The Diary, 1754–1765
…My brother breakfasted, dined and supped with us… Paid Edmund Elphick by goods 19/1 and by cash 11d in full for the 20/- omitted yesterday.
| Paid Ed Wood by a book debt | 0.14.0 |
| By goods today | 0.6.5½ |
| By cash today | 0.16.0 |
| 1.16.5½, |
which is in full for weaving 125 yards of cloth at 31/2d per yard for the parish. Finished posting my day book and also posted the parish account. Mary Geal at Halland drank tea with us… Rec’d of Mr John Vine Jr 17/6 in full for poor tax.
In the morning my brother and myself walked over to Framfield where we arrived about 7.15, whence, after staying some time, and tying up some hatbands, and telling and taking an account of the gloves and breakfasting about 10:10, we set off in order to serve the funeral of Mr John Cornwell, at which house we arrived about 11 o’clock. We had served the funeral about 3:40 when we set out for Buxted Church and buried him. Mr John Cornwell was 77 years of age and a hearty man almost to the last, only afflicted with the stone. We gave away at the funeral 106 pairs of gloves and 8 hatbands. We came back to my mother’s about 6:20, where we dined on some beefsteaks. After staying some little time, my brother came home along with me. We went round by Mr Colgate’s and left 3 pairs of gloves, and called at Whyly but did not stay long. We came home about 9:50. My brother stayed all night… Mrs Vine and Bet Vine drank tea with my wife. In my absence my wife received of Thomas Osborne for poor tax 17/6…
Easter day: In the morning my brother arose and went to Mr Smith’s at Heronsdale [a small manor in Waldron] with a pair of gloves, and came back and breakfasted with us and then went home. No churching this forenoon on account of Mr Porter’s being not at home. We dined on a piece of bacon, potatoes, turnip greens and a plain batter pudding. My whole family at church in the afternoon the Reverend Mr Hamlin of Waldron preaching here; the text Colossians 3:1: “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” After churchtime I went down to Mr French’s to balance the parish accounts, which I did as under:
| Mr French Dr. | ||
| To poor tax for 1757 for Whyly | 21.0.0 | |
| Do. the woodlands to do. | 6.13.0 | |
| Do. Mr Virgoe’s | 2.5.6 | |
| 29.13.6 | ||
| Per contra Cr. | ||
| To 43 bushels wheat and 2 bushels 2 gallons oats delivered by him to Will Sinden for the use of the poor between the 13th September and the 9th April and amounting by Sinden’s account to the sum of | 13.7.2¾ | |
| 12 bushels oats and Tester | 1.10.0 | |
| To Wood | 6.19.3 | 29.18.6 |
| To his churchwarden’s bill | 4.18.10 | 25.15.3¼ |
| 26.15.3¾ | 3.3.2¼ |
which sum of 3.3.2¼ that was due me I made received on a Bill of Mr Francis concerning the charges of carrying home Will Tull. I also paid him 15d for ½ bushel oats on my own account. I stayed there till near nine o’clock. In my absence my brother and George Richardson came to our house for the remains of Mr Madgwick’s gloves. My brother came down to Whyly to me, but did not stay, but they both stayed and drank tea with my wife. Thomas Davy sat with us in the evening. Rec’d of Mr John Mugridge 4.0.6 in part of poor tax. This day Richard Elless and Elizabeth Geal were publicly asked.
