Sunday, July 2 1758

In the morning about 8:10 Mr Thomas Scrase and his wife come to see us; they breakfasted with us and Mr and Mrs Scrase and myself were at church in the morning. The text in the former part of Revelation 14:11: “And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever,” from which words we had an excellent sermon. There was a brief read for to repair the groins and fortifications of the town of Brighthelmstone in this county against the encroachments made by the sea on that coast, which, if not timely prevented, will in all probability eat in and destroy the said town, several houses etc. having in a few years been swallowed up by the sea. The sum necessary for repairing and amending the present groins and for building and establishing new ones is £2250 and upwards. I collected on the said brief 23d, and 2d I am to put in for Joseph Fuller, 2d for Joseph Burgess, and 1d for Mr Piper, and 2d I intend to give myself makes collected in the whole of this brief the sum of 2/6.

Mr and Mrs Scrase dined with us on a leg of lamb roasted, 2 carp boiled, a currant rice pudding and green salad. Only our servant at church in the afternoon. Mr and Mrs Scrase and Molly French drank tea with us, and Joseph Fuller came in after churchtime and smoked 2 or three pipes with me. Mr and Mrs Scrase stayed till near 7 o’clock when we all went down to Mr French’s (except Joseph Fuller) and drank some syllabub. Mr and Mrs Scrase went away home from thence about 8:40, and my wife and I came home about 9:40. Sadly disordered all day, not having recovered Friday night’s debauch. Today John Cayley called on me and informed me that he would put me up as much butter as I required.

Monday, July 3 1758

In the morning Charles Diggens came over and took up a coat and some trimmings for Mr Porter; he stayed and breakfasted with us… In the afternoon my brother came over, he being a-going to Whitesmith Fair. He also called as he went back. In the evening went down to Jones’s, there being a public vestry. We received of Peter Adams in cash 8.15.6, and we gave him up his bond (and a proper receipt upon it) which he gave this parish to pay them the 18d per week towards the maintenance of a female bastard child born of the body of Ann Cain, of which child he was the putative father. The said bond was dated the 4th April, 1752; so he is now forever quit of the charge of the said child. The money we received was as under:

To money which Mr Burgess had paid before Easter for keeping it1.7.0
To keeping it from Easter till 7 years of age.3.8.6
To cash given the parish to take it4.0.0

Came home about 9:40. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening. Wrote my London letters.

Tuesday, July 4 1758

A great deal of rain fell in the night. After breakfast Thomas Fuller called on me to go to Bayley’a Lane with him in order to talk to one John Sicklemore about some money which appears to the parish to be due to the wife of Will Slarks, whose family is now become chargeable to this parish. We accordingly went and talked with the man, who says there is something due to her from him as being something of a trustee to her. And he has assured us he will speedily pay it. We came home round by Chiddingly and came home about 2:40… In the evening Mr Elless and I walked down to Peter Adams’s to look at Mr Carman’s wool which is lodged there. We came home round by the common where there were 3 or 4 boys at cricket; we stayed there near an hour. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening, who stayed with us till near 11 o’clock.

Wednesday, July 5 1758

At home all the forenoon though but very little do. About noon we had a very heavy shower of rain which lasted near half an hour… About 3 o’clock I walked down in the park where there was a match of cricket played between our parish and the parish of Framfield when our parish was beaten by about 57 runs. There were two innings played out of both sides though Framfield fetched as many their first innings as this parish did at both, and in my judgment Framfield are the best gamesters in each part. I lost about l½d and came back about 8:40. Mr Thomas Calverley Jr called on me in my absence. Thomas Davy sat with us a while in the evening.

Thursday, July 6 1758

…Paid Dame Cornwell 2/6 for knitting me 1 pair of white worsted hose… This day Molly Hook went away; we gave her 2/6 for the time the girl had been with us. In the afternoon about 5 o’clock, or something before, we had a very heavy shower of rain and several loud claps of thunder, which seemed to be far distant from this place. In the evening read part of Thomson’s “Winter”.

Friday, July 7 1758

At work in my garden great part of the forenoon… In the evening read part of The London Magazine. A good deal of rain today. We received a letter from my wife’s father therein he acquaints us Nanny, my wife’s sister, is like to live but a very short time. In the evening Thomas Davy at our house.

Saturday, July 8 1758

…About 10:30 my brother-in-law Sam Slater came to inform us that my wife’s sister died yesterday about 4 o’clock. He stayed and dined with us on a light pudding, some mutton chops and green salad. A very wet day almost continually. My brother went away about 4:30. In the evening finished reading of Thomson’s Seasons, which I think a very good thing, he in my opinion having described nature very justly.

Sunday, July 9 1758

In the morning my brother came over; he stayed and breakfasted with us, and about 10:50 we both set off together, he for Framfield, and I for Lewes. I dined with Mrs Madgwick on part of a loin of veal roasted, a suet pudding and white cabbage (my wife at home dining on some bread and cheese). I paid Mr Ed Verral in cash 0.17.6, which with 4d in bad copper which he allowed makes 0.17.10 and is in full for the sum total collected in this present year upon all the briefs read in our church. I called upon Mrs Scrase. I came home about 7:20… A very wet showery day. In the evening read some little of Sherlock of judgment. Neither my wife or self at church all day.

Monday, July 10 1758

In the morning sent Mr Sam Durrant of Lewes by John Streeter, Mayfield post, in cash £20 in order for him to send me a bill in lieu thereof…one eighteen-shilling piece…one quarter of ditto… [and other coins]. Rec’d back by the post from Mr Sam Durrant one bill on Sir Joseph Hankey and partners, dated tomorrow, 21 day’s date, No. 2032, value £20. At home all day. In the evening read part of Sherlock on judgment.

Tuesday, July 11 1758

Sent Messrs Margesson and Collison enclosed in a letter by Messrs Beckett and Shelley the bill, value £20, which I received yesterday from Mr Sam Durrant… In the afternoon posted my day book and began to make the window tax books for Mr Burgess and Joseph Fuller. A confirmation today for Lewes Deanery at Lewes. Paid Dame Dallaway 2/- for making a crape gown for my wife. In the evening Joseph Fuller Jr smoked a pipe or two with me. Almost a continual wet day.