George Holcomb

by Alex Brooks

Wednesday, June 30, 1824: This morning I rode up to S. Pardie’s, He is one of the town school Commissioners, to see when they meet and then I went over to our Rodgers farm hoeing potatoes. This afternoon Mr. John Russel sent his boy Frederick after me to come and go to meet the commissioners. I took my horses and wagon and carried Mr. John Russel up to Simon Cranston’s where the commissioners met. The other two were Rowland Mosely and Rutus Rose. We went to be set to the school house at the meeting house, but we was opposed by part of our district and the meeting adjourned.
[Read more…] about The Life Of George Holcomb – Chasing The Robbers • A Son Is Born

by Alex Brooks

In the last episode, George journeyed to western New York State to get a certificate from his relations in order to settle his father’s will. Now he tries to file the certificate with the County Clerk in Troy, and the Clerk will not accept it.

[Read more…] about The Life Of George Holcomb – Trying To Fix The Certificate

by Alex Brooks

Holcomb is in Madison County, NY to consult with his sister Miriam and other relations about settling his father’s will. Although the Erie Canal was not completed until 1825, Holcomb came back to Albany by boat in June of 1824.
Saturday, June 5, 1824: This morning sister Miriam filled my pack with victuals and my bottle with whiskey and she sends one shilling to sister Newton and her husband’s little girl Rosanna sends some small presents to my children and to brother Wm’s and I left there.
[Read more…] about The Life Of George Holcomb – A Trip On The Newly Constructed Erie Canal

Sunday May 30, 1824: This morning I started for the westward and brother Sylvester put his horse to my wagon and carried me to Nassau at the gate near Dunham’s tavern. I then walked on to Bath. I crossed the ferry in a small boat in company with some that was going over. It cost me nothing. I passed through Albany on to Guilderland on the Cherry Valley turnpike, and put up to a Dutch tavern thirteen miles from Albany. Tonight I had tea and my own victuals.
[Read more…] about The Life Of George Holcomb – A Journey To The West

by Alex Brooks

In the last episode, Holcomb had a dispute with one of his brothers over settlement of his father’s will, and Brother Beriah went home “much dissatisfied.” After settling the legalities of his settlement with the first three siblings, he goes to cousin Samul Holcomb, and has difficulty there as well.
Sunday, April 8, 1824: This morning Squire John Babcock was going past our house and I called to him to stop and take some refreshment, and I let him read the deed that brother Beriah gave to Brother Wm and myself yesterday, and said Babcock told me that it was perfectly correct.
[Read more…] about The Life Of George Holcomb – Settling Father’s Estate

Friday, April 6, 1824: This morning brother Beriah returned and his brother Ancil Mansow and we came to agreement that we would leave it to three indifferent impartial men to judge what the value of our father’s farm was worth and brother Wm and myself would take it and pay out to the rest of the heirs as the will directs, and all the rest of the heirs have agreed to what brother Beriah would agree on. We choose Squ John King of New Lebanon for the third man and brother Beriah choose Abil Right of New Lebanon for his man, and we choose Adam Brown of Stephentown for our man and brother Sylvester and sister Eleanor agrees to the same. [Read more…] about The Life Of George Holcomb – Brother Beriah “Much Dissatisfied”

Monday: I walked to Mr. Jordan Booge’s and read father’s will to Squire E. F. Booge, and he advised me to get a settlement with the heirs and then I agreed with him to write a bond to bind all of us heirs to abide by the disposal of Father’s property. I returned home and told brother Wm that he must fix for to go to the westward if wc three, Sylvester, Eleanor, and we two do agree that you and Beriah shall choose those men and we do agree thereto and of Sisters Lucretia Wylie and Myriam Cammel thereto do agree, this is what we are undertaking to do. Tonight Sylvester fetched Daniel Moulton’s pack from the widow Douglas for Wm to have to go the before-mentioned journey. Wm and myself made out eighteen dollars for him expenses by taking five dollars and 62 cents of the money that Father left.
[Read more…] about The Life Of George Holcomb – Settling Father’s Estate

Wednesday, March 17, 1827: On this forenoon our connections and neighbors met at our house, and the Freemasons moved the corpse about twelve to the Meeting House, and the Episcopalian priest Humphrey in procession with them while the mourners followed in sleighs and more distant connections in wagons. Priest Hunter waited on the Episcopalian priest in to his pulpit and then he opened the meeting by reading Service, and prayer and Priest Hunter read a psalm and sung in the gallery. We then had a sermon from said Humphrey. His text was in Luke the 2nd chapter, 29th and 30th verses. We had a very entertaining discourse, and then he addressed the connections of the deceased and likewise addressed his Masonic Bretheren, and then Hunter read a psalm and singing in the gallery, and Humphrey closed with a prayer.
[Read more…] about The Life Of George Holcomb – The Funeral of George’s Father Beriah Holcomb (1748 – 1827)

In the last episode, Holcomb’s father died. He now turns to funeral arrangements.
Monday, March 15, 1824: It was the request of my father for a months past and likewise while on his death bed to be buried in the Masonic order and to have an Episcopalian preach his funeral sermon. He chose Mr. Humphrey, the settled minister of Lanesborough, Mass, and I found a horse today and got my wife’s cousin Isaac Humphrey to go after said minister, and to call to Mr. Stodder Williams and go with him to the preacher and engage him. Said Williams likewise did, and then the young man Isaac returned with Mr. Williams and took a refreshment and then came home and told me the priest would come according to our request.
[Read more…] about The Life Of George Holcomb – Funeral Preparations

with comments by Alex Brooks

Thursday, March 12, 1824: This morning the old widow Buten was found dead in her bed. Today I tended to Father. He is thought dangerous.
Friday: Today the funeral of the widow Buten was attended at the Presbyterian meeting house by Priest Hunter. I could not attend for taking care of Father. Tonight Father was in great distress part of the night. Deacon Pierce prayed with us tonight.
[Read more…] about The Life Of George Holcomb – Father Dies