Wednesday, December 19 1764

We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day; a very cold day. In the afternoon my brother Moses and cousin Thomas Ovendean came to see me and stayed and spent the evening and supped with me on the remains of today’s dinner and bread and cheese and apple pie. They stayed till about 9:40 and then went away.

I think I never saw a more stupid young fellow in my life than my cousin Thomas Ovendean; his discourse is one continued flow of oaths almost without any intermission.

Rec’d of Joseph Fuller 3 stone beef at 2/-, 0.6.0.

Tuesday, December 18 1764

Sent Mr John Crouch enclosed in a letter by Benjamin Shelley 1 bill on Mr Will Margesson dated today, 30 days’ date, No. 634, value £10. I dined on some cold venison pie. At home all day and pretty busy. In the evening Sam Jenner came in and we played a few games of cribbage; I won 2d. Paid Thomas Prall 2/- in full to this day. Sam Jenner took part of my bed. A very cold frosty day.

Monday, December 17 1764

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day and pretty busy. In the evening wrote my London letters. A very cold frosty day. Paid Mr Thomas Carman 4/- in full for the surveyors’ tax due from Mr John Vine’s assigns.
 

Sunday, December 16 1764

Myself and servant at church in the morning… I dined at Joseph Durrant’s on a piece of bacon boiled and a piece of pork and cabbage and turnips, a roast goose and applesauce. My servant at home dined on a venison pie. Myself not at church in the afternoon, being quite ill with a cold. My servant at church. Thomas Durrant and Sam Jenner drank tea with me, to whom and Joseph Fuller I read 5 of Tillotson’s sermons.
 

Saturday, December 15 1764

Dame Akehurst a-washing for me today. She and Sam Jenner dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day and pretty busy. Paid Dame Akehurst 2/3 for 2 days’ washing and 1 brewing. At home all day and pretty busy.

Friday, December 14 1764

John Piper, coming in just as I was at dinner, dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Paid John Shelley in cash 10.3.6 in full for the same sum he paid in London for me this week… Dame Akehurst a-washing for me all day. Sam Jenner, coming; in the evening and it being excessive wet, stayed with me all night, as did Dame Akehurst. At home all day and a very wet day. In the evening we played a few games of cribbage; I neither won or lost.

Thursday, December 13 1764

I dined on a piece of beef roasted and horse radish. At home all day and very little to do. In the evening my brother came over and stayed and spent the evening and went home about 8:20. Dame Akehurst, being to wash for me tomorrow, took part of my servant’s bed.
 

Tuesday, December 11 1764

Paid Mr John Harman in cash 1.10.0 in full for the following pipes received of him today:

10 gross middle pipes0.15.0
4 do.          2/- 0.8.0
6 do.          14d0.8.0

I dined on some venison boiled. At home all day and very busy. In the evening Joseph Fuller Jr sat with me some time. A very fine pleasant day. In the evening read part of Homer’s Iliad translated by Pope.

Monday, December 10 1764

Sam Jenner stayed and dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day. In the evening wrote my London letters. Sam Jenner and I played a few games of cribbage in the evening; I lost 6d. Afterwards he went home. Rec’d a letter from Mr Richard Wake at Winton by the post today that the bill value [6.11.0] sent him the 20th ult. came safe to hand.