of my neighbors to take assessment.

Tuesday, May 23: I went on the west part of my district taking valuation for county tax.

Wednesday, June 5: Today I met the assessors as before and we completed the assessment and my bill was 90 cts for victuals and drinks for the three days.

Monday, June 10: Today the schoolteacher Miss Minerva Mattison began to board with us.

Thursday June 13: On this day I am forty-two years old.

Friday: I plowed and hoed potatoes in my meadow and towards night I took my wagon and horses and drew home the hemlock bark I had in J. B. Maxon’s lot. Today I gave my hired boy Charles Booge a play day.

Monday: I hoed corn. Today my wife went to Hancock and carried some butter to Wm Lapum’s and bought in exchange indigo and six tumblers and ribbon.

Monday, April 22, 1833: This morning at eight o’clock I got to Greenbush and sold my calves to one Mr. Drum at two dol and 25 cts apiece, seven calves of them and I carried three new skim cheeses and sold them at five cts apiece and I got two dol and 65 cts for the cheese and I bated my horses to Smith’s tavern. I then walked to Albany while my team was a bating. I passed the river without paying, I got onto a wagon crossing both times. I bought twelve fresh shad and paid 84 cts. I called and bated to a temperance tavern about four miles from Brainard’s Bridge, the name I do not recollect. I got home about ten o’clock.

Wednesday, May 8, 1833: I started with my wife and oldest daughter and brother Sylvester in the two-horse wagon to go to the funeral of old Doris Holcomb, but we was misinformed, the funeral is tomorrow. We had got as far as Samuel Holcomb’s and then we returned.

Thursday: Today I went with the two horse wagon and carried my wife and two oldest daughters to the before mentioned funeral of Old Aunt Holcomb. We went to cousin Chancy Rows, where the old lady died, and the funeral was at the Union House on the Nassau and Stephentown line. Mr. John C. Newel preached.

Sunday, May 12: Today I took the single wagon and went after Fanna Roberts to come and make our cheese. We have no particular bargain. I give her to understand that her work is the same and I would pay the same. I carried Sarah Right out to her brother’s and fetched her back again. Tonight at ten I start for Troy with three calves and half a barrel apple sauce. Tonight quite rainy.

Monday: This morning at daylight I only got to John Babcock’s tavern. It being quite rainy, I paid four cts for liquor to said tavern and went on in the rain.  I got into Troy about noon and sold my three calves. I sold my apple sauce at 25 cts per gallon. Tonight I came on to Philip Kilmer’s and stayed. I had tea with my victuals this evening. Quite rainy today.

Tuesday: This morning I paid six cts for my lodging and six cts for my toddy last night, and I came on to Sand Lake and bought tea with my victuals to Sliter’s, and then came on to Samuel Holcombs and took dinner. I got home about two this afternoon. Tonight I paid sister Eleanor six dol interest, which pays up to middle March.

Saturday, April 6, 1833: I plowed in rye and my team carried a load goods for brother Sylvester into my Rodgers house that he has hired, the south half and garden and came in possession the first day of this month and he further agrees to do me a month’s work in haying, for the rent.

Monday: This forenoon rainy and windy and this afternoon I moved brother Sylvester into my before-mentioned house and from there I walked up to Hosea Brown’s store to look at some cows of the widow Sweet’s for sale but I did not buy any. On the way home I called to J. B. Maxon’s and hired his side hill plow for a few days.

Tuesday, April 9: Today I walked up to Capt Abner Bull’s the officers of the town met. I as Assessor was sworn into office.

Wednesday: Today noon Charles Booge came on trial to live with me. He is the son of the Deceased Ebenezer F. Booge.

