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In the morning went over to Framfield where I arrived about 9:45. After eating a mouthful or 2 of buttered toast and drinking a few dishes tea, and also looking over and tallying and taking an account of the gloves, hatbands, favors etc., I set out for the funeral of Alice Stevens, otherwise Smith, natural daughter of Ben Stevens (at whose house she died). I got to the funeral house about 11:50 where my brother Moses came to me soon after, in order to learn to serve a funeral and also to give me what assistance he could. The young woman’s age was 28 years, and I think I never saw any person lament the death of anyone more than Ben Stevens did for this poor girl, his daughter. After serving the funeral, as soon as it was possible we could, we set out for Buxted Church where she was to be buried, with a large company of people (she being carried on men’s shoulders). We arrived about 4:20 where we had an excellent sermon preached by the Rev Mr Lawson, Curate of Buxted, from Hebrews 9:27: “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” The young woman was laid in the ground about 5:50 after staying at the grave about 15 minutes, it being dug too small. When all was over, my brother, Charles Diggens and myself came to Framfield. I stayed at my mother’s and baited; then my brother came home with me and stayed and spent the evening with us, and stayed all night. We came home exactly at 8 o’clock. I received of my mother in cash 4/- and by old gold and silver 16/-, which, with the 4 pounds sent me the 30th December, makes together £5 which I have borrowed of her. My mother gave me 12d for my gloves given me at the funeral and for silk used in tying up the favors. I gave away hatbands, favors, gloves etc. at the funeral for my mother’s use as under:

Hatbands in all, 9; viz.,

Ben Stevens Sr	Sam Smith
Henry Stevens Sr	Arthur Knight
Will Stevens Sr	Ed Willet
Richard Stevens	Thomas Ware
John Newnham

Favors in all, 12; viz.,

1.	Mary Ware
2.	Jane Stevens
3.	Elizabeth Willet
4.	Mary Ware
5.	Francis Smith
6.	Sarah Colgate
7.	Henry Stevens Jr
8.	Ben Stevens Jr
9.	Ed Willet
10.	Richard Savage
11.	John Staply
12.	Richard Figg

2d chamois gloves, 1 pr.; viz., Benjamin Stevens Sr.

Women’s white lamb gloves in all, 24 prs:

1.	Mrs Willet
2.	Mary Ware
3.	Lucy Diggens
4.	Mary Ware [again?]
5.	Mrs Attree
6.	Mrs Ware
7.	Elizabeth Willet
8.	Sarah Willet
9.	Mrs Stevens
10.	Mrs Stevens
11.	Jane Stevens
12.	Elizabeth Stevens
13.	Mary Russell
14.	Sarah Colgate
15.	Mary Colgate
16.	Frances Smith
17.	Mrs Stevens
18	Dame Newman
19.	Elizabeth Ware
20.	Dame Stevens
21.	Dame Limpass
22.	Hannah Simonds
23.	Dame Belton
24.	Mary Devonish

Men’s white lamb gloves in all 35 prs:

1.	Thomas Attree
2.	Ed Willet Jr
3.	John Staply
4.	John Buckwell
5.	Ben Stevens Jr
6.	Richard Tealing
7.	John Stevens
8.	Thomas Starr
9.	John Cornwell
10.	Charles Diggens
11.	Robert Diggens
12.	Richard Savage
13.	John Smith
14.	Henry Stevens Jr
15.	John Cornwell
16.	Will Cornwell
17.	Will Novice
18.	Ben Stevens Jr
19.	Will Stevens Jr
20.	Richard Figg
21.	John Evans
22.	John Shelly
23.	Thomas Card
24.	Henry Stevens Sr
25.	Will Stevens Sr
26.	Richard Stevens
27.	John Newnham
28.	Sam Smith
29.	Arthur Knight
30.	Ed Willet Sr
31.	Thomas Ware
32.	The Rev Mr Lawson
33.	Will Devonish
34.	Thomas Turner
35.	Moses Turner

John Newnham’s 2 sons to have each a pair…

In the morning received of Mr Jeremiah French the £10 I lent him the 23rd December and gave his note of hand accordingly. Myself, wife and nephew at church in the morning… We dined on a piece of boiled beef, a plain butter pond pudding and turnips. Myself at church in the afternoon (but neither my wife or nephew, he not being very well)… Between churchtime Thomas Tester petitioned me for some corn to fat his hog. I on this called a vestry; the result of the vestry was that I should do what I think most prudent in the affair. After churchtime I paid the poor as under:

To Widow Pilfold	0.6.0
Do. John Streeter for house rent etc. for do.	0.3.0
To Ann Wood	0.4.0
To Ed Babcock	0.4.0
To Richard Trill	0.5.0
	1.2.0

After churchtime my brother Moses and cousin Moses Bennett came over to acquaint me that my mother wanted me to tie up 12 favors for her in order for me to carry tomorrow to the funeral, and accordingly my wife tied them up in the evening. They both stayed and drank tea with us and stayed till about 6:30. In the evening Thomas Davy sat with us 2 or 3 hours, to whom, and in the day, I read 6 of Tillotson’s sermons. Gave Richard Fuller 6d to his box. A very remarkable cold day.

In the morning our servant went to see her friends. We dined on the remains of Saturday’s dinner with the addition of a partridge pudding. Joseph Fuller smoked one pipe with us in the afternoon, and I got him to pay the poor tomorrow, I having promised to go to Framfield to serve a funeral there for my mother. But in the evening received a letter from my sister that the person was not to be buried tomorrow as appointed, but is to be buried on Monday. In the evening gave Master Dan on the parish account 12d, he being very ill. In the evening Thomas Davy at our house. He won 2d of me at cribbage…

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.