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After breakfast my cousin and I walked over to Framfield where we dined at my mother’s on some short bones boiled and a cold beef pie… I came home about 5:30. Thomas Davy supped at our house, and he and I played at cribbage; I won 4d. This day gave William Bristow 6d to his box. Read part of The Complete Letter-Writer. My brother called at our house today in my absence in his road to Lewes.

After breakfast my cousin, self and Mr Elless took a walk, I in order to collect in some small debts, and they for company. We called on Thomas Lewer where I got fair promises; then on Thomas Page where I received 5/- in full; then on Joseph Fitness, who was not at home; then on Thomas Wittersham where I had fair promises; then on Robert Warriner, who was not at home; and then on John Akehurst where I had fair promises. We drank 1 mug of beer at Gregory Markwick’s. We came home and dined on the remains of Saturday’s dinner. Mr Hutson made me a present of 2 partridges. My wife paid a man in my absence 4/- for 24 quire of paper he brought today. My cousin Bennett stayed all night. My mother sent me in cash by my brother today (who was at our house in my absence) £4.

This day balanced accounts with Mr Will Piper and received of him 1.18.0 in full. My brother stayed and dined with us on the remains of Saturday’s dinner and then away to Framfield, by whom I sent their Pall etc. Gave James Fuller 12d to his box. Just as my brother was gone, my brother Moses, Sam Elphick and my cousin Moses Bennett came in. Sam Elphick went down to Whitesmith; my brother and cousin drank tea with us. Sam Elphick came back, and they spent the evening at our house till near 9 o’clock when my brother and Sam Elphick went home; my cousin Bennett stayed all night.

Gave the following boys money to their box:

Sam Hammond	0.0.3
T. Smith	0.0.3
John Barnard	0.0.3
	0.0.9

Just as we were a-going to dinner, my brother Will came in. He dined with us on the remains of Saturday’s dinner. My brother Will stayed all night. In the evening went down to Mr Porter’s to ask his opinion about the mistake made in the poor tax of the year 1753 by Mr French, in the Duke’s land. He assured [me] he would speak to Mr Coates about it and see it should be settled. Stayed there until near 10 o’clock.

In the morning gave two women and 2 children with a pass 12d. Gave John Streeter the post 12d to his box. Gave Thomas Hemsley 6d to his box. Gave Robert Hook 3d to his box. About 12 o’clock I went down to Laughton to attend the funeral of Thomas Jones where there were, I believe, more than 80 people; his age 67 years. We had an indifferently good sermon, but I think very indifferently delivered to the audience. The text 14th verse, 39th Psalm: “For I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.”

I came back about 5:40 when I went into John Jones’s, the parish being met there at a public vestry to choose surveyors. The two surveyors chosen for the year ensuing are: Mr Will Piper and Mr Joseph Durrant. The electioners, Richard Hope and John Vine Jr. The company were Mr Jeremiah French, Messrs Joseph and Thomas Fuller, William Piper, Peter Adams, Joseph Burgess, John Potter, Edmund Elphick, Francis Turner, John Watford, John Cayley, Robert Hook and myself. I spent nothing. I came home about 7:40.

I gave Elizabeth Akehurst 6d to her box; do. Thomas [son of Francis] Turner 6d to his box. Read 1 of Tillotson’s sermons. Dined today on a piece of a shin of veal stewed. Just almost as we were going to bed, in came Thomas Fuller, Mr Will Piper and John Cayley, and as Mr Will Piper and T. Fuller are such (what shall I say?) spongers–no, only old Piper—that they must stay and smoke one pipe, they stayed smoking and drinking until they two were very drunk. At last, poor fools, they must quarrel, and for no other reason that I can judge but because Thomas Fuller told that which in my opinion was really true; viz., Master Piper, being lavish of his professions of kindness, and how much he loved his dear neighbor, which at last occasioned Thomas Fuller to tell him that he could never recollect any favor or kindness he ever showed him. But he did remember that once, on some emergent occasion, he wanted to borrow about £4 of him for a few days, but the poor old man would not let him have it, though he [Fuller] was well assured he and the money by him and could have spared it. He told him of many such-like mean actions, which made the poor old man at last so angry that he cried and bellowed about like a great calf. But, however, they all went away about 2 o’clock.

Now let me shift the scene and meditate on the vice of drinking to see how despicable it makes [“me” scratched out] a person look in the eyes of one that is sober. How often does it set the best friends at variance, and even incapacitates a man from acting in any respect like an human being because it totally deprives him of reason. As he is not capable of acting with reason, it is much to be doubted he will be guilty of that which is most vile and sinful. Oh, may the God of all mercy give me his grace always to detest and abhor this vice, and that the obnoxiousness of it may thoroughly work such an impression on my mind that I may never more be guilty of it, and that the many dangers which I have so often been exposed to when I have, as it were, rushed impetuous and headlong into destruction (by drunkenness), from which I have sometimes almost miraculously escaped by the undoubted providence of a all-wise Being! I say, that this may more thoroughly have its due effect upon my mind, let me never forget the goodness of God to his sinful creature, but may I meditate on it day and night that by so doing I may confirm my intentions of never living myself the least liberty of doing anything that small any ways tend to that heinous and ever-to-de-abhorred vice…

Bought a cheese of Mr Piper and gave Dame Burrage 3/5 on the parish account. Paid Dame Trill 3/- in full for keeping Ann Braizer, due today.

In the morning the Rev Mr Hamlin of Waldron preached at our church and also gave the communion. My wife, self and maid at church (leaving my nephew at Richard Prall’s). We all stayed the communion and gave 18d; that is, 6d each, we giving our servant her 6d. I believe there might have stopped at the communion about 40 or more people, which I think is more than I ever saw before. We had an excellent sermon, Mr Hamlin in my opinion being the completest churchman of any clergyman in this neighborhood, and one who seems to take a great deal of pains in the discharge of his duty. The text in Romans 12:1: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” We dined on some boiled tripe and the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

No churching here this afternoon. At home all day. In the evening and the day read 7 of Tillotson’s sermons.

At home all day. No churching here the whole day. James Marchant and the widow came and dined with us on a sirloin of beef roasted in the oven with a batter pudding under it, a plum suet pudding, boiled potatoes and some bouillis pies. In the evening Thomas Davy sat with us about 3 hours, to whom, and in the day, I read 7 of Tillotson’s sermons.

…In the evening sent John [Hesman?] over to Framfield for a shroud etc. for Mr Thomas Jones, for which I gave him 6d. Balanced accounts with John Jenner, hatter at Hailsham, and received of him 10½d in full except 10/- for rabbit skins sold him today. Sent his boy 6d for box money.

Lent Mr Jeremiah French in cash £10, for which he gave me his note of hand payable to me or bearer on demand. Paid Isfield miller by his servant 6/- for one bushel of oatmeal received today… This day gave Joseph Fuller orders to carry a bullock’s cheek to Dame Burrage.

…In the day papered up 24 lbs of tobacco in 127 papers… This day I received by Richard Siggs my pipe of cider, which I had made by Mr Heaver of Uckfield. This day I balanced accounts with Mr Jeremiah French (by his wife) and paid her 6.8.6 in full to this day… In the evening read 7 of Tillotson’s sermons.