George Holcomb

Saturday, March 19, 1831: Some stormy. On this evening I took the cutter and carried my wife to Stephen Sheldon’s to see the Gardner girl that has agreed to work for us this season. I do agree to pay her 75 cts per if we are suited on both parties. She agrees to do any work we set her about.

Sunday: I took the single wagon and carried my wife to the school house up Goodrich Hollow to the funeral of old Stephen Wheeler. Elder Jones preached. The old man died in the west part of town

Monday: Today I walked up to Lebanon. I talked with Lias Dike about coming to look at my calves to see if we could make a bargain.  He did not give me encouragement over two dol 50 cts – and this same day I sold them at three dol 17 cts per head and part of them at two weeks old.  Said Dike told me if he had them I must keep them four weeks old.  The two men that bought them live in Schodack. I did not learn their names. This evening I sent Sylvester Swan to let said Dike know that we sold the calves and got more than he talked of paying.  I called to Mr. Dean’s to see him about living in my house.  I called to Dr. Right’s to get a strengthening plaster to put on my breast, for I hurt it with a binder the other day.  I called to Elem Tilden’s store and paid six cts for camphor gum and three cts for pitch begunda to make a plaster to put on my breast.

Thursday: This forenoon I had a bee prying up my cheese house (to work on the foundation) or the building we drew for that use.  Mr. Zach Chapman helped, and Frederick Russel and Platt Wylie. This forenoon Francis Buten worked for me at the said building.

Monday: I laid up the wall on my line joining E. Pierce where I drew my building through, and picked up stone heaps that we scattered in said Pierce’s meadow drawing my building, and worked some at the gates fixing them up again near the building I drew.  Today Mr. Dean chopped wood to my door and agreed to take his pay in potatoes. This evening I borrowed F. Buten’s two inch auger to repair my gates, we tore down to draw said building.

Tuesday: I worked fixing up said gates and dug and laid a corner underpinning to my cheese house.

Friday, March 4, 1831: I went with I Newton to look at a timber lot, but concluded that it was too high a price.  When I was on said mountain David L. Brown was there drawing wood and I met with one of his hands, a stranger to me, but said Brown told me his name was Dean and recommended said Dean to hire my house I have to let.  Said Dean went with me on to said premises and I showed him what it was it contained, all that brother Sylvester now occupies excepting the buttery. Dean is to give one months work to be paid in July and August to work every other week until it was paid (rent) and we both consider it a bargain unless either of us concludes to give up the bargain.

Saturday: This evening I rode to Hancock to get a girl to work for us this summer. Phila Nye has disappointed us.  I sent Sales Jinks but I did not make a bargain with his daughter Hannah, for her price was too high.  I went to Mr. Potters on the mountain and bargained with Maryann Collins at 68 cts per week and she agrees to do any kind of work and milk a large portion of cows and if I concluded not to have her work for me I am to give her notice by next Tuesday. When I got home it was twelve o’clock tonight.

Monday: I called to Sylvester Gardner’s to see if I could hire a Watson girl but I could not, and I called to other places on the road to see if I could hire a girl on my way home. I called to Guy Moffitt’s to see a Griffin girl, but did not make a bargain with her to work for me.

Wednesday: This evening I went and engaged F. Bute to come on Saturday and put runners to my still house and draw it and take his pay in grain.  On this evening I went up to Stephen Sheldon’s and bargained with Gardner to work for us to milk or do any other work for seven months to begin the 4th of April and I do agree to pay her 75 cts per week.

Thursday: We drew rowing and brick from my still house home.  On this evening I went to the hill to Mr. Hatches and Mr. Marrel’s to invite them to help me draw my still house and sent to Mr. Nap to come and this evening the boy that boards with me by the name of Sylvester Swann, he rode my horse and went down to Mr. John Broad’s and invited hands.