Saturday, April 20: I rode up to Doty’s Tavern and met the other three Assessors, their names as follows: Rufus Rose, Elbridge Green, and Levi Culver.  We met and put a price on personal property and took our bills to go round to take the value on real estate, and we agreed to meet to this same place, Mr. Doty’s, on the first Monday in June to make returns of the value of the town.  I paid 12 cts to said Doty’s for grog. I then came on to Abner Bull’s and made proposals to the widow Sefrona Booge, my terms to take her son Charles for one year. I told her if he was well I would give him the chance for school the winter season and wash and mend his clothes and pay twelve dollars, if he was obedient child and said widow agreed to take him away from my house in the course of next week if she did not agree to my proposals. From Abner Bull’s Tavern I returned to Nicholas Gardner’s where my wife was on a visit and took tea and my horse was put out. This evening I walked up to Cousin Samuel Holcomb’s the Universalists Society met to make up the last year’s arrangements for preaching by subscription. I signed five dollars and paid it down cash and I returned to Cousin Gardner’s and we stayed all night.

Sunday: This afternoon I took the single wagon and carried my wife and daughter to the Universalist meeting to the Select School house in the town, Mr. John C. Newel preached.  On this evening brother Wm came and helped me load and tie seven calves and I started for market, uncommon pleasant and warm traveling tonight.

Thursday, March 14, 1833: I chopped and drew two loads wood from the swamp. On this evening Mr. Alonzo Chapman was presented with a wooden horse and horned and marched through the street, it is reported for abuse to his wife.

Friday: I took the double sleigh and carried a grist 4 bushels rye and one corn to Shout’s mill and got ground.  While it was grinding I called to Doty’s Tavern and I see them dance a spell, to dancing school.

Thursday, March 21: I tended to my chores and took the wagon and carried my wife to Brother Wm, for his daughter Miriam was quite dangerous with the old complaint of bloating in the bowels.

Friday: I cut some wood to the door. I rode over to Mr. Airses to see if he wanted to hire a house but he did not.  Said Aires lives in Doc Graves’ house.

Monday, March 25: Today I went with my wagon and horses and helped move Amos Chapman from my house to Lebanon to Mr. James Glass house to what is called the Mott Farm. I carried two loads. Today said Chapman was taken to Troy as a criminal for robbing Alonzo Chapman with four others, Simeon Wylie and Son Simeon and Alonzo Rodgers and Samuel Sheldon.

Saturday, March 30, 1833: We rode to the butchers Dike and the Shakers to try to market my veal but could not. Today I bought a spit box of John Humphrey and paid him 12 cts for it.

Sunday: This evening I started for Troy with six veal calves. Mr. Amos Chapman went with me and took home two of Asa Goodrich’s children.

Monday: This morning at daylight we got into Troy. I sold my calves at the center market to Mr. Allen at three dol per head. We bated in Troy to Harrington’s, and on the way home we called to Henry Withees and took tea and then we bated to John Babcock’s and we got home about eleven this evening.

Tuesday: Today I went to Town Meeting and the whole Jackson ticket run in and I was elected Assessor.

Friday, Feb 1, 1833: Today I went to Troy with 14 bushels apples and sold them at fifty cts per bushel. I carried old Mrs. Chamberlain and daughter and John Dean agreed to pay me the cost for carrying his mother – 75 cts.

Saturday: This morning I had a drink brandy and I paid my bill to Sweet’s which was 25 cts. I then came on to the cotton and woolen factory and took breakfast with a man by the name of   — that takes passage with me to Stephentown and paid me 25 cts for his passage. Wm L. Gardner rode with me from Sand Lake Spencers Stage Tavern. Said Gardner’s treated twice and we stopped to John Babcock’s tavern and the factory man treated.  I left my two passengers to Lewis Brown’s store. I got home at sun down.

Sunday: Today I took the cutter and my wife went with me to the south west part of the town to see Fanna Roberts. She tells us that we might depend on her to make our cheese this season.  We called to Doc Elijah Graves to have him come over tomorrow and see Samuel.

Monday: I moved John Sacketts and family consisting of a wife and son Ezra into my house and today I went and returned them to the poor master Johnathan Carpenter.

