Thursday, November 13 1755

An acre of land was first fixed to be 40 poles in length and 4 in breadth, or 160 square poles, by a statute of 31st of Edward the first, or in the year of 1301. The six ages of the world are as under: 1st from the creation of the world to the deluge, being 1656 years; the 2nd from the deluge to Abraham’s coming into the land of promise in 2082, containing 426 years; the 3rd from Abraham’s entrance into the promised land to the deliverance of the Hebrews out of Egypt in the year of the world 2525, including 430 years; the 4th from the going out of Egypt to the foundation of Solomon’s temple in the year of the world 2992, being 479 years; the 5th from Solomon’s laying the foundation of the Temple to the Babylonish captivity in the year of the world 3416, containing 424 years; the 6th from the Babylonish captivity to the birth of Jesus Christ, which happened in the year of the world 4,000 and includes 584 years.

After dinner was sent for over to Framfield. I found my mother very bad. Came home about 8:10. Paid for bread ½d. Gave Richard Fuller 6d for cleaning their horse.

Wednesday, November 12 1755

At home all day. Paid for butter 3d; paid for milk ½d. Rec’d of Joseph Fuller 1 bullock’s heart worth about 8d. In the evening went down to Mr Porter’s to talk to him about Mrs Virgoe’s affairs. Paid Elizabeth Mepham by Lucy Mepham 5/- for the making of 10 round frocks. Finished posting my day book in the evening.

Sunday, November 9 1755

Not at church in the morning, on account of my looking for Mr Tucker while the people were at church. Mrs Virgoe sent for me to acquaint me that she that morning had received a letter from Mr Dungate, wherein he told her he had orders from Mrs Edwards to prosecute her unless she paid the money due from her late husband to Mrs Edwards in 4 weeks time, upon which, after dinner, Mr Joseph Burgess and myself went to talk with Mr John Burgess of Rotherfield about it and came home about 7 o’clock. When I came home I found word sent from Framfield to acquaint me my mother was very ill. I got Master Durrant’s man to walk over to Framfield with me, where I found my mother better, but I thought still very dangerously ill. We came home about 10:45.

Saturday, November 8 1755

Mr Minifie called on me again in the morning; I gave him orders for 2 half-pieces of napped rug at 4/3. Before the Reformation ⅓ of the best benefices in England were appropriated to abbeys and other religious houses, 190 of which were dissolved by Henry VIII, whose yearly revenue amounted to 2,653,000 pounds per annum, a great part of which went to Rome, the governors and governesses of several of the richest of them being foreigners residing in Italy. Paid Halland gardener 3/5 in full. At home all day. A remarkable quantity of rain fell today and in the night. Paid for milk ½d. In the evening read Tournefort’s Voyage into the Levant, where I find the Turks think the dead are relieved by prayer. There is yearly spent in the Seraglio 40,000 beeves, besides the purveyors are to, furnish daily 200 muttons, 100 lambs or goats, according to the season, 10 veals, 200 hens, 200 prs of pullets, 100 pr of pigeons, 50 green geese.

Friday, November 7 1755

At home all day. Paid for bread 1d. Rec’d of William Sinden ½ bushel wheat. Rec’d of Joseph Fuller 1 leg of mutton 6¼ lbs, value 18½d. My brother Moses breakfasted with us. Paid for baking 1d. Mr Bulcock, Messrs Masfen’s rider, called on me. I paid him 7.9.0 by bill I drew on Messrs Margesson and Collison… in full except 1 parcel. I spent the evening at Jones’s in company with Mr Bulcock and Mr Minifie, partner with Mr James Jordan. Gave Mr Bulcock an order for 1 piece of yard wide at 31/-. Came home about 10:30. My uncle Hill called and stayed about 1 hour at my house. He was in liquor. Appointed with us to dine with him on Sunday the 23rd instant.