Friday: This morning I went to Adam Brown, Aaron Sackett, Elick Allen, Robert Solomon Goodrich to have them come down and draw my still house.  I called and invited Simeon Wylie and I came home and we drew stalks and timber from my still and some brick.  and then I went and invited Zach Chapman, Calvin P. Sackett, Edward Carr, James Adams and brother Wm went and invited Guy Moffitt and I invited Sylvester H. Pardee and then went home and got my supper.  I then took both horses and Swan went with me to Hancock Village. I got trusted to Wm. Hadsell Store for five quarts rum, and I got one gallon of cider brandy that I had stilled on shares last fall.  On the way we called to John Wylie’s Benj Douglass’s and Eli Douglass and John Gardner’s and invited them to my drawing to come with their oxen, Mr. H. Platt, Wm L. Gardner, Daniel Smith had an invite sent them to come and help draw said building.

Saturday: said F. Buten came and helped hew and put said runners under and we drew said still house without much damage, only to break a few chains.  I have paid some for braking those chains, I stand ready to pay the rest.  I found victuals and liquor.  We had about thirty yoke of oxen and twenty six yoke drew the building.

In the second part of December and all of January, weather permitting, George makes many trips all around the area to buy cows.  The going price for a good healthy cow appears to be about 15 dollars. He has some difficulties herding his cows back to Stephentown on several occasions because of icy conditions.

February 1, 1831: Some stormy. This afternoon I went into the swamp and drew out two drags of wood on the bob sled to make a road and then chopped a hemlock tree and drew part of it home for a runner to draw my still house home for a cheese house.

Friday: Today we worked on the highway shoveling out snow that drifted in last night.

Saturday: Today I paid 12 cts for the book of the life of Mrs. Bradley that was wrecked and taken by the Arabs, and we paid 32 cts for my wife a pair spectacles. We traded with trunk peddlers that was passing.

Monday: I rode to Mr. Shout’s and to Mr Watson’s to engage a girl to work for us, but I did not find any to engage

Tuesday: Today I took the one horse sleigh and carried my wife to Hancock north part and bargained with Ruth Palmer to work for us this season at 63 cts per week. she agrees to milk, wash, bake, do housework, spin, or any kind of work from morning till time to quit work at night, and I do agree to let her have a horse some few times when I can spare it best to ride to Hancock to see her sister and stay one night.  She agrees to begin the first of April.

Thursday, February 10: Today I drew saw logs to E. Goodrich saw mill, black oak and birch.  On this evening I and my wife called a few minutes to know of Rowland Danford what grounds he had to report falsely of me in a most scandously.  He had nothing to screan him and I set him aside, never to have any more dealing with him until he makes a very great acknowledgement.

Friday: Today I cut and drew a load of wood from the swamp and then put out my team to tend to the Eclipse of the sun which the almanack says visible. It was very cloudy and nothing was seen on the sun but the appearance of night a coming on for a few minutes and then over.

Sunday; Today I and my two eldest daughters rode with brother Wm and his two daughters to the Shaker meeting.

Tuesday I sledded wood from said swamp. Tonight a pack peddler stayed with us. He goes by the name of Cheap Jimmy.

Wednesday: This morning the peddler gave a handkerchief for his keeping.  I paid him four cts for a piece of tape.  Today rain storm and I am unwell with a lame back.

Monday, February 21: today I was informed that Ruth Palmer died yesterday morning in a fit in less than one hour after she was taken. She is the girl we had hired to work for us this season.

Friday, February 25: I took the cutter and carried my wife and we went to Nicholas Gardner’s and bargained for Filey Nigh at 68 cts per week to work for us through the season. She agrees to milk, wash, spin, or do any kind of work about the house.

by Alex Brooks

Monday, November 1: This afternoon I took my double wagon and went to Election to Claudius Moffitt’s and carried brother Samuel and old Mr. Caleb Sheldon. I voted for Governor Enos T. Throop and Lieut Gov Edward P. Livingston and Senator Herman I Quackenbush and Assembly George R. Davis, Aaron Worthington, Martin Springer, Chester Griswold.

