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…Very busy in the forenoon… Remarkably wet in the afternoon. At home all day and busy. In the evening read part of Hervey’s Theron and Aspasio and 1 of Tillotson’s sermons.

…In the morning wrote my London Letters. Finished laying up Barlow and Wigginton’s parcel. In the evening read Tillotson’s sermons. Mr Vine’s hop-pickers bought their pole-puller’s neckcloth. At home all day and pretty busy.

In the morning my brother Moses and Mr Will Bennett called on me in their way to Lewes, but did not stay… We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Wrote a letter for Mr Will Piper to Mr George Tomlin with 2 pockets of hops marked “W.P. No. 1, 2.” Also wrote another for Mr James Hutson to Mr George Tomlin with 1 pocket of hops marked “J.H., No. 3;” and also a letter for Mr Jeremiah French to Messrs Swainstone and Hedges with 1 pocket of hops, marked “J.F., No. 3.” In the evening Mr Porter’s hoppers bought their pole-puller’s neckcloth

[for these and other hop-picking details, see George Sturt, A Small Boy in the Sixties, Chap. VII, “Hops”.]

… Posted my day book and wrote out several bills…

This morning about 3:30 my wife was taken very ill with the colic, which did not continue above 1 hour and ½ so very violent as at first. Just before churchtime my brother Will came in, and he, myself and maid were at church in the morning… My brother dined with us on a chick pudding, a damson batter pudding, a piece of pork, turnips and carrots. My wife and maid at church in the afternoon. My brother stayed and drank tea with us and went away about 5:30. Thomas Davy spent the evening with us. I read to him 2 of Tillotson’s sermons. There was a brief read in the forenoon for Heathfield church, to which I gave 2d.

At home all day. My brother came over about 10 o’clock for some rolls, and as he heard by Smith’s man, being at our house, that my mother had some come, he stayed and went to Smith for to know if he knew anything of my wool. His answer was he did not. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some pear pie and a cucumber. My brother came back about 5 o’clock. This day Richard Page brought me from Lewes 13 sacks of salt etc…. Marked up part of the parcel that came today from Messrs Barlow and Wigginton… Rec’d from Barlow and Wigginton 1/16th part of 2 lottery tickets which they bought for me, and for which I am to send them 32/- (16/- for each 16th share). In the evening T. Davy brought a pair of shoes for my nephew, and stayed and supped with us. I read to him the 47th of Tillotson’s sermons. Very busy all day.

After breakfast I walked over to Framfield to borrow my mother’s salt sacks. Stayed there about 1 hour and ¾ and brought the sacks home upon the mare. After I came home, I carried down to Page’s 1 crock of butter to go to Lewes by them tomorrow for Mr Hook… In the afternoon I carried down to Page’s 78 wool for him to carry to Lewes with him. Mr Elless walked down along with me. In the evening read part of Hervey’s Theron and Aspasio.

Paid Joseph Fuller 6d for 2 lbs beef. We dined on a beef pudding, a piece of pork, turnips and carrots. Did a little work in my garden. In the afternoon Charles Diggens was at our house, who bought a coat etc. of me. After he was gone, I rode down to Peckham’s at Terrible Down to get in their bill, but could not… From thence I designed to go to Richard Page’s to talk with him about going to Lewes on Saturday for me, but my mare losing a shoe, I was obliged to return back by T. Page’s. I found my brother at our house when I came back. He was come for the mare and had her accordingly. He did not stay but a very little time.

…Peter Adams coming in for some hop-bagging, just as we were going to dinner, he dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner and a little piece of pork and some French beans. Bought of a man who called at the door, and whom I took to be a Jew, 3 dozen lead pencils, for which I gave him 2/7½. About 5 o’clock Mr Elless and I walked down to Laughton to inquire after a dozen of scythes I had left at Gurr’s, which I found there, and also to see the church, which is now an ornamenting. We came home about 7:15. Thomas Davy having gathered some apples for me today, he stayed, supped with us and stayed till near 10:30.

In the morning wrote my London letters and one for Mr Hutson to Tomlin with 3 pockets of hops. At work in my garden all the forenoon. Paid Thomas Fuller 1½d for the sheep’s heart received on Saturday. We dined on a duck pudding, a piece of pork and French beans. At home all day… In the evening read part of Hervey’s Theron and Aspasio. Sent to Messrs Barlow and Wigginton to buy me two sixteenths of two lottery tickets.

At home all the morning. About 11:30 I went to Mayfield in order to see a cricket match; viz., Lindfield against Mayfield. When I came to Mayfield, there were four of Lindfield out, but Lindfield got 52 runs the first innings and Mayfield 48, which made Lindfield 4 ahead. Lindfield got 31 the second innings, which made them 35 ahead of Mayfield, who went in and got them with only one wicket up. I came home about 6:50. I paid for the standing of my horse 2d, which was all I spent, for I neither ate nor drank while I was gone, nor nothing before I went but dry breed and cocoa, tea and some coffee mixed. I this day wrote a letter for Mr French to Swainstone & Co. with 2 pockets of hops, and also another for Joseph Durrant to Tomlin with 1 pocket of hops. My family dined at home on a piece of pork and cauliflower. My opinion concerning the game was that Lindfield kept the field best and batted best in general, but could not bowl. And what is remarkable, they were all tradesmen, and but one above 25 years of age, and I think eleven of very civil men.