Sunday, December 25 1763

Myself at church in the morning; the text in the 1st verse of the 60th chapter of the prophet Isaiah: “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” Just after we came from church, my old and worthy acquaintance Sam Jenner came to see me and dined with me, as did also the widow and James Marchant and his wife and child and Joseph Burgess. Jr, on part of a rump of beef roasted, a raisin suet pudding and gooseberry pie.

After dinner Sam Jenner and I walked down to his old lodgings at Terrible Down where we spent the afternoon (James Marchant, his wife and Joseph Burgess drinking tea with my servant in my absence). We came home about 6:20. Sam Jenner spent the evening with me and stayed all night. A very wet afternoon most part of it. Not at church in the afternoon.

Delivered to Thomas Cornwell the bill value 14.17.6 which I received of my brother the 21st instant in order for him to pay to my brother Richard for me.
 

Saturday, December 24 1763

Balanced accounts with John Jenner, hatter at Hailsham, by his son and paid him 19/10 in full to this day. I then gave the boy 6d for box money. He and a man with him dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

At home all day and pretty busy. Paid John Piper 2.10.0 in full for the same sum I received of John Hartley for butter. Rec’d of Richard Braizer 4/4 in full. A very wet afternoon. Paid John Piper 14d for a hind quarter of pork bought of him today, weighing 4¼ lbs.

Wednesday, December 21 1763

In the morning about 2:40 we began our work, Mr Coates paying the money and I taking down the names and parishes of the people. About 11:20 we completed our work, having given away about 8.6.0, 4 bushels of wheat made into bread and I imagine not less than 100 gallons of beer.

I breakfasted with Mr Coates and received my groat and then came home about 11:40. My brother went away immediately. In my absence today my brother and servant relieved the following poor inhabitants of this parish with a penny each and a draught of ale:

1.Will Bristow9. Thomas Ling
2.Francis Turner10. Ann Wood
3.Widow Trill11. Edward Babcock
4.Richard Brazier12. Widow Cain [No. 8 again?]
5.Will St[l]arkes13. Widow Day, certificate
6.Will Eldridge14.Thomas German
7.Master Hesman, certificate15. Peter Adams
8.Widow Cain16. Sam Jenner
17.Will Henly, certificate25.Susan Swift
18.Richard Heath26.Thomas Dallaway
19.Thomas Tester27.Ben Brinkhurst
20.John Thomsett28.Richard Prall
21.Thomas Roase29.John Durrant
22.John Streeter30.Richard Vinal
23.Roger Vallow, certificate31.Will Sinden
24.James Emery32.Dame Cornwell

I dined on a piece of beef boiled and potatoes. A very wet afternoon. In the evening Joseph Fuller sat with me some time. Gave my brother cash for the following bill:

“Gentlemen:              No. the 15th, 1763, Framfield
 
Fourteen days after date pay to Mr John Stretfield or order the sum of fourteen pounds seventeen shillings and sixpence and place it to the account of your humble servant,
 
     14.17.6                                 John Fletcher
 
To Messrs Lashbrook and West at The Spur Inn,
Southwark. Endorsed by: John Stretfield [Streatfeild]”

Tuesday, December 20 1763

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some apple pie and cheese. Rec’d of Mr Thomas Carman the two following bills:

“Sir, fifteen days after date please to pay to Mr Thomas Turner or his order the sum of six pounds one shilling, and place the same to the account of your humble servant, 86.1.0
 
Thomas Carman

To Mr Edward Aiskell at Sunderland in the county of Durham. December the 20th, 1763 East Hoathly.”

[and one on the same, for 29.6.4]

My brother came over in the evening in order to stand the shop for me while I assist Mr Coates tomorrow in distributing a gift left by some of the ancestors of the Pelham family to be distributed yearly on St Thomas’s day to every poor man or woman that comes for it, 4d each, and to every child 2d, and piece of bread to each and a draught of beer.

I went down to Halland in the evening and supped with Mr Coates and lodged there, my brother and Thomas Durrant keeping house for me at home.

Sunday, December 18 1763

In the morning Mr Carman and myself set out for Mr Spence’s, one of his Majesty’s justices of the peace for this county, in order to consult him about an affair on the parish account. From thence we went to Mr Clark’s, a brother-in-law of Mr Thomas Carman’s, where we stayed some time. Came home about 12:20. Spent only 4d for the turnpike.

I dined at Joseph Durrant’s on a piece of beef roasted and an apple pudding… After dinner Thomas Durrant and I walked over to Framfield, but were too late for church. We drank tea at my brother’s, and at the desire of Thomas Durrant we went home by the Black Boy in order to see Mr Thornton. We stayed an hour or two and spent our 6d apiece. Came home about 9:50, very sober.

Not at church the whole day. My servant at church both forenoon and afternoon. A very fine pleasant day.

Friday, December 16 1763

In the forenoon my brother Moses came to stand the shop for me while I went to Lewes. I set out for Lewes about 11:20. I dined at Messrs Richards & Comber’s on some bread and cheese. Paid Mr Robert Plumer in cash 20.17.0 in full. Paid Mr Richard Cardin in cash 3.12.9 in full. Spent today 11d and came home about 7:30, but not thoroughly sober.

My brother went away home in the evening. Dame Akehurst, being to scour for me tomorrow, took part of my servant’s bed. My brother and servant at home dined on a piece of beef boiled and some potatoes.