Friday, March 1: today some stormy and I am unwell with a cold. This afternoon I carried a grist of corn to H. Platt’s mill and left it. I called to Doc E. Graves and got some medicine for my son John Franklin and the operation of said medicine set the child into a fit. We then sent for Doc Graves but he was not to home. I then sent and got Doc Right. The child was releaved in part before Right came but he prescribed medicine immediately and a little relief.

Saturday: This afternoon I took the cutter and rode to Lebanon. I called down to Doc Right’s to have him come and tend to my child. He was not to home and I left word to come. I called to John Tanners store and paid 12 cts for nearly a quart rum. Today a severe cold and blustering, the roads drifted and I froze one of my ears. Tonight Eliza Wylie watched with my son John.

Sunday I took the cutter and went to Isaac Newton’s after slippery elm bark for my sick boy and I fetched Aseneth Newton home to watch tonight.

Monday: Today I tended to chores and drew brother Sylvester a load wood from my swamp. Ira Sheldon helped chop it. Brother Sylvester is quite unwell and today Doc right called to my child.

Tuesday: This morning I took the cutter and carried Aseneth Newton home. There I heard that John Thurber was froze to death near David Sweet’s at the corner.

Saturday, January 12, 1833: Today I took the double sleigh and carried Mother Holcomb up to brother Wm on a visit and from there I walked up to Mr. Allen Main’s and bought a cow, price 14 dollars. I drove the cow home and at evening I walked back to brother Wm and fetched Mother home.

Sunday: Today I went as far as brother Wm’s after the cow I bought yesterday. Said cow got out the yard and went for home.

Tuesday: Today brother Sylvester came and mended our kitchen floor.  Mr. Joseph Dutcher’s son Wm came and agreed to work one day a week and does chores night and morning and go to school, and this evening I took the single wagon and carried my wife up to Brother Wm and we stayed all night. Brother had his seventh child born, it was his second son. It was past midnight, we may call it on Wednesday.  This evening I walked over after Mrs. Harriet Jolls to come to brother Wms while his wife is sick.

Wednesday: I took two horse wagon and carried my wife and girls up to Squ Nathan Howard’s a visiting. I called up to Simon Cranston to see what was the reason he doesn’t carry Old Mr. Simpson and wife to the poor house. The excuse was that too cold weather.  I called to Mr. Allen Main’s and paid him the remaining four dollars for the cow I bought on Saturday. I paid R.A. Brown ten cts for two pounds Spanish brown and on this evening I papered the cracks in the ceiling in the kitchen.

Saturday: I chopped wood to the door. On this evening I painted the ceiling in the kitchen with red.

Monday, January 21: Today the poor master Simon Cranston came and carried Old Mr. Joseph Simpson and his wife to the poor house in Troy.

Wednesday, January 23: Today I helped brother Wm load and draw a maple tree from his woods and I am to have part of it for a cider mill, and this evening I carried a swine to brother Wm for an increase.

Saturday, January 25: Today I rode with brother Wm to Hoosick Falls and we stayed to Mr. David Barnhart’s, Wm’s Father’s.

Sunday: Today brother Wm and I walked up to Stephen Barnhart’s and took dinner. We returned to said David Barnhart’s this evening. We went to a conference meeting at the village school house to the falls.

Monday: This morning I went from Barnhart’s and passed on through the west part of Hoosic into the edge of Pittstown looking for cows. I could not find any. I returned and went up into Grafton and stayed to the widow Scriven.

Tuesday, Jan. 29: This morning I paid my bill to the widow Scrivens which was 31 cts. I then called to Mr. Hewitt’s and took breakfast and I bought a cow to said Hewitt’s and paid 15 dollars. He gave me a rope and I led the cow home.  I called in Berlin to Hammon Village to Mr. Streeter’s tavern and I paid six cts for brandy and crackers. I got home about eight this evening.

