Category: Uncategorised

…Paid Charles Vine 12d for bringing some goods from Lewes for me. About 5:10 I went down to John Watford’s to go to church with a natural son of Miss Frances Hicks, a child of 1 year and 3 months old, which was this day buried, and where I gave away 4 pairs of youth’s white gloves. My wife thank God easier today than for some days past.

After breakfast I rode to Pevensey to consult my friend John Breeden about a servant he recommended to me when at our house. I dined there on some cold sparerib, some broiled sausages and a hog’s foot pie with currants in it (my family at home dining on the remains of yesterday’s dinner). I came home about 3:40. In the evening Thomas Cornwell assisted me in bottling off a barrel of beer and he and Thomas Durrant sat a-chatting with us an hour or two in the evening. My wife extreme ill, but I hope not worse.

Mr Breeden stayed and breakfasted with me and then went home… paid James Crowhurst in cash 3.1.4 in full for earthenware received of him today. Thomas Cornwell a-gardening for me today and dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with some broiled sausages and some roasted pigeons and asparagus. Paid Mrs Weller by her daughter Frances in cash £4 which is in full for one year’s interest due on bond the 5th ult. At home all day. My wife, poor creature, very ill, though I hope rather better again.

We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Rec’d of John Piper in cash 10.13.0½ and a land tax receipt for 2.4.0, two bills of repairs 1.0.11½, which together makes the sum of 13.18.0, which I am to send to Mr Allen Chatfield at Croydon and is in full for l year’s rent due from Mr Will Piper deceased to Mrs Mary Mills at old Lady Day last.

In the evening my friend John Breeden called on me in [his] road from Nutley Fair and stayed at our house all night. We balanced accounts… My wife, poor creature, very ill though I hope somewhat easier. Paid John Cayley the 3/8 I received of Mr John Morris the 2nd instant.

My niece only at church in the morning. Dame Martin dined with us on a breast of veal roasted and green salad. Our servant and my niece both at church in the afternoon. Myself not at church all day. In the evening and the day read 3 of Sharp’s sermons. My wife, poor creature, very ill, though I hope somewhat easier than yesterday.

…In the forenoon our late servant and her mother came to see my wife and dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of some mutton chaps broiled. As soon as we had dined they went away. At home all day and my wife, poor creature, most extreme ill, I think so ill that it would almost move even an entire stranger to shed tears at the sight of her, and to hear her continual moaning through the severity of pain.

We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of a plain rice pudding. Paid Ben Shelley…33.7.0 in full for the sum he paid in London for me this week; viz., the 29th to

Mr William Margesson	32.0.0
Apr. 29th To Mr Thomas White in full	1.7.0

Rec’d of Mr John Morris 7/1 of which 3/8 is due to John Cayley for the poor tax for the year 1759, and the remainder, 4/3, was due to Mr Will Piper for the year 1760, which money I sent to Mrs Piper by our servant. At home all day and a very cold day. My wife, poor creature, extremely ill, ah, ill, even almost unto death. How do these thoughts afflict me; but let me trust in the Almighty Goodness, who is a present help in trouble.

…At home all day. My wife, poor creature, most extreme ill. Ah, how melancholy my situation! How does the prospect of losing her (who to me is the only valuable blessing this world affords to make the rugged and uneven paths of this life glide smoothly on) afflict me to see her so afflicted and can get her no relief. Oh, may she one day enjoy the happiness of that comfortable sentence, Come, ye blessed children of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

…Paid Mr Howard 2/3 for 15 lbs gingerbread bought of him today… In the evening paid Mrs Virgoe in cash 2.17.4¼, which with a book debt of 0.13.5¾ makes together the sum of 3.10.11 and is in full for the money my brother sold her old plate for… Jenny Bell drank tea at our house. At home all day. My wife, poor creature, most extreme ill.

Delivered to Ben Shelley in cash £32 in order for him to pay in London for me… Robert Diggens dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of some broiled sausages. My brother Moses called on me in the forenoon in his way to the crock-kiln at Bayley’s Lane in order to take my orders for crocks etc. He also called on me in his road home and drank tea with us.

There being at Jones’s a person with an electrical machine, my niece and I went to see it, and though I had seen it several years ago, I think there is something in it agreeable and instructing, but yet at the same time very surprising. As to my own part I am quite at a loss to form any idea of the phenomena. I paid for myself and niece 6d. At home all day; but very little to do, and my wife, poor creature, very ill and worn to death with continual pain.