Enos T Throop was Martin Van Buren’s Lieutenant Governor. They were elected in the 1828 election and took office in January of 1829. Throop became Governor after Martin Van Buren resigned as Governor in March of 1829, after he was appointed Secretary of State by President Andrew Jackson. Van Buren, incidentally, served the shortest term of any Governor in the history of the State. In the 1830 election in which George cast his vote for Throop, Throop was elected Governor in his own right and served his own two year term, but he did not run again in 1832 and was succeeded by William Marcy. Marcy started as the Editor of the Troy Budget, a newspaper that George subscribed to, and was also a part of Martin Van Buren’s New York group of Jacksonian Democrats. Marcy served three terms as Governor of New York. In any case it is clear that George is a committed Jacksonian Democrat.

Saturday, Nov 13: Some rainy and high wind. We chopped and drew a load of wood and sorted and cribbed some corn. This afternoon Doctor White from Pittsfield Medical Institution came and operated on sister Newton’s other blind eye, and they paid him five dollars.

Sunday: Rainy. I rode to I Newton’s to see how sister was since the operation on her eye.

Monday, Nov 15: Today I took my single wagon and carried my four oldest children to school. It was the first day that school began. Mr. Hiram Mattison is our teacher.

Monday, December 13, 1830: Today I rode to Berlin as far as Hamon Village and a half a mile west up the mountain to Berlin games to look for cows to buy. I did not agree for any cows and I returned home this evening. This morning Mr. Benjamin Carpenter died, he had been deranged about a year.

Wednesday: Today stormy. I chopped some wood and ground axes and tended to chores. On this evening Miss Meriah Sackett died with a lingering consumption. She is the daughter of Calvin P. Sackett.

Tuesday, Oct. 19: This afternoon I went to school meeting. The district met and put it to a vote to build a new school house. I voted for to build a new one, but the majority against it.

Thursday: I went to Albany with the double wagon. I carried 12 bushels of apples and I carried the widow Betsy Wylie.

Friday: We sold out the remainder of our load. I got 25 cts per bushel of apples, and I got 20 cts for 19 quarts chestnuts, and the widow got 31 cts a pair for nearly all her socks and 4 cts per pound for her cheese. I called to the Patroon’s (Steven Van Rensselaer III’s office) and found that I owed 41 dol and 72 cts for rent but did not pay any.

Saturday: Today I sent Ancil Ingram home for he would not work nor mind to do what he was bid to do and sent for his Father.

Thursday, Oct. 28: This afternoon I took the single wagon and went to the widow Margaret Douglass and engaged of John Wylie a load of good sound apples fit for market at 12 cts per bushel. I then went to George W. Glass and bought 14 bushels of apples at 10 cts per and fetched them home. I paid cash for them. On this evening Mr. Elisha Ingram came and we tried to make a settlement for his boy living with me, but we did not think alike and we agreed to leave it to men. I offered eighteen dollars, and he offered to take 22 dollars. Mr. Ingram and son returned home tonight.

Friday, Oct. 29: I went to Pittsfield with the double wagon and carried 15½ bushels apples and sold them at 25 and 33 cts per bushel. I cleared three dols and 38 cts.

Thursday, November 11: On this evening Mr. Elisha Ingram and his son Ancil came and we reckoned for his boy’s work for me this summer past. We agreed that the boy Ancil had done six months work and we called it three dollars per month. We then footed up my account that I had paid the boy in clothing and other articles and found the amount twelve dollars and 94 cts. I then paid said Ingraham five dollars and eight cts in specie, which squared our deal, and we passed receits in full of all demands of whatever name or nature and I gave him a half a barrel of cider and lent him a cask to carry it home in.

by Alex Brooks

Saturday, October 2, 1830:  Today I went to Pittsfield with my double wagon and carried 16 bushels apples and sold them at 25 cts per.  I advertised the  pocketbook in the Sun that I found in Cheshire to training.  I paid 59 cts.

