Wednesday, July 27 1763

…In the morning Robert Hook and James Marchant, coming to take up some clothes, breakfasted with me. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some French beans. At home all day and pretty busy. In the evening Sam Jenner, coming in, took part of my bed.
 

Tuesday, July 26 1763

Sent Mr Thomas Calverley enclosed in a letter by Shelley the bill I received of Mr Thomas Bennett yesterday…  John Watford at work for me part of the day. He and Mr Long dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a piece of bacon boiled and some garden beans.

In the evening walked down to Halland having an invitation from Mr Coates. I supped there on a piece of cold roast beef and a cold venison pasty in company with Mr Coates and his brother and another of his acquaintance, Mr Turner; Mr Thomas Parker, Joseph Fuller Jr and Sr, Roger Perry, James Fuller, Thomas Carman, Mr Bannister, the Rev Mr Herring, Mr Holman, Mr Hicks, John Saxby, Will Shoesmith Jr, Edward Shoesmith, Francis Turner Jr and Sr, Henry Godley, James Hutson, Joseph Durrant, Thomas Braizer, Master Roffe, Richard Goad, Mr Jeremiah French and Mr John French and several more. We stayed and spent the evening there till about 12 o’clock and then came home, but not one of us thoroughly sober. Mr Francis Weller took part of my bed.

Monday, July 25 1763

Went to Halland in the morning twice, and last time I received of Mr James Fallowfield in cash 4.4.6 in full for, my bill of goods delivered to Halland during the time the family has been there. I then gave him cash for the following bill, value £10:

N69
1763London July 18
I promise to pay Mr James Fallowfield or order, Ten days after date Ten pounds for Messrs. Henry, Richard, and Richard Hoare.
£10.00Will Atkinson

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the afternoon attended the funeral of Mrs Weller and served the same. We carried her to church for interment about 5:40. There was a sermon preached suitable to the occasion from I Corinthians: 15:19; “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” I gave away the following gloves and hatbands:

Crape hatbands to:
1 Mr Francis Weller4. Mr Norton
2. Mr Thomas Bennett5. Mr Porter
3. Mr George Bennett6. Richard Hope
Women’s black ribbon-bound gloves:
1. Mrs Bennett Sr6. Fanny Weller
2. Mrs Bennett, wife of T. Bennett7. Dame Watford
3. Mrs Bennett, wife of G. Bennett8. Dame Fitness
4. Mrs Hope9. Dame Cornwell
5. Elizabeth Weller10. Sal Bridger
Men’s ribbon-bound gloves:
1. Mr Francis Weller7. Thomas Dalloway
2. Mr Thomas Bennett8. Thomas Corwell
3. Mr George Bennett9. Thomas Davy
4. Mr Norton10. Robert Hook
5. Mr Porter11. Joesph Durrant
6. Richard Hope12. John Watford
13. Thomas Turner, or my own dear self.
Maids’ black ribbon-bound gloves:
1. Sally Hope
Total6 crape hatbands, 10 pairs women’s gloves, 13 pairs men’s do., 1 pair maids’ do.

Gave Mr Thomas Bennett cash for a bill value 26.17.8 drawn on Mr John Corke at The Noah’s Ark in Rotherhithe by Edward Budger…

In the evening wrote my London letters; but little to do in shop all day. The assizes for this county were held at Lewes today.

Sunday, July 24 1763

Walked down to Halland twice this morning. Myself nor servant at church in the morning. Sam Jenner dined with me on a shoulder of venison and a plain rice pudding. Myself and servant both at church in the afternoon…

After churchtime Sam Jenner, Joseph Fuller, Thomas Durrant and myself walked down to Halland (there being a public day) at which was the two judges on the circuit; viz., Lord Chief Justice Pratt and Justice Bathurst; Lord Gage; the Earl of Ashburnham; Mr Pelham of Stanmer; Rose Fuller Esq; Sir John Bridger Kt; Thomas Chowne Esq; William Plumer Esq and a great many gentlemen of all ranks. We neither ate nor drank, but took a survey of the company and saw most of the gentlemen take their coaches and horses and then came home about 7:20.

After we came home T. Durrant and myself walked up to Joseph Fuller’s and smoked a pipe or two and then came home about 8:50 and went to bed very sober about 9:30.

Saturday, July 23 1763

In the morning walked down to Halland. I dined on a cold beef pie and green salad. About 12:20 we had a very severe shower of rain with some distant claps of thunder and several flashes of lightning. My brother came over in the afternoon, and he and Mr Bannister drank tea with me. His Grace the Duke of Newcastle came to Halland and stayed all night, as did the Earl of Ashburnham and several gentlemen. Very busy all day.

Friday, July 22 1763

Richard Hope and James Marchant, coming to take up a suit of clothes, breakfasted with me. John Watford a-gardening and for me part of the day and dined with me on a piece of bacon and some garden beans. At Halland twice today. In the forenoon Mr Porter and I walked up to Mrs. Piper’s to talk with her about some business. Extreme busy all day. Mr Sam Gibbs made me a present of a shoulder of venison, for which I gave his son 12d. In the evening read part of Gordon’s Independent Whig.

Thursday, July 21 1763

This morning about 3:20 died my neighbor, and in a measure [as mother of Francis Weller] my landlady, Mrs Weller, after about 4 days’ illness, aged 69 years…

I dined on a hot beef pie and garden beans. In the afternoon rode to Lewes to get some goods. Drank tea with Mr Madgwick and came home without spending anything about 7:20. Extreme busy today. Walked down to Halland in the morning. Mr Weller took part of my bed.

Wednesday, July 20 1763

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a piece of pork and some garden beans. In the afternoon rode to Mr Carman’s and bought his wool at 8d per lb. I stayed and drank tea and syllabub at Mr Carman’s and came home about 8:20. Finished posting my day book today.

In the evening read part of Gordon’s Independent Whig. Very little to do all day. Oh, the pleasure I used to find in the conversation of that agreeable and firm friend, my ever valuable and beloved wife.

Tuesday, July 19 1763

In the morning I rode down to Whyly and on bought Mr Jeremiah French’s wool at 7¾d per pound. I dined on part of a neck of mutton roasted in the oven and green salad. In the afternoon posted part of my day book. A very wet afternoon, it raining almost incessantly and very hard the whole afternoon. At home all day and but very little to do. In the evening read part of Shakespeare’s Works.

Monday, July 18 1763

Dr Snelling stayed and breakfasted with me and then went away. Paid Mr Francis Weller in cash 7.10.0, by one year’s land tax and a bill of repairs 10/-, which together makes the sum of £8 and is in full for l year’s rent due for my dwelling-house at Lady Day last, O.S…

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some garden beans. In the evening sold mine and my brother’s wool to Mr Scoldfield at £8 per pk in the place to weigh and pay. In the evening T. Durrant and I walked down to Mr French’s to buy his wool, but it being late in the evening and he not very well, I did not look upon it. In the evening wrote my London letters. Pretty busy today.