The Diary, 1754–1765
…In the evening, there being a public vestry held at John Jones’s on parish affairs, about 6:20 I went to it. Our company which constituted the same was Mr Thomas Carman, Joseph Durrant, Edward Foord, John Nutley and myself. There being so small a number of people, we did no business of any consequence. Came home about 8:20, and, I am sure, very sober, for I hardly drank two spoonfuls of anything.
Dame Akehurst, being to brew for me tomorrow, took part of my servant’s bed.
In the morning my late servant Mary Martin came to see me and breakfasted with me and also dined with me on a bullock’s heart pudding and turnips. She and Mrs Carman, who bought some goods in the shop, drank tea with me. At home all day and pretty busy. In the evening wrote my London letters. In the evening my late servant went home.
A remarkable fine season for the time of year. But how great the gloom that hangs on my melancholy brow! I who used to have a mind calm and serene am now tumult and confusion. How happy a state is wedlock when compared with a single life if we have an agreeable partner, as was once my happy lot.
Myself and servant at church in the morning… I dined on a bullock’s heart pudding and greens. After dinner Thomas Durrant and I walked to Laughton Church where we heard a sermon preached by the Rev Mr Lowden, Curate of Laughton, from part of Revelation 21:27: “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth…” After churchtime we walked to Mr Edward Shoesmith’s, where we drank tea and stayed and spent the evening. Came home about 8:10.
…John Watford, a-gardening for me all day, dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some bullock’s heart fried… At home all day and not busy. Thomas Durrant took part of my bed.
…In the afternoon Molly French and a kinswomen of hers, Mrs Thatcher, paid me a visit and stayed and drank some coffee with me (for tea they drink none).
They also stayed and spent the evening with me, together with Joseph and Richard Fuller and T. Durrant. We played at brag an hour or two. I won 4½d. They all supped with me on some bread and cheese and bread and butter and went away about 11:20…
Rec’d of Thomas Braizer of Laughton in cash £9, of which 4.10.0 is in full for 1 year’s interest due the 26th June last on a freehold mortgage, and the remaining 4.10.0 is in full for l year’s interest due on a copyhold mortgage the 24th day of November last, both of which I received for the use of myself and the other devisees in trust of Mr Will Piper deceased…
At home all day and not very busy. In the evening Joseph Fuller Jr sat with me some time. Let me once more describe my uneasy situation, but at the same time acknowledge the many blessings of Providence which I enjoy far superior to many of my fellow creatures perhaps far more deserving of them than myself. But alas! what afflicts me is the loss of my dear Peggy,though in this I in no ways repine at the allwise dispensations of Providence. For I am well assured whatever is by the appointment of heaven is best for us, and I think it my duty to cheerfully submit… [131 words omitted]…
No one but a servant to trust the care of my concerns to or the management of my household affairs, which are now all confusion. My affairs abroad are neglected by my confinement at home, and were I to be more from home, my affairs there perhaps might still suffer a greater injury from my absence… [16 words omitted]… and for want of the company of the more softer sex and through my overmuch confinement I know I am become extreme awkward, and a certain roughness and boistrousness of disposition has seized on my mind. So the want of those advantages which flow from society and a free intercourse with the world and a too great delight in reading have brought my mind to that great degree of moroseness that it is neither agreeable to myself, nor can my company be so to others.
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Rec’d of John Sturt by the payment of his wife in cash 2.14.6 in full. At home all day and pretty busy.
…I dined on a piece of beef boiled and an apple pudding and turnips. At home all day and pretty busy.
…In the forenoon I, in company with John Piper, rode to Maresfield, there being a sitting of justices for the a surveyors of the highways’ business. Mr T. Carman, one of our surveyors, being a man young in office and I presume willing to show his power, had purposed to return several people in this parish as defaulters in their work on the roads. As many of the number were poor indigent people, I, at the desire of Mr Porter and several more of the principal inhabitants, went in order to plead in their behalf. Some of them I persuaded him not to return, and upon the whole there was a warrant granted for only three.
I stayed and dined there with a great number of people at a second ordinary; viz., on roast beef, a boiled leg of mutton, plum pudding, a ham of bacon, carrots, turnips and cabbage. We came home about 5:40… After I came home I went down to Mr Porter’s, where I stayed the evening. Came home about 10:10, after which I wrote my London letters.
Myself at church in the morning… After churchtime Thomas Durrant and myself walked over to Framfield where we dined with my brother on a leg of mutton boiled, a piece of bacon, two chickens roasted, a batter pudding and cabbage. We stayed and spent the afternoon at my brother’s and came home about 5:20. We called in at Joseph Fuller’s, where we stayed and smoked a pipe or two.