In the morning at home. Paid Mr Stone’s parish bill, 3.8.2… My brother Will came over to see me and dined with my family on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some rashers of pork, myself being at Jones’s, having dined before. I received there of Mr Joseph Burgess in cash 1.10.0 and by 2.2.0 for Durrant’s rent and 12/- for roots, which together makes 4.4.0, and is in full for poor tax. Paid Master Rothfields’s bill for flax 2.8.0 Rec’d of Joseph Fuller the balance of his poor tax, as also of Richard Page, Jo Durrant for himself and Mr Lucas, John Potter, Ed Hope, John Cayley, Peter Adams and Thomas Fuller. I made up my accounts with the parish and there remain due to me 25.14.10½. The officers chosen for the year 1757 were myself churchwarden, Joseph Fuller electioner, Will Piper overseer, Ed Hope electioner, but as it was proved William Piper had served it very lately, it was agreed Ed Hope should serve it. We broke up about 10:20. My brother lodged at our house all night…
My brother and Mr Streton breakfasted with us and went away immediately. I paid John Cayley on the parish account 22.10.0 in full for 1½ years’ rent due for Sinden’s mill to Mrs Browne at St Michael last. Sent by Mr Thomas Smith, in a book, to Messrs Margesson and Collison in cash £46…
We dined on a piece of pork, turnip greens and potatoes. This day balanced accounts with Robert Hook and there remains due to me 0.6.1½. Also balanced accounts with Master Piper and received of him 6/6 in full to this day. Paid John Durrant 0.5.9¾ in full. Rec’d of Richard Marchant 7/- in full for poor tax and paid him then 19/- in full. Paid Mr Joseph Burgess the 10/- borrowed of him the 25th March last, and he also agreed to be put in the poor book as electioner for overseer. At home all day. Thomas Davy sat with us in the evening.
In the morning Thomas Durrant and I took a walk round to gather poor tax. We called at Thomas Fowler’s, who was not at home, at Sinden’s, John Cayley’s, Thomas Roase’s, Peter Adams’s, Will Eldridge’s and Mr James Hutson’s and William Wenham’s, of whom I received 1.8.0 in full for poor tax. I came home and dined on some sheep’s liver and rashers of pork fried. Paid John Jones 1.7.7 in full. Paid Jo Fuller by his son Thomas 6d for a sheep’s bell received today. In the afternoon walked down to the Nursery. Called at Francis Turner’s and John Browne’s and stayed at John Browne’s about 2 hours. Came home and went down to Mrs Atkins’s and received of her 1.15.0 in full for poor tax. Today read part of the Universal Magazine for February.
Dame Cornwell breakfasted with us. After breakfast the 2 boys and myself walked up to Thomas Fuller’s and called at Thomas Fowler’s, where Thomas Roase paid me 10/6 in full for his poor tax. We dined on sheep’s lights, mint, head, tongue, brains and a piece of pork and potatoes boiled. This day received of Thomas Ling by the payment of his wife 1.0.2 in full… My wife very ill. Very busy today.
At home all day. Took physic… Rec’d of Richard Hope in cash 3.4.4 and outset 3/- for a ¼ hundred faggots carried to John Durrant, and 2/8 for the common fine, which makes together 3.10.0, and is in full for his poor tax. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening, to whom I read one of Tillotson’s sermons. This day John Browne and Elizabeth Hutson were married at our church. Read in the day part of Burkitt’s Poor Man’s Help or Young Man’s Guide, which I think the best book I ever read of this size.
At home all day. My sister Sally and Dame Brooker came over to see us and dined with us on some mutton chops fried. Rec’d of my sister in cash 7.1.0 in part to pay for nails which I am to send for my mother next week. My sister, Dame Brooker and Mrs Vine Jr drank tea with us. Gave Dame Brooker a pair of gloves on account of strowing me when I was married. John Browne at work for me part of the day…
Only myself at church in the morning… There was a brief read for the Chapel of Wetherby in the West Riding of Yorkshire, to which I gave 1d. Called a vestry to consult about the overseers that were nominated on Monday last, they both declaring they will not serve it, but (as is the custom of our vestries) we came to no resolution concerning it. We dined on a piece of bacon, a knuckle of the shoulder of veal (bought yesterday) boiled and some greens. In the afternoon my whole family at church… After churchtime Mr French and I signed a certificate for John Callaway and Mary his wife and William their son. The said certificate was made to the parish of Rye. The two who attested the said certificate were Stephen Clinch and Thomas Davy. Rec’d of John Callaway 3/- for me to get the certificate signed. In the evening. Thomas Davy sat with us, to whom, and in the day, I read four of Tillotson’s sermons.