Tuesday, March 19 1765

Sent Mr John Crouch enclosed in letter by Ben Shelley…£10. Also sent enclosed in Mr Crouch’s (in order for him to forward by the post) one letter to Mr Samuel Ridings in Manchester: containing 1 bill on Mr William Margesson…value 27.2.0… Also sent in Mr Crouch’s letter one more letter to Mr Ralph Heal in Calne, containing 1 bill on Mr Will Margesson…7.16.0… Also sent enclosed in a letter by Ben Shelley delivered to his servant, to Mr. Thomas Neatby & Son 1 bill on Mr William Margesson…£10.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a cold mutton pie. After dinner set out for Newhaven to see my friend Tipper. I arrived about 4:10, but he was not at home. I drank tea with his sister, and in the evening my friend Tipper came home. I spent the evening with him and took part of his bed. I called at Mr John Madgwick’s in Lewes on my road to Newhaven, but did not stay.

Spent today 2d for the turnpike. A very windy day, not but a very little rain. Not but little business in the shop before I set out on my journey.

Monday, March 18 1765

In the morning walked down to Mr Porter’s, where we signed the brief which he read the 24th ult. upon which we had collected upon the whole the sum of 1.12.0; viz.,

The Rev Mr Porter0.5.0Sarah Bridger0.0.3
Mary Overing0.0.3Ann Gear0.0.1½
Elizabeth Akehurst0.0.2Mr John French0.0.6
Mr Thomas Wall0.1.0Mrs Elizabeth French, widow0.0.6
Mr Simonds Blackman0.2.6Miss Molly French0.0.6
Mary Cottingtone0.1.0Elizabeth Strudwick0.0.3
Mrs Mary Piper, widow0.0.6Mary Carpenter0.0.3
Mr James Fuller0.0.6Charles Vine 3d0.0.3
Thomas Olivers0.0.2Mrs Elizabeth Fuller, widow0.0.2
Edward Hope0.0.2Thomas Reeve0.0.6
John Cayley0.0.6John Nutley0.1.0
Richard Hope0.0.6George Stace0.0.3
Samuel Harmer0.0.3William Gasson0.0.3
Edward Foord0.0.6Mr Coates0.1.0
Henry Bray0.0.3Ann Nicholas0.0.3
Mary Wheeler0.0.3Joseph Fuller0.1.0
Joseph Durrant0.0.6Thomas Durrant0.0.6
Joseph Burgess0.0.6Robert Hook0.0.6
Thomas Hervey0.0.3Thomas Davy0.0.6
Mrs Hannah Atkins0.1.6Mrs Elizabeth Hicks0.1.0
Mrs Elizabeth Browne0.0.6James Hutson0.0.6
William Alcorne0.0.3William Henly0.0.2
William Burrage0.0.2John Gasson0.0.1
Henry Godley0.0.6Hutson John0.0.3
John Piper0.0.6Richard, john and Ann Page, widow0.1.0
Thomas Carman0.1.0John Watford0.0.6
Ellen Pierce0.0.3Hannah Marchant0.0.2
Mr George Bannister0.0.1Myself0.1.2½

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day, but not very busy. In the evening wrote my London letters.

Sunday, March 17 1765

Myself, brother and servant at church in the morning… I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. No service at our church in the afternoon, Mr Porter preaching at Framfield, the vicar thereof being ill.

In the afternoon my servant went to see Mr Sam Jenner. And about 3:30 my brother and I walked down to Halland in order to see Mr and Mrs Walls. We drank tea with them and came home about 7:50, thank God both as sober as we went away from home. An excessive wet evening indeed.

Saturday, March 16 1765

Paid Mr Richard Stone in cash 38.7.6 in full for the bill received of him the 11th instant, and he returned me the receipt I then gave him. Paid Ben Shelley in cash 10.1.9 in full for the same sum he paid for me in London this week. I dined on a leg of mutton roasted and potatoes and some venison sauce.

At home all day, and in the forenoon posted part of my day book. In the afternoon very busy marking up a parcel of haberdashery and other goods. In the evening Sam Jenner sat with me some time, to whom I read part of the London Magazine for February.

Friday, March 15 1765

I dined on the remains of yesterday and Wednesday’s dinners. At home all day and very little to do. In the day posted part of my day book. In the evening read part of Homer’s Odyssey translated by Pope. Paid John Nutley in cash and goods 6/- in full of all demands whatever.
 

Thursday, March 14 1765

After breakfast set out for Lewes to get some Norwich crape for Mrs Atkins. I dined at Mr Madgwick’s on a slit rump of beef, turnips and parsnips (my family at home dining on a sausage pudding). I came home thank God very safe and sober about 4:20. Spent today on myself, horse, ostler and turnpike 10d.

Paid today the following people in full on my brother Richard’s account:

Mr Edward Blackman0.5.0
Mr John Scott 0.0.3
Mr Will Lee0.5.10
Mr John Martin1.8.6
Mr Stephen Heaver1.4.0
Mr Stephen Turnis0.4.7
Mr Joseph Morris3.3.0
Mr William Vine2.6.10½
Mr William Barwick0.19.3
Mr John Jones0.7.6
Mr John Harland0.3.0
Mr John Easton0.3.0
Archibald Browne0.5.0
Mr Richard Moreton0.16.6
11.16.9½

Spent on my brother’s account 6d. At home all the evening; Sam Jenner sat with me some time. In the forenoon we had a very severe shower of hail, I think the smartest I was ever out in.

Wednesday, March 13 1765

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some onion sauce. In the afternoon I was sent for down to Mrs Hannah Atkins’s, where I and James Marchant were witnesses to her signing and sealing her will, which she declared to be her last will and testament. And we signed it as witnesses in presence of Mr George Verrall and his wife and Mrs Elizabeth Hicks. I stayed and drank tea there on company with the beforementioned (except James Marchant). I came away immediately after tea.

My brother quite ashamed of his last night’s behavior; kept his bed all day. May the supreme Being give and endue him with his preventing grace, strength and resolution of mind enough never to be guilty of drunkenness again. Paid Robert Hook 5/3 in full for the same sum he paid, and for his trouble a-going after my brother yesterday.
 

Tuesday, March 12 1765

Sent Mr Margesson enclosed in a letter by Ben Shelley delivered to himself the bill value 38.7.6 I received yesterday of Mr Stone. Janes Emery, a-gardening for me part of the day, dined with me on a piece of beef boiled, a hard pudding and some greens.

Dame Watford and her sister Ellen Pierce my late servant drank tea with me. In the afternoon my brother set upon a wild ramble. His first place was Chiddingly, then Laughton Pound where Master Hook, whom I sent in pursuit of him, found him and brought him home about 1:45.

My brother Moses came over in the evening, I having sent to him on the account of Richard’s ramble. He stayed with me till past 12 and then went home. A prodigious wet evening.,

Monday, March 11 1765

Rec’d of Mr Richard Stone 1 draft on Mr William Baldwin dated today, payable to me or order on demand, value 38.7.6, for which I gave him a receipt acknowledging that I have received such a bill.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a few rashers of pork boiled and potatoes. At home all day and but very little to do. In the evening wrote my London letters. Sam Jenner sat with me some time in the evening. My brother and I marked up a parcel of Manchester goods.

Sunday, March 10 1765

Myself, brother and servant at church in the morning… Mrs Carman dined with me on a neat’s tongue boiled and greens. Myself, brother and servant [at church] in the afternoon… Sam Jenner drank tea with me and spent the evening with me.