Category: Uncategorised

Mr Sterry stayed and breakfasted with us… This morning about 4:45 died Joseph Mepham after near, or quite, 6 months’ illness. So did Mrs Hutson, wife of James Hutson, about 1 o’clock at noon. We dined on a bullock’s cheek and turnips. At home all day and posted my day book.

In the morning weighed my cheese and papered out a bag of 6d nails. Went over to Chiddingly and looked upon Mr Francis Hicky’s wool and bid him 18/- per tod for it; he did not absolutely agree for me to have it, but is to let me know more. Came home and dined on a piece of pork, apple pudding and French beans. In the evening Mr Sterry and my brother came to my house. I gave Mr Sterry…£34, twelve pounds of which is on account of my mother for her wool, and the remainder, £22, is in full of my account… Mr Sterry lay at my house all night. My brother stayed and spent the evening until near 10:50.

In the morning got up and wrote my letters and sent Messrs Margesson and Collison an order to sell mine and my mother’s wool, which I sent to them by Smith… The price I ordered it to be sold for was 20/- per tod, besides carriage, and 4 cloths at 4/6 each. I this day hired Mr Burgess’s and Hutson’s cart and 3 horses to go to Lewes for me to bring home I some cheese etc. I accordingly went along with it on foot. I balanced accounts with Mr William Roase’s servants (he being very ill) and gave them a bill on Messrs Margesson and Collison…value, 23.18.0… in full to this day except for the goods I bought today… Came home about 6 o’clock, and a-coming home I met with an old fellow school-boy, whose name is John Virgoe. He came home with me and stayed about 30 minutes. He is now in trade as a peruke-maker at Hellingly… In my absence my wife paid Francis Smith in cash £13…which he is to pay in London for me. My brother Moses came over about 10 o’clock and stayed all day. My family dined on a piece of pork and French beans. I dined nowhere. Spent 4d and paid the turnpike 6d. The cart brought me home about 14½ cwt of goods.

In the morning our maid went to see her parents, Paid her 12/-. About 9:20 George Richardson came to see us, and he and I went both to church where we had a fine sermon from the 11th, 12th and 13^th verses of the 23th chapter of Job: “When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me: Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.” We dined on a roasted loin of mutton and French beans with a pond currant pudding. George Richardson, my wife, nephew and self at church in the afternoon. The text in Ephesians 5:16: “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” From which words we had a fine sermon wherein Mr Porter very earnestly begged and entreated all his hearers to reform the vicious courses of their lives and to immediately set about a reformation and repent them of their past bad actions and to become new Christians.

George Richardson stayed and drank tea with us and went away about 6:30. I paid him 2/1 in full for 2 pairs of boot straps he got for me. In the evening read two of Tillotson’s sermons. Gave John Globs 2d for carrying of a letter for me to Thomas Page’s in order to go to Tunbridge Wells2

In the morning James Marchant took up a coat and pair of breeches for himself. I also sent my maid to Framfield to let my mother and my brother know I could not conveniently come over to-weigh their wool as I appointed my brother yesterday… Rec’d of Thomas Fuller 78 lbs of wool at 7d, and 6½ lbs of lambs’ wool at 5d, which together amounts to the sum of 2.8.1¼… About 4:30 my brothers Moses and Richard called at my house. My brother Moses did not stay, but went away soon for the Wells. Richard stayed and drank tea with us and stayed till near 7 o’clock. This day paid John Streeter 4/- for Gibbs’s certificate; viz., 3/- for the certificate and signing, 12d for his trouble etc.

In the morning Mr French brought in his wool, 108 fleeces weighing 7 tod 2 lbs at 7d per 1b, which amounts to 6.11.10. After breakfast my brother and I packed my wool; viz., 1 cloth marked “A” containing 127 fleeces, weighing 8 tod 18 lbs…

This day received the books I bought of Mr Baker the 16th instant. After dinner I went up to Mr Burgess’s to know if Thomas Tester had left any money in his hands to go towards paying Savage, who this day called on me and insisted either on our paying the money or that they would stop no longer without arresting him. In the evening Mr French, Joseph Fuller and myself went up again to consult with Mr Burgess which would be the best way to proceed in the affair, but we came to no resolution. Came home at 8:45. This day lent John Jones by Elizabeth Akehurst in cash 1 guinea. Paid my brother 2/10 for 6 brushes, 1 m 2 1b clouts he bought for me at Lewes on Saturday.

[ first part of entry not trascribed]

on a shoulder of lamb roasted and French beans (my family at home dining on a heart pudding with the lamb’s head bought yesterday and the lights etc. minced). After dinner my brother and I went up to Master Diggens’s to take leave of Samuel, who was tomorrow to set out again for his residence at Newport Pagnell in Bucks. Mr Diggens bought this day of Mr William Stone the house where Edward Wood now lives and was accordingly admitted to it by a private court held at their house this day. There was Mr Stone (alias ”romancing Stone”), Mr Peckham, Mr Durrant, Mr Rowles, the steward and beadle of the court. We came back to my mother’s about 7 o’clock, and my brother and I came riding home about 9 o’clock. My brother stayed all night. My mother made me a present of a fine parcel of French beans, which my brother and I brought home with us.

Paid Thomas Fuller, butcher, 6d for a lamb’s bell. We dined on some lamb’s liver and pork fried and cucumbers. At home all day and made two wool cloths. Paid Halland gardener 12d in full for cucumbers I have sold for him, and also 3d for 12 he brought me tonight for my own use. He also made me a present of a fine melon. In reading Martin’s Magazine I find

[transcription incomplete]

This day sent Francis Smith by his servant Joseph Page in cash 12.5.0…which he is to pay in London for me. I also sent Messrs Margesson and Collison the bill on Weeks which I received of John Cayley the 20th instant, value: 6.4.0… Samuel and Charles Diggens dined with us… they both went away about 2:10. My brother came over about the same time, but did not stop. Dame Trill drank tea with us… This day drew out a barrel of beer. At home all day and busy. Paid Dame Trill 3/- in full for keeping of Ann Braizer, due yesterday.