A memo of Elder Augustus for 1884 lists what was grown in each of
their fields: field corn on Kearney place; sweet corn on
Issachar's and spring lot; popcorn on Shanty lot; potatoes on
desert and small barn lot; oats on Clute lot; the ox pasture
was sown with grass; rye on Shanty lot hill; wheat on Old
field; the long meadow, old orchard, the black brick lot and
south meadow were meadows; the south pasture, pond lotf old
orchard on West farm and the West Clute lot were pastures.
9>n QUv-*jy-*J~/ ?& r T^*, ~-*-v^_r- U^L, L 3 A-t^.jX^^vx^ ~JL**~^ .( Y($ -} ir In Mafch of 1870 they bought the 108 acre Oliver farm for $9000.
In March of 1870 they went to their Rosendale farm to get the
furniture and bedding they owned as the family that lived there
was moving away. "Alexander Vedder will take the farm on
shares." (Rachel McDonald) Pm April 1, 1870 she notes that
Jacob Anders, "our tinsmith living at River farm," died.
In January 1873 they were going to offer their river farm for
sale but instead rented it to John Scarff for $900; however in
March of that year they sold the farm to the Church Family for
$4200. In March 1874 they paid the last $2000 they owed on the
Oliver farm. On December 18, 1884 they rented their west farm
for 5 years to George Rosney. (VB-326)
Things were not always peaceful in Wisdom's Valley or at the West
Family. In 1866, Rachel McDonald, in her journal, gives this se-
quence of events.
Thurs., July 19 John Vandenburg came to see his step-chil-
children, wanted to take the boy away, went home without him. In
the evening John and the children's mother both camef Willie ran
for the woods."
20 July Mother came again for the boy, did not get him as
he had taken to his legs."
21 July Brother Alexander took Willie to Troy, according to
agreement with his mother. Had quite a time to save the boy from
his mother."
17 Aug Willie's mother came here to take him and his sister
Fanny away but left afterr making quite a row as the children had
taken leg boil."
18 Aug Brother Alexander and Augustus went to Troy to see
about the children, came home with their aunt who, in company with
Alexander, took them to Albany to choose a guardian.
Sun., Sept 2 Willie C. attacked on the way home by his
mother and two Irishmen. After having quite a clinch he was
released by a couple of the younger brethren who interefered in
his behalf."
Nothing further is found about these children. They were
apparently not at the WF long enough to be listed in either the
1860 or 1865 Censuses.
In October 1874 they took in George Freeman and his six
children from Cohoes when he pleased they were very poor and
needed a home. The oldest boy, Homer, would not come to the
Shakers, although he did visit them from time to time, telling
them of the wild stories he heard about the Shakers. By April
1875, the Freemans and the WF had enough of each other; George
and his wife went to Cohoes to look for a place to live. while