Thursday, April 10 1760

After breakfast I rode over to Framfield, but did not stay. We dined on the remains of Monday’s dinner. In the afternoon posted my day book and wrote out part of Mr Sam Gibbs’s bill. In the evening read part of The English Peerage.

Ah melancholy time! But little to do, and what lies heavy upon my spirits is I am afraid my brother at Framfield will not do well and I am so deeply concerned that, should he do ill, I must be entirely ruined.

Tuesday, April 8 1760

Rec’d of my brother Sam Slater on account of my father Slater in cash 6.6.2½. My brother stayed and dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of a plain pudding. After dinner Mr Long and I rode to Lewes. I paid Mr George Verral 19/- on account. We came home about 6:40… My brother Slater went home in the afternoon. Our late servant and her sister drank tea with my wife…

Monday, April 7 1760

In the morning my brother William brought my horse home and he and Mr Elless dined with us on a shoulder of veal stuffed and roasted. After dinner I went down to Jones’s to the vestry, where I made up the parish accounts between John Cayley and the parish and there was a balance of 3.0.3½ due to John Cayley. William Piper was chosen overseer, Joseph Fuller electioner; John Cayley churchwarden, Joseph Durrant electioner. Came home about 8:10.

Paid John Cayley 14/8 for my poor tax. My brother William stayed with my wife till about 6:10. My wife’s brother Sam Slater came to see us in the afternoon and stayed at our house all night. As John Cayley came home from the vestry he called and paid me 10.3.6 in full; viz.,

To my bill on the parish for goods8.17.11½
To money paid T. Ling0.12.6
To do. Richard Braizer0.7.6
Widow Trill for spinning0.2.7½
Do.            do.0.0.11
To making the poor rate0.2.0

In the evening wrote my London letters. We had several warm arguments at our vestry today and several volleys of execrable oaths oftentimes resounded from almost all sides of the room, a most rude and shocking thing at public meetings…

Easter Sunday, April 6 1760

My wife and servant at church in the morning (my-self staying at home). My wife stayed the communion. Just after churchtime my old friend Mr Tucker came to see us, who dined with us on a piece of pork, a knuckle of a shoulder veal boiled, a light pudding and greens. Mr Tucker stayed and drank tea with us, and then went home. No service at our church this afternoon, Mr Porter preaching at Laughton. In the evening Mr Long at our house, to whom I read one of Tillotson’s sermons.

Saturday, April 5 1760

…At home all day and really extremely ill with a slight fever and pang in the side. In the morning my brother came over and borrowed my horse to go to Hailsham Fair upon… Paid John Streeter 2/3 in full for 6 brushes he bought for me today. Rec’d of Thomas Durrant the 17/6 I lent him the 31st ult. Rec’d of Joseph Fuller 1 shoulder veal 9 lbs at 3d.

Thursday, April 3 1760

Mr Hill stayed and breakfasted with us and then went home. I paid him in cash 4.12.0 and by postage of letters 12d, which is 4.13.0 and is in full for the bill I received of him the 7th February last…

In the afternoon my wife went to the funeral of the widow Paris who was buried today, aged 70 years. At home all day and but little to do. Joseph Fuller Jr smoked a pipe or 2 with me in the evening.

Wednesday, April 2 1760

Rec’d of Mr Thomas and Henry Osborne in cash £2, which is in full on their account and I gave them the note of hand they gave me the 8th of February for the same sum. Mr Charles Hill called on me in the morning and breakfasted with us, and after breakfast we set out for Tunbridge Wells, Mr Hill for to endeavor to find a place to set up at and I to see my brother.

We dined at my brother’s on some mutton chops… We drank tea at my brother’s, and came away about 5:05. We called at Boarshead Street and stayed some little time with my aunt Ovendean. We came home about 9:30 and thank God both very sober. Spent nothing today, only 3d I gave my brother’s children. Mr Hill stayed at our house all night.