Saturday, December 13 1755

At home all day; sent by Thomas Fuller’s a boy to Lewes, to be left at the White Horse for Mr Stephen Fletcher until he comes, 1 draft which I drew on Messrs Margesson and Collison… value £14, payable to Mr Samuel Ridings or order… in full to October last. I also sent with it on return 1 piece striped cotton 26½ yds at 2/-, value 2.13.0. Paid 3/3 for 1 dozen dairy brushes and No. 2 paste-boards brought me from Lewes by Thomas Fuller’s boy. Paid the post boy (for Thomas Freeman) 9d in full for 1 pair creepers received by him today. Gave Goldsmiths’s carter tobacco to about the valve of 1d for bringing a parcel from Lewes for me. Paid John Cayley in cash 1.4.0 in full to this day, except 131 lbs of butter received of them for Mr John Wilson of Southover, which I sent to him the 6th instant.

Rec’d of John Cayley 32 fleeces of wool

2 tod 1 lb at 6½d a pound              1.13.2½

ditto 7 ½ lbs lamb’s wool 4d            0.2.6

ditto 2 cords wood                     1.4.0

3.1.8½

rec’d today 15 lbs butter at 6d         0.7.6

                                       3.9.2½

due on book debt                       0.15.2

Paid in cash the 16th July 1755 1.10.0

Paid in cash today in full as above 1.4.0

3.9.2½

Mr Tucker came to see me about 9:30. No churching here in the morning. At home all day; not at church. Laughton parson preached here in the afternoon. Mr Tucker went away about 8:15. I sent by him in a letter to Mr Robert Plumer 1 bill I drew… value 25.14.0… to Mr Robert Plumer… in full to this day… Mr Thomas Fuller came in about 5:25 and stayed 8:20.

Thursday, December 11 1755

At home all day; my side very bad. Dr Stone came in the morning to see me and examined my side, but said I had no ribs broken. Tom Cornwell brought me 2 carp; I gave him 12d. I sent them by Dr Stone to my mother. Gave Thomas Cornwell 6d for carrying the wine up to Master Reeve’s. Dame Reeve was buried today; wife went to the funeral in the afternoon. Mr John Vine and his wife here. Rec’d of him 14/- in full for the heirs of Mr Thomas Thompsett deceased. My wife and I at church, the text in Matthew: 25:46: “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” After church was ended, Mrs Vine drank tea with us and Mr Vine came about 5:45 and stayed till about 7:45. After supper Thomas Davy came to see me and stayed about 1 hour; paid for baking 1½d.

Wednesday, December 10 1755

About 3 o’clock went down to Mr French’s and borrowed his little horse to go to Lewes upon for wine for Dame Reeve’s funeral, having sent for some but it did not come as I expected. I rode him up home to put on my greatcoat etc., and accordingly got up at the block, but by accident, either by touching him with the spur or his taking fright with the dog, he fell a-kicking and running etc. and threw me down near the corner of Mr Virgoe’s stone wall, and hurt my side very much. I sent Thomas Davy for the doctor in the evening, but he did not come. Paid Dame Vinal for washing 9d. Gave a man who brought the wine for me from Lewes by accident (it not being the same I sent for it by) 6d.

Tuesday, December 9 1755

At home all day. Rec’d of Mr Samuel Gibbs 6/1 in full except the boy’s schooling. Sent Messrs Margesson and Collison the bank note value £20 which I received of Mr Porter the 6th instant (by Smith in a letter) and sent them by Smith £10; that is, I sent Francis Smith by his brother Josias 9.19.0 and ordered him to pay them £10 — see the next time I balance with Frank. In the evening Robert Diggens came in, stayed and supped with us and drank 2 bottles of beer.

Sunday, December 7 1755

At church in the morning, the text Philippians 1:22, 23, 24: “But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour; yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt the two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.” The subject was 1st to show what Mankind should by a steady perseverance in religion and virtue make the fare [fear] of death as it were familiar to them, and likewise that in the immediate space of time between death and judgment the soul receives pleasures or sufferings according to the virtuous or wicked life we have led in this world. Paid for butter 3d. Dame Reeve died this morning about 10 o’clock.