Monday: On this evening I rode over to Wm L. Gardner’s, one of the Poormasters, and returned the names of a tenant that I took in to my Rodgers house last Monday by the name of Aaron Clark from Hancock.  Said Clark agrees to pay me one dollar per month for one half of the Rodgers house until next April.

George must report his new tenant to the “Poormaster” because if someone from out of town is able to establish residency in Stephentown, and he ends up needing assistance, it could be expensive for the town.

Since 1784, when New York State passed its first general law concerning poor relief, each town had been responsible for caring for the poor among its residents. Each town elected “Overseers of the Poor” annually to make arrangements for the relief of poor people in the town.  Under this law and revisions to it added in 1788 a person who was “settled” in a town had to be maintained at the town’s expense if they couldn’t provide for themselves. In 1824 the responsibility for the poor was shifted to the counties, and most of the counties started building poorhouses to serve as a residence for the indigent. but counties in most cases continued to charge the towns for the cost of maintaining their poor persons, so the question of residence continued to have a financial impact on the towns.

Renselaer County was among the first in New York State to build a County poorhouse, which was ordered by an act of the County government in 1820, and built in 1821-22. The poorhouse was a fine building about a mile and a half  southeast of the center of Troy, and was originally run with an admirable concern for the health and safety of the indigent. But by mid-century conditions deteriorated quite dramatically, and the conditions in the poorhouse had become a scandal.

Wednesday: this morning at three o’clock brother Wm and I started for Cattle Show to Pittsfield peddling.  We got onto the  ground at an early hour and a good many people attended  today.  We stabled our horses at Capt Whitney’s and took lodging at one Miss Cases, a Milliners.  I paid her in cider.

Thursday: We peddled to said cattle show and tonight we  returned home.  These two days I cleared nearly fifteen dollars.   Today I lost a one dollar bill, I know not how.

Over the weekend George goes with his wife to a Baptist meeting in Windsor, Mass., to hear the preaching.

Monday, October 11: Today we returned home from Windsor through Lanesborough.  We got home about sunset. When I got home I found that an owner had come for the pocketbook that I found and advertised. He did not leave any pay for my trouble, only advertising which I paid 59 cts. The man lives in Cheshire by the name of Morey.

by Alex Brooks

September of 1830 was filled with peddling trips to Williamstown, Pittsfield, Dalton, Lebanon, Ancram and Kinderhook to camp meetings, musters and military training.

Sunday, September 19, 1830: On this evening brother Wm and I started for Hoosic to be there for peddling to training tomorrow.  Wm’s daughter Lucretia went and stayed to her grandfather Barnhart’s.  We returned and left her.

Monday: This morning at seven o’clock we got to Hoosic Corners and we peddled there, sold cake and cider, today to training. Tonight we came down to Petersburgh and stayed to the widow Runnels to a private house. Our expense was 37 cts.

Tuesday: We came on to Berlin to Hammon Village to training these two days.  I made about eight dollars and 96 cts. I bought a few auction goods to the amount of 87 cts.  We got home about ten this evening.

Wednesday: Today we peddled in our own town  cider and cake.  I made about four dollars and bought about 40 cts worth of auction goods.

Thursday: Today brother Wm and I  went to Pittsfield peddling cake and cider, and tonight we went on to Lanesborough and stayed to Baker’s tavern.

Friday: This morning we went on from Lanesborough to Cheshire to training peddling cake and cider.  These two days I made ten dollars.  Today when I was to training I found a pocketbook on the ground stamped into the dirt. I heard of no inquiries and I fetched it home to advertise for the owner. In said pocketbook is seven dollars and 26 cts and notes over eighty dollars.  We got home about ten this evening.

Monday, September 27: This morning about one o’clock I start for Troy. I walked all the way. I  got into Troy about seven this morning and I went to one Mr. Joseph Swallow to board at two dols per week, during the time that I stay as juryman. I took my breakfast at nine this morning.  We was called in to court at eleven. The court did nothing today but organize.  George R. Davis sets as first judge.

