Sunday, November 30 1755

In the morning I got up and went to Mrs Day’s to invite her and Miss Suky to dinner with us and breakfasted with her. While they were at church in the forenoon, Samuel and Nanny Slater went home. My brother Moses came to see us while they were at church and he, Mrs Day and Miss Suky dined with us on a hare, a piece of boiled beef and turnips and a bread pudding. After dinner Charles Diggens came in. Mrs Day and Miss Suky and my wife went to church and came back and drank tea. Mrs Day and Miss Suky went home about 5:25. Charles Diggens and my brother Moses stayed till about 7:15 and both went home a little merry. Paid for bread 2d.

Monday, October 13 1755

Rec’d of Samuel Elphick 6/10 in full for his indentures, which I saw William Fuller and him cancel today in my kitchen. Rec’d of John Jones the 21/- I lent him the 16th day of July. Paid John Jenner of Hailsham in goods 16/11¼ and in cash 10/2, which is in full for hats I this day rec’d from him under:

6 hats at 2/-                0.12.0

4 ditto at 2/6               0.10.0

3 hats at 13                 0.3.3

l ditto                       0.1.10

N.B.: I charged 13½ lbs of lamb’s wool at 4½d, which I am to send on Saturday. Paid the postboy 9/- for 1 dozen women’s cloth pattens I received this day from Thomas Freeman. My brother Moses came over and stayed about 2 hours.

Saturday, October 11 1755

At home all day and busy. Paid for part of a neck veal weight 4 lbs, l4d. Rec’d of Joseph Fuller 3 tod 20 lbs of wool at 7d, 3.7.8. Rec’d of Richard Carter by wool and money 5/- in full for making a bond for him in April last. This day weighed of my wool; to wit, 334 fleeces, weight 20 tod 20 lbs, which I have sold to Messrs Reeder, Cox & Co. at 19/- per ton. Paid for butter 3d. This day I left Mr Samuel Virgoe’s shop and I owe him l¼ years’ rent, 12/6. Paid Francis Smith… in full for money he paid this week in town for me [including] … for stamping Samuel Elphick’s indentures, 0.3.6… Rec’d of Mrs Mary Virgoe the 27/ lent her the 8th instant. My brother Moses came over and helped me pack my wool.

Thursday, Oct 9 1755

Lent Mr Richard Stone, doctor, in cash 5.5.0, for which he gave me his note of hand… This day gave Henry Vine 2d for going to Framfield. This day wrote an agreement between John Watford Jr and Sarah Thunder, wherein she hires part of John Watford’s house at 5/- per quarter, to be paid quarterly, and she to pay the window tax. On failure of her paying it quarterly, she is to go out of it at a quarter’s notice. N.B.: she is to enter upon it the 11th instant. My brother Moses came over after dinner and stayed till 5 o’clock. He drank tea with us. At home all day and busy. My wife very bad with the rheumatism. Paid John Cayley 6.6.6 in full for the bill I received of him the 24th September 1755 on Weeks, for which I gave him my note of hand, but now took in.

Monday, September 29 1755

Sent Mr Will Roase the bill I rec’d of John Cayley on Weeks (the 24th instant), value: 6.6.6, and likewise sent him my draft on Messrs Margesson and Collison… for £20, which makes together 26.6.6. Sent the aforementioned bills in a letter by George Richardson, who called on me in his way to Lewes. This day William Weller and Samuel Elphick came over to Hoathly and signed Samuel’s indentures, in which he is to serve 7 yrs from the 24th June 1754, but on a previous agreement he is to let him free at any time. Paid for bread ½d. Paid Nicholls in goods and money 8/- in full for 8 days’ work. Paid Master Bridgman 6d for a breast of lamb of 2½ lbs this day. Sent Mr John Crouch a bill on Messrs Margesson and Collison… value £10. My brother Moses came over in the afternoon and stayed all night.