Immediately after breakfast I walked up to Mrs Piper’s, where I and Arthur Knight against Sam Durrant and John Piper measured for John Piper 79 oak trees, containing 9 loads, 23 feet. I dined at Mrs Piper’s in company with Mr Carman, Richard and John Russell, John Woodgate, Sam Durrant and their own family on a piece of beef boiled, a shoulder of mutton roasted, a plain butter pond pudding and turnips. My family at home dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some boiled tripe.
After dinner we stayed and smoked a pipe or two and drank a glass of punch. Came home about 4:20, very sober. Borrowed of John Piper in cash 7.7.0, for which I gave him my note of hand payable to him or order on demand. Gave John Russell cash for the following bill received of him today:
Sir 24.17.10 Frant, 2nd January, 1765.
Twenty-five days after date pay to Mr John Russell or order twenty-four pounds, seventeen shillings and tenpence value received in plank etc. as by advice from
To Mr John Corke Yr humble sert,
Timber merchant Ed Budgen
at Will’s Coffee House, Cornhill, London.
Endorsed: John Russell.
For exchanging this he gave me half a crown. My brother today in my absence received of Ben Shelley in cash 1.0.2 in full for the same sum he received of Mr Ben Treacher for a parcel of rabbit skins sent him the 10th ult.
In the evening Mr Bannister, Thomas Durrant, Sam Jenner, my brother and self played a few games of brag; I lost 19½d. My brother was very busy in the shop today during my absence. My late servant stayed all day. The timber we measured today Mr Piper had sold to John Russell, 29 pieces of it at 55/- per load and the remainder at 10d per foot, and paid him in cash 12.1.6 as half the amount of the whole.
Mrs French sent me today a present of a fine fat goose.