Tuesday: Today the court was called in at nine this morning. I only sat on two juries today.

Wednesday I sat on two juries.

Thursday: This morning I took a letter from Mr. A.J. Wilson and called over the river to Gilbinsville to a Justice in order to get my note that I had left with said Wilson nearly two years hence for to collect against James Landon, but could not find said note.  I returned to Troy and informed Wilson the note was lost and he agreed that he would find said note and return it to me.  I paid seven cts for crossing the ferry twice and six cts to a barber to shave me. Today at noon the Judges discharged me on account of my being hard of hearing. I paid for my board to said Swallow’s which was one dollar. Today my wife came to Troy in company and to help her two sisters and husbands on their way home to take  the canal for the west.  I then drove my wagon home that my wife came out with.  We got home at ten o’clock this evening. My gateage home was 14 cts. While I was in Troy this week I paid 12 cts for beer and peaches.

Tuesday, August 10, 1830: This forenoon we mended fence on my Rodgers farm and reaped a few lodged oats.  We drove home the unruly steer to put a larger yoke, and this afternoon we drew in our spring rye.  This afternoon our hired girl Esther Sheldon went with the horse and wagon to Hancock to get her shoes mended, and I had her call to Wm Hadsell store and had  half a pound tea charged, 20 cts.

Tuesday, August 16: We hayed on my Rodgers Farm and finished haying, said Asa Sheldon helped towards his rent, and brother Sylvester helped towards his rent.

Wednesday: Today we finished haying.  Asa Sheldon helped and brother Sylvester, to pay their house rent.  Today, cousin Clarissa Hamlet came to our house on a visit with three children to stay a few days.  They live in Troy.

Saturday: My hired boy Ancil Ingram rode down with me this evening to the pool.  I have been quite unwell today with a pain in my left shoulder, neck and head.

Sunday: I continue unwell and I took a portion phisic of castor oil, soaked myself in hot water, and put drafts on my feet.

Monday: Today I remain unwell but getting better.  This afternoon I rode up to brother Wm and put my horse side his and we went to Platt’s mill and got a load two-inch black oak planks and fetched them to his house, and then I borrowed nine of said plank and took the same team and fetched them home to make a hog pen floor

Tuesday: We plowed and shoveled dirt and leveled the dirt to set a hog pen. I cut and hewed the timbers and laid the floor.  Some rainy and we put up part of a load of potatoes and apples for market.

Wednesday: Today I put a horse side of brother Wm’s into his wagon and we went to Pittsfield with apples and five of potatoes.  I sold them from twenty five cts to forty cts per bushel, and the apples from 33 cts to 40 per bushel. I got in all for the apples and potatoes about three dollars and sixty seven cents.  We got home before night.  Tonight my oldest daughter Charlotte E. was quite unwell with the asthma.  I sat and held her in my lap and rocked her.  She was so stopped up she could not lie down and breathe easy.  Tonight a traveler stays with us, he paid sixteen cts for his supper, lodging and breakfast.

Thursday: This morning I took the single wagon and I and my wife went to Elijah Graves with our daughter Charlotte and he gave medicine. I got a portion of phisic for my self and said doctor gave me a writing to show to the Capt to clear me from military duty if I was called on to training today.

Monday, July 5, 1830: We began to hay. I mowed. Asa Shelden began to work for me by the month to pay his rent as is before agreed to work every other week.

Tuesday: Today I am unwell with the disentery.  I worked some at the hay towards night, said Shelden continues at haying.  Today a load of Shakers men and women called and put their horses in our pasture and gathered Elder Blows.  They fetched their dinner and we made them tea. Amongst them was cousin Adanilla Potter.  She made a present to my wife a cotton handkerchief and a present of a sauce basket for my daughter Charlotte.

