Wednesday, July 15 1761

Richard Braizer a-gardening for me part of the day and dined with me… In the afternoon rode to Bentley (in company with Mr Thornton) and looked upon Mr Jones’s wool, but did not buy it. I met with the keeper and bought his at 7d per lb… Mr Snelling called on me in his road from Croydon, but did not stay. Rec’d of Mr Thornton in cash 3.13.6 for which I am indebted to him.

Oh, how gloomy do my hours pass, no friend to comfort my disconsolate mind nor yield that pleasing balm of consolation! Alas, now my Peggy is no more, I am quite destitute of any friendly converse; no one to disclose and un-bosom my tumultuous mind to, or anyone to soothe the anxieties of my afflictions… [12 words omitted],… Thomas Davy lodged at our house all night.

Sunday, July 12 1761

In the mornings my servant Sal Waller went to see her friends. Myself and other servant at church in the morning… I dined on some beans and bacon and a piece of pork. In the afternoon my brother came over to see me and he, myself and servant at church in the afternoon… After churchtime my brother and I rode to Lewes to speak with Mr Stephen Fletcher, servant to Mr Sam Ridings, with whom I stayed about an hour. I left my brother at Lewes and came home about 9:20…

Saturday, July 11 1761

…Paid Thomas Freeman by the post boy 11/6 in full for pattens and clogs received by him today… In the afternoon rode down to Mrs Browne’s and from thence to Terrible Down. Paid William Turley in cash 10/4 in full and now I have 1 hand bill of his left. This day delivered to Mr John Gosling 14 cwt 1 qr 12 lbs of rags in order for him to sell for me.

Oh, how pensively melancholy am I this evening! What a group of melancholy ideas crowd in my tumultuous breast, tumultuous from the overflowings of grief for that dear and ever valuable creature my deceased wife… [17 words omitted], …”Good loss weighs more in grief than gained in joy.” In the evening there was a good deal of thunder, but seemingly distant, and an almost continual lightning for several hours, and but very little rain the whole time. It abated and went off about 10 o’clock.

Friday, July 10 1761

Mr Snelling called on me in his road to Croydon and breakfasted with me. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of some green peas… This day balanced accounts with Thomas Davy and received of him 0.18.0 in full. In the forenoon walked down to Mrs Browne’s, but did not stay.

Thomas Davy lodged with me. Oh, melancholy and pensive mind.

Wednesday, July 8 1761

In the morning rode to Ashcombe to consult Mr Boys in Mrs Browne’s affairs. Came home about 7:50… In the forenoon rode down to Mrs Browne’s to let her know the purport of journey… Dame Couzens of Laughton, buying some things in the shop, drank tea with me.

Thomas Davy lodged at my house. Oh, how melancholy my situation: quite worn with grief and never did I know so dull a time for trade in my life.