Monday, April 5 1756

At home all day and very busy…Mr John Bulpit, Messrs Heywood and Blake’s rider called on us. I paid him by a bill I drew on Messrs Margesson and Collison…15.4.0…in full to Messrs Heywood and Blake. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Dame Henly and her daughter Mary drank tea with us. In the evening wrote my London letters and read Frewin’s letter in answer to Watts…

Sunday, April 4 1756

Just as we were going to church, Mr Tucker came in, which prevented my going to church; my wife at church both in the forenoon and afternoon. We dined on a piece of bacon, batter pudding and greens. He stayed and drank tea with us and went away about 5:30. Mr French called in the evening and stayed and smoked one pipe. At home all day. Our maid came home about 7 o’clock. William Bristow and Mary Hope asked today [i.e., their banns were read in church].

Saturday, April 3 1756

Paid John Streeter (for Thomas Freeman) 4/6 in full for 6 pairs of women’s cloth pattens, which I this day received from Freeman by the post. I also paid the post 6d for bringing a parcel from Lewes. Paid Mrs French…1.5.3 in full for what was omitted when we balanced on the 8th of January last (and also in full of all demands to this day). We omitted on the 8th of January as under:

2 loads of wood which I found I had since that time; see 19 March1.0.0
1 gallon peas 0.0.6
Horse keeping0.3.0
3 ½ lbs hops at 6d0.1.9
1.5.3

In the afternoon our maid went over to Framfield witha parcel for Charles Diggens. She stayed all night. We dined on the remains of Thursday’s dinner. In the afternoon Joseph Fuller Sr smoked a pipe with us, as did Joseph Fuller Jr in the evening. At home all day and busy. Heard there were press warrants come to Hastings and Battle.

Friday, April 2 1756

At home all the forenoon. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. About 3 o’clock I walked over to Framfield carrying with me the clothes I bought yesterday at Mr Madgwick’s. Drank tea with my mother. My brother Moses and Charles Diggens were just come home from Uckfield where they went yesterday to help the Taylors at Uckfield make their mourning for Mrs Moon, the wife of Mr William Moon at Little Horsted, who was buried this day. They were a little in liquor; so I had no further conversation with Charles, but I think the old man looks very odd on me, and Charles is very shy; so I do imagine I shall have my offer rejected. My brother came with me as far as the middle of Eason’s Green. I called in at Master Hook’s as I came home and stayed there near an hour. Came home about 9:10.

Thursday, April 1 1756

In the forenoon Mr Edward Relfe, saddler in Lewes, brought us a new pillion and dined with us on the sparerib given us by Mr French. It was baked in the oven with a pudding under it. I paid him for the pillion etc., 1.4.6; to wit,

1 quilted pillion with 2 straps on the off side 0.15.0
Lace for the cloth0.3.6
Lining 0.1.2
Stiffening 0.2.0
Making   0.5.0
1.4.8

After dinner I set out with Mr Relfe on horseback to go to Lewes and went with him as far as the London Gates, but not liking my horse, nor the roads, I returned back again, came home and pulled off my boots and set out on foot for Lewes about 3 o’clock. I came home again exactly at 8 o’clock. I spent nothing all the time I was gone, nor drank anything but a glass of orange shrub. I found it prodigious bad walking.

Tuesday, 30 March 1756

At home all day. My brother Moses dined with us on the remains of Sunday’s dinner. In the evening Mr French brought us for a present a sparerib. He and I sat down and played at cribbage about 2 hours; [he] beat me 12 games out of 16; I lost 9d. I gave Francis Smith in cash £6…which he…payed for me in London. My brother Moses stayed and drank tea with us.

Monday, March 29 1756

At home all the morning. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. This day I received a fire-grate from Mr Roase’s, which was made me a present of by my father Slater. Paid William Eldridge and William Burrage 6d for cleaving of wood. About 5 o’clock I and Thomas Davy went over to Framfield. I talked to Charles again about it; he says he approves of it much. Came home about 12.

Sunday, March 28 1756

Mr Ormeroid breakfasted with us and dined, as did Charles Diggens, on a roast goose, a piece of bacon, plum batter pudding and broccoli. We smoked a pipe or two and then went down to Jones’s, where we drank one bowl of punch and two mugs of bumboo; Mr Ormeroid went away after the punch. I spent 12d and came home again in liquor. Oh, with what horrors does it fill my breast to think I should be guilty of doing so–and on a Sunday, too! Let me once more endeavor never, no, never to be guilty of the same again. I am certain it proceeds, not from the love of liquor, but from a too easy temper and want of resolution. Not at church all day. In the morning there was no churching, Mr Porter not being well, and in the afternoon Laughton curate preached here. I this day made an offer to Charles Diggens to take him in partnership with me in the Framfield shop, which he agreed to on my proposal; to wit, to bring in half the value of the stock and, if he had not money enough, to be bound with him to anybody so far as £100, he paying the interest, and if that was not enough, for him to pay me interest at 4 percent for enough to make up half the stock.

Saturday, March 27 1756

In the morning Thomas Daw gave my horse a drink, and Thomas Cornwell and he breakfasted with us on that account. We had for dinner the remains of yesterday’s. About 2 o’clock came in Messrs Hargrave and Standing’s rider, who dined with us on some rashers of bacon. I paid him 15.14.0 on account for Messrs Hargrave and Standing. Afterwards he and I spent the evening at Jones’s. I came home a little in liquor, and he laid at our house. Paid 6d for four lemons.e