Sunday, July 25, 1830: We rode over to Doc Elijah Graves with my son Geo P, but said Graves was not to home.  We returned and towards night we rode to Lebanon to Doc Right’s with my boy.  He ordered us to puke and then phisic the boy.  He said the complaint was on the lungs and bowels.  Tonight we puke the boy and I am up from my rest.

Tuesday: This forenoon I mowed and then I took the single wagon and my wife and I rode to Lebanon to Doc Right’s with our son Geo P and got some medicine for him.  I called to Elem Tilden’s store and paid six cents for Jesuit’s Bark for Mother Holcomb and I paid one cent for liquorish ball for my sick boy.  This afternoon we drew in hay on my Rodgers Farm that we cut last week.

Thursday: I mowed and the boys hoed corn.  Tonight I rode over after brother Sylvester to come and reap spring rye.  I called to I. Newton’s.  Aseneth is sick with a fever.  Today Mr. Waner Merrels buried a daughter about eight years old, the complaint water in the chest.

Monday, August 2: We hayed and pulled flax and today Mr. Asa Sheldon works with us.  It is his week to work to make out his month to pay his rent.

Tuesday: We hayed and said Asa with us and brother Sylvester reaped spring rye for us towards his rent.

Thursday: This afternoon I went into my Rodgers swamp to look for my cattle that was missing.  I found part of them.  On this evening I rode over to brother Sylvester’s to see if my young cattle had come.  They had.

Saturday, Aug. 7: Today my wife went with the single wagon to the Shakers and carried the two hind quarters of veal, 42 pounds at 3½ cents per and hide 9½ pounds at ten cents per pound and said Munson credits the same to my account.  My wife stayed the day and made my cousin Potter girls a visit.  Charlotte and Angeline went and the cousin Shaker Potter girls made them some small presents.

Monday: On this evening brother Sylvester came and told me my cattle had broken out of the pasture, and I rode over and he helped me get them back into my lot.  We found them in the highway.

Sunday, June 13, 1830: On this day I am thirty-nine years of age.  Today rainy.

Thursday: We came home from Sand Lake (after a trip to Troy to buy and sell). Mr. Rufus Withee’s wife came with us and fetched her child to wash in the pool for the salt rime.  On the way home we called to cousin Chancy Rowes and took dinner.  On this evening I rode to the pool and got a jug of pool water to wash Mrs. Withees child

Friday: Today brother Sylvester helped me at my Rodgers barn altering the stable and laying stable floor.  Today my wife took the single wagon and carried Mrs. Withee to the pool with her child.

Saturday: This forenoon I went to my Rodgers Farm and looked some time and found my two year old bull lay east, he was alive, weak and poor. I went and got Aseneth Newton and she doctored said bull.  I told her that if she would raise said bull half of him should be hers.  She agreed that she would try.

Tonight Mr. Rufus Withee came and stayed with us.  He came after his wife and child.  My wife paid Mrs. Withee one dol for a crepe handkerchief, a new one. Sylvester worked at the barn part of the day.

Sunday: Some rainy.  Today Mr. Withee and wife left here with their child for the pool and today I am quite unwell with a cold and diarea and bad pain in my head and eyes, breast and side.  I took phisic oil and put my feet in hot water.

Monday: Today rainy. I am some better.  This afternoon my cattle broke into my meadow on my Rodgers farm and we went with the ox team in the rain and drew stacks and rails and mended it.  I worked till some time after dark at said fence.

Tuesday: We chopped split rails and stacks and drew from home onto the Rodgers farm and mended fence.

Sunday, June 27: Today hard thunder shower.

Monday: this forenoon we hoed corn and at the middle of the day a hard hailstorm came within two miles of us. It came streaking through Lebanon and did thousands of dollars damage cutting down crops, gardens and breaking window glass, and especially the Shakers destroying their gardens.

Sunday, July 4: Towards night I rode over to I Newton’s and my wife with our babe. It is unwell.