Saturday, January 19 1760

Paid Mr Heaver’s son, the miller at Isfield, 6/4 in full for good received by him today; viz.,

To 1 bushel oatmeal0.5.0
To 2 bushels pollard0.1.4

Paid John Gosling in cash and goods 3/- in full for 6 pairs men’s out-seamed tan gloves received by him today. Paid Ben Shelley in cash 2.1.9 in full for the same sum be paid in London for me this week; viz.,

17th To Mr Thomas Neatby1.16.9
16th To dyeing a cloak scarlet0.5.0

We dined on some pork bones roasted in the oven and applesauce. At home all day and pretty busy. A very cold day.

Sunday, January 20 1760

Myself, wife and servant at church in the morning… We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. No service at our church in the afternoon, Mr Porter preaching at Laughton. Our servant went to Laughton church. In the afternoon Mr John Robinson, Mr William Margesson’s rider, came to our house. He drank some coffee at our house and also stayed all night.

In the evening we balanced our accounts, and I paid him in cash £18, which is in full on account of Messrs Margesson and Collison. I then paid him in cash £20 on account of his master Mr Will Margesson, and gave him a bill at sight on his master Mr Will Margesson, payable to Mr John Robinson, dated tomorrow, No. 426, value 18.7.0, which with sundry returns and abatements leaves due to Mr Margesson £20.

Monday, January 21 1760

Mr John Robinson stayed and breakfasted with us and then went away. In the day busy a-selling of Mr Whitfield’s household goods. Rec’d of Roger Vallow by his son 2/2¼ in full on account of Mr Whitfield. Rec’d of Mr French by the payment of his wife 2/10½ in full for Mr Whitfield. Paid Mrs French by a book debt and goods 1.10.0 in full for 60 lbs of butter she put up for me (that is, I got it put up for Mr Thomas Scrase at Lewes). In the forenoon Mr Scrase came to see me and dined with us on a rabbit stewed, some sausages and the remains of yesterday’s dinner. I received of him in cash 2.9.4 which is in full on his account except the butter I had put up for him this year.

Thomas Scrase Dr.
To 26 yards Irish at 2/22.16.4
To 60 lbs butter} the year 1750
To 31 do.}2.5.6
5.1.10
Per contra Cr.
To 2 wigs for my brother William1.11.6
To one do. myself1.1.0
Rec’d in cash today2.9.4
5.1.10

so that there remains due to me only for the butter that I got put up for him this year, which was 104 lbs. Mr Scrase stayed and spent the afternoon with me and then went home. Master Hook and I played a few games of cribbage in the evening; I lost 2d. The money I sold Mr Whitfield’s goods for was 0.12.11 (that is, for all I have sold today). In the evening wrote my London letters. Very little to do all day. My wife a good deal disordered with the rheumatism.

Tuesday, January 22 1760

Rec’d of Thomas Jones by the payment of his son 2/9 in full on account of Mr Whitfield. Sold 22d of Mr Whitfield’s goods more today… Charles Diggens drank tea at our house. Borrowed of Mr Laurence Thornton in cash 2.2.0; that is, he left so much silver with me and I had not the opportunity to give him gold for it. At home all day, and but very little to do.

Wednesday, Jan 23 1760

…Rec’d of John Stapley by the payment of his servant boy 19/6 in full on account of the widow Virgoe, and which I am to give her account credit for between her and me… We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of same boiled mutton and turnips.

This day balanced accounts with the widow Virgoe and outset all the money I have received upon her account, as also the guinea I borrowed of her the 20th June, 1758, and there remains due to me the sum of 7/6… Rec’d 2/4 for more of Mr Whitfield’s goods which I sold today. At home all day, and but very little to do.

Thursday, January 24 1760

Rec’d of Mr Porter 4/9 in full on account of Mr Alexander Whitfield. Richard Fuller carried my wife down to Mr French’s to dinner… About 7:40 Master Durrant and I walked down to Mr French’s, where I played at brag till suppertime. My wife and I lost 3/7. I supped there on some roast ducks and roast chickens, part of a cold boiled buttock of beef, cold ham, a cold chicken pasty, tarts, puffs etc., in company with Mr and Mrs Porter, Joseph Durrant and his wife, Joseph and Thomas Fuller, Ms Virgoe and Mrs Atkins, William and John Piper.

We came home about 3:20 and thank God very sober, as was all the company (except Dame Durrant). But I must own it grieves me to lose so much money, and especially as I think it wrong, nor would I ever play, were it not upon the account of being sneered at by the company; not that I think it a crime to play at cards, no farther than the consequences accruing therefrom. As for tradesmen to lose anything considerable, it is a-lessening the stock-in-trade and perhaps injuring the creditors. My wife and I gave Mr French’s maid 6d each.

Friday, January 25 1760

After breakfast I rode over to Framfield, but finding my brother was came to Hoathly, I immediately came home. My brother dined with us on some pork bones boiled, some mutton boiled, and the broth, with turnips and potatoes. Rec’d of my brother in cash 1.14.1½ for

19 lbs pepper at 14½1.2.11½
2 gallons brandy0.11.2

Paid Mr Sam Beckett in cash 2.8.0, it being in full for the same sum paid the 23rd instant to James Baird Esq on account of Lieut Alexander Whitfield. At home all day and very little to do. Our servant sat up with William Vine.

Sunday, January 27 1760

No service at our church in the morning, Mr Porter preaching at Laughton. Thomas Davy, myself and Mr Long set out with an intent to go to Chiddingly Church, but when we got almost there we found there was no teaching. We came back again immediately. Mr Long dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of some boiled mutton and turnips. My wife, self and servant at church in the afternoon… In the evening read three of Tillotson’s sermons.

Monday, January 28 1760

We dined on the remains of yesterday’s [dinner] with the addition of a plain suet pudding, turnips and potatoes. After dinner rode to Henry Osborne’s to talk with him about my debt, but he was not at home. Bett Mepham drank tea with my wife.

In the evening I heard that Edmund Elphick was absconded, who is about £5 in my debt, and myself and Master Hook walked down to talk with John Browne about it, and we found the report to be true, for my advantage. We came home about 9:20. Master Hook supped with us. In the evening wrote my London letters…