Category: Uncategorised

In the morning there was a transit of the planet Venus over the sun’s disk. In the forenoon my brother came over and dined with me… Rec’d of Ed Scribbens 12/- in full for land tax due at Lady Day last… At home all day; but very little to do. Ah, melancholy time.

Rec’d of Edward Foord 6.18.0 in full for land and window taxes due at Lady Lay last. Rec’d of the widow Marchant 3/- in full for window tax. Rec’d of Thomas Prall 19/- in full for land and window taxes due at Lady Day last. In the forenoon delivered to Thomas Durrant the following cash in order for him to carry to Maresfield to pay the general receiver of the land tax; viz.,

6 thirty-six shilling pieces	10.16.0
4 moidores	5.8.0
83 guineas	87.3.0
4 eighteen-shilling pieces	3.12.0
2 nine-shilling pieces	0.18.0
2 half do.	0.9.0
9 Shillings	0.9.0
25 half guineas	13.17.6
	121.17.6

I also gave him besides 8 half-guineas and 1 guinea to exchange if any of the money should be refused. The state of the account; viz.,

The Collectors Dr.
To the total amount of the land tax book for 1760	153.18.0
To the total amount of the window tax book for 1760	32.5.9
	186.3.9
Per contra Cr.
Jan. 9, 1761 To cash	62.0.0
To salary	2.6.9
To cash today as before mentioned	121.17.6
	186.3.9

…Rec’d of Thomas Durrant the 5.5.0 which I gave him over and above the land and window taxes today; also received a proper receipt for the land and window taxes due to Lady Day last. Rec’d of Mr Thornton 1 guinea’s worth of silver, for which I gave no exchange.

This day I received a letter from my wife, wherein she acquaints me she is no better. Oh, how melancholy is that news to me. I dare say it is a weakness esteemed in me by the world to be so very fond of my wife, but let them know that a virtuous wife is an inestimable treasure, and perhaps a thing somewhat rare in this degenerate age…

…We dined on a beef pie. Rec’d of Thomas Reeve (by the payment of Mary Heath) 3.5.0… of Richard Page 2.19.0 in full for land and window taxes due at Lady Day last. Rec’d of Mr John Kennard by the payment of Richard Page 10/- in part of window and land taxes due at Lady Day last. Rec’d of John Jones by the payment of Richard Page 9/- in full for land and window taxes due at Lady Day last. Rec’d of Mr Bristow 5.2.0 in full for land tax due at Lady Day last. Rec’d of John Vine Jr 13/- in full for land tax and window tax due at Lady Day last. Rec’d of William Wenham 16/- in full for land tax due at Lady Day last.

In the evening Sam Jenner and I took out a schedule of the debts due to John Browne deceased. Mrs Cayley brought me a present of a few eels…

In the forenoon rode to several places to collect in some land and window taxes, but could not succeed… Rec’d of Joseph Fuller 2.2.0… and of Mr Jeremiah French 17.7.9 in full for land and window taxes due at Lady Day last. A remarkable wet night and all the forenoon, it having rained almost successively for 48 hours very hard, so that there are the greatest floods ever remembered in this neighborhood, and doubtless a great deal of grass spoilt.

In the morning rode to several places to collect in some land and window taxes, but could not succeed. Delivered to Ben Shelley in cash twenty guineas in order for him to pay in London for me. Rec’d of Mr Thomas Swaine 4.11.0 in full for land and window taxes due at Lady Day last… A thorough wet day and a great deal of rain fell. Rec’d of Mrs Browne by the payment of Sam Jenner 1.16.0…of John Piper 2.18.0…for…his brother Will Piper deceased…and of Richard Hope 1.15.0 in full for land and window taxes due at Lady Day last. Rec’d of Mr John Vine by his son Charles in cash 7.15.0 in part for land and window taxes due at Lady Day last. Thomas Davy set with me some time in the evening. A melancholy time. Oh, how do I gush at every pore as it were with trouble.

Rec’d of Mr Porter in cash 3.15.0 in full for land and window taxes due at Lady Day last. Rec’d of Mrs Atkins 2.12.9 in full for land and window taxes due at Lady Day last. Rec’d of Mrs Virgoe 4/- in full for ditto due as above… Dame Cornwell drank tea with me. In the evening wrote my London letters. But little to do all day; and in a great deal of grief for my wife’s welfare. Oh, could I be with her always, how would it some measure alleviate my trouble. Poor creature, what she has undergone is past description, and yet I am sure she has always borne it without once repining at the divine will.

In the morning rode to Hartfield to see my wife, whom to my great relief I found quite ill. I dined at Hartfield with my father Slater etc. on a loin of veal roasted and a gooseberry pudding (my family at home dining on some calf’s liver and rashers of pork fried). I stayed and drank tea with my wife and came home about [??]. Spent only 2d for the turnpike. Not at church all day, but my servant and niece at home assure me they have been there both forenoon and afternoon.

…Mr Long dined with me on some calf’s liver and rashers of pork fried. In the forenoon rode down to Halland… Rec’d of Robert Hook 3/- in full for window tax due at Lady Day last.

In the forenoon rode down to Halland. Rec’d of Mr Coates 1.8.0 in full for land tax due at Lady Day last… In the evening wrote out part of an inventory taken of Mrs Browne’s effects. Joseph Fuller Jr smoked a pipe or 2 with me in the evening. A melancholy time, being in continual fear for my wife’s welfare.

In the morning my wife went home with her mother (in Mr Coates’s chaise) for the benefit of the air, but how does the thought of parting, perhaps for ever, affect me. I hardly know how to contain myself. Paid Mr Richard Warriner in cash 3.3.0 in full on account of his brother and himself… In the afternoon Mr Bell, a hosier, called on me and drank tea with me, as did also Lucy Mepham. In the evening Thomas Durrant came back (who went with my wife) and brought me the joyful news my wife held her journey beyond what could be expected, and may she, poor creature, reap the benefit I sincerely desire, and it is my constant and most earnest wish. T. Durrant and T. Davy supped with me.

Rec’d of Thomas Roase 7/- in full for window and land taxes due at Lady Day last.