Thursday, December 15 1763

Rec’d of Francis Turner 12/- in full for half a year’s land tax due St Michael last. I dined on a piece of beef boiled and some turnips. In the afternoon walked with Mr Bannister to Laughton, but did not stay. Came home about 4:20.

Paid Mr Joseph Attree 19/- in full for 2 dozen pattens received of him today. Posted part of my day book. In the evening Mr Bannister and Joseph Fuller sat with me some time. Sent my brother Richard by the post in cash enclosed in a letter delivered to the post two guineas and a half.

Tuesday, December 13 1763

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day pretty busy. Joseph Fuller and Thomas Durrant sat with me some time in the evening. Busy in the day a-putting my shop in order.

Monday, December 12 1763

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the evening went down to Mr Porter’s, where I stayed and smoked a pipe or two. My brother came over in the evening and sat with me till near 12 o’clock. A very wet afternoon… In the evening wrote my London letters.

Sunday, December 11 1763

Myself only at church in the morning… Molly French dined with me on a pig roasted, a raisin pond butter pudding. Myself and servant at church in the afternoon… After churchtime I and Thomas Durrant walked up to Joseph Fuller’s, where we drank tea and came home about 6:20. But my servant not being within, I went in with Thomas Durrant, where I sat about 40 minutes and then came home.

After I came home, I read a few chapters in the Bible. An extreme wet in the first part of it, but about 6:20 it cleared up.

Saturday, December 10 1763

I dined on a piece of beef boiled. Paid John Watford 20¼d for a pig bought of him today, weighing 6¾  lbs. At home all day and very little to do indeed. Joseph Fuller and T. Durrant sat with me some time in the evening.

Friday, December 9 1763

In the forenoon walked up to Mr Vine’s to ask for some money, but could not see him… In the evening walked down to Halland with some halfpence and silver for Mr Coates, with whom I stayed and smoked a pipe or two. Came home about 7:10. Pretty busy all day. Thomas Durrant sat with me some time in the evening.

Thursday, December 8 1763

This morning were married at our church (with license) Joseph Durrant and Elizabeth Reeve, both of this parish, and they, together with Richard Hope, happening to come just as I was at breakfast, breakfasted with me.

This match appears to me to be one of our country sort; that is, the woman is pregnant if her own word is to be taken for it, and I dare say in affair a woman’s word for once may be taken for fact.

John Piper met a coming in at dinnertime, dined with me on a piece of beef boiled and turnips. A very wet day, and I think never less business in the shop than today. Papered out a bag of nails today.

Wednesday, December 7 1763

In the morning Mr Bannister and I walked to Chiddingly, he in order to survey a victular [victualler?] and I for a walk, it being a fine morning. We came home about 12:10 …

Very little to do in the shop all day. In the evening wrote the receipts for the two first quarters of the land tax. Joseph Fuller Jr smoked a pipe or two with me. I think since I have lived at Hoathly I never knew trade so dull or money so scarce, the whole neighborhood being almost reduced to. poverty.

Tuesday, December 6 1763

Very little to do all day. In the evening I, in company with Joseph and Richard Fuller and Thomas Durrant, went to the sign of the Chequer in Framfield Parish in order to spend the evening, the people who keep the house having laid out a good deal of money with me. We supped there on some Welsh rabbits and stayed till about 10:20. Spent 19d each and came home about 11:20. I cannot say I was thoroughly sober, but not so much in liquor but I could walk very well. But however, I was the worse for liquor.