Thursday, November 15, 1832: This morning at three o’clock I started for Troy. We got in about three o’clock, I sold my fowls, nine of them for one dol and 44 cts.

Friday: I paid my bill for horsekeeping, tea and lodging and bitters, 62 cts.  I peddled out my apples, my average price 37 cts, 21 bushels. I bought a comic Almanack six cts and plate of the constitution of the U. States, I paid six cts.  I got home about 11.

Saturday: I raised my corn crib up higher and put under blocks and flat stones to keep out rats and mice.  A few of my neighbors came about one hour and helped pry it up.

Monday: I drew corn from the barn to the crib. Old Mr. Simpson husked part of the day, I pay him in cider and meat.  On this evening I rode up to Calvin Carpenters and he paid me 43 dol and 62 cts on the four cows and seven dol and 59 cts remains unpaid that he pretends to charge me for barreling my beef extra the contract I agreed to pay him three dols for driving, seeing butchered and weighed off. Weight 1643 pounds and it came to fifty four dols and 12 cts.

Sunday December 9, 1832: On this evening my wife and I rode over to I. Newton’s after Polla Stone to come and work for her board. We called to Mr. Amos Chapman a spell. Today Eliza Wylie went home. She has been with us 35 weeks and I paid her 62 cts per week. I made no deduction for loss time nor when she worked for her self. I paid her nine dollars and 63 cts at this time, which pays her up in full for her whole time.

Saturday December 22: Today I. Newton went with me to Pittsfield. He found sleigh and I horses. I carried ten bushels apples and got nearly five dollars. Said Newton carried beef and only sold one quarter on the road going in Lebanon and fetched the rest home.

Saturday January 5: I chopped and drew a wagon load of wood from my swamp to the school house and chopped it up for the stove.

Sunday: Today I carried my wife and daughter Angeline to Squ Nathan Howard’s and they both had a tooth drawn. I paid him 25 cts for drawing said teeth.

Monday: Today I took the wheel barrow and drew dirt and banked up the house

Friday, January 11: Today I tended to chores and chopped wood to the door. Quite cold and blustering.

Monday: I cut up and drew in corn and put shoes on my sled.

Tuesday: Today Calvin Carpenter bought a fat cow of me and paid me 20 dollars.

Saturday: I wagoned up manure and towards night I went with the single wagon to cousin Samuel Holcomb’s and carried brother Wm. We eight of us Universalists present choose a president and clerk of the meeting and combined us into a Society of the Universalist articles of Faith. We then choose a clerk, Ezekiel Knap, and a treasurer, Juno Chittendon, and three trustees – first Samuel Holcomb, second myself, and Mr. Rufus Rose. We contributed twelve cts apiece to buy a book to keep our records and then we voted an adjournment.

Sunday, Nov. 4: This afternoon I went to Lebanon at the Baptist meeting house, the Rev. A.C. Newel preached. Tonight some rainy.

Wednesday: Today I went to Election and supported the Jackson ticket. I carried brother Samuel and Old Mr. Simpson with me. This afternoon I took the single wagon and my wife went with me and we carried Fanna Roberts home. She has worked to Elder Jones for three weeks. I paid her up all I am in debt for her work with me this season, which is twenty dollars, and I gave her a few pounds cheese and other small notions.

Monday: I called down to Fred Evert’s store to see if he wanted to buy beef or pork, but not any. This evening I called over to Calvin Carpenters to see if he would drive my beef to Troy. He told me to come with them in the morning and if we could not bargain he would drive my beef at 75 cts per head. I agreed to it.

Tuesday: This morning I drove my cows over to said Carpenter but we could not bargain and I sent the four beef cows by him to market at 75 cts per head. Today I wagoned my cheese to Wm Lapum and delivered it to Justice Goodrich dwelling house. There said Lapum met me and weighed off my cheeses 3757 pounds at six cts per pound. It come to 225 dollars and 42 cts, and I discounted five dollar and said Lapum paid me the cash in hand.