Sunday, February 13 1763

Myself and servant at church in the morning… I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Myself and servant both at church in the afternoon… Rec’d of the Rev Mr Porter £4 in full for the interest of £100 due from him to this parish the 20th Nov. last for the same sum left to this parish by the will of Samuel Atkins Esq deceased, which interest is yearly to be distributed among the poor of this parish according to the will and liking of the minister and officers of the parish.

We accordingly disposed of the said interest money as follows:

Richard Brazier0.2.0Susan Burrage0.1.0
Edward Babcock0.1.0John Durrant0.4.0
Widow Dan0.2.0Thomas Tester0.6.0
James Emery0.3.0Richard Vinal0.3.0
Peter Adams0.2.0
Richard Heath0.3.0Ann Woods0.1.0
Sam Jenner0.3.0Will Eldridge0.8.0
Richard Prall0.3.0Thomas Ling0.3.0
John Streeter0.2.0Thomas Roase0.5.0
Susan Swift0.2.0Widow Cain0.2.0
Will Starks [Slarks]0.5.0Widow Cornwell0.2.0
Francis Turner0.3.0Will Sinden0.3.0
Widow Trill0.2.0Thomas Dalloway0.2.0
Sarah Thunder0.3William Elphick0.5.0
4.3.0

As the sum given away did exceed the interest money, Mr Porter made it up out of the money given at the sacrament. As there were several people in the list who were not at church, I kept the money for them and they were as under:

James Emery0.3.0
Will Elphick0.5.0
Richard Heath0.3.0
Peter Adams0.2.0
013.0

which money I stand debtor to them for.

After church I and Joseph Fuller went into Mr Porter’s, where we stayed and smoked several pipes of tobacco. Came home about 6:50. Paid Mr Porter 1/- for the burying of John Dan who was buried today. In the evening we had a great deal of snow fall, but no frost. Indeed it snowed at times all day. In the evening read one of Tillotson’s sermons.

Monday, February 14 1763

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a plain suet pudding and Savoy greens. After dinner I walked down to Halland on some business with Mrs Coates concerning the price of raisins, but did not stay.

Pretty busy all day. Master Jenner, coming in the evening, took part of my bed. In the evening wrote my London letters. A very sharp frost in the morning; a good deal of snow fell in the night, but a very fine sunny day. Ah, the continual disquietude of my mind! What course to steer I hardly know…

Tuesday, February 15 or Shrove Tuesday 1763

…A great deal of snow fell in the night and a very hard rain in the forenoon. Sam Jenner dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a piece of pork and some turnips. In the evening Thomas Davy and I played a few games of cribbage; I won of him 10d. Sam Jenner took part of my bed, it being so wet the whole day that he could not get home.

Friday, February 18 1763

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some onion sauce. Mrs Browne drank tea with me, to whom I put out Anne Thomas Vinal to keep for one year from new Lady Day next, for which she is to have 20/- for keeping her, from the parish.

Sam Jenner and I played a few games of cribbage in the evening; neither of us won anything. A very wet day. Oh, a melancholy time! trade prodigious bad and money–none to be got…

Saturday, February 19 1763

Mr John Robinson, servant to Mr Will Margesson, called on me, and I paid him in cash 25.4.0, and the bill value 17.18.0 received of Mr Carman the 12th ult., which leaves due to Mr Willian Margesson on my account of goods £35. I also paid Mr Robison in cash £60 on my account of cash in Mr Margesson’s hands. …

At home all day and pretty busy. Oh, how does the thought of my forever-to-be-remembered wife continually run in my mind. Her charms, her virtues justify the thought she was virtuous, truly virtuous, and that my choice and without any alloy.
 

Sunday, February 20 1763

Mr Porter preaching at Chailey, Mr Chalice, his curate at Ripe, preached at our church. My servant only at church, I being really very ill. Thomas Durrant sat with me all the forenoon. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a plain suet pudding, a piece of a roast goose sent me from James Durrant’s, and cabbage. No service at our church in the afternoon.

Thomas Durrant drank coffee with me. In the evening read 2 of Tillotson’s sermons to Sam Jenner and Thomas Durrant. I being a good deal indisposed, persuaded Sam Jenner to stop all night with me, which he did.

Monday, February 21 1763

A good deal better thank God than what I was yesterday. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the afternoon my brother came over and stayed and drank tea with me… At home all day, but really very little to do. In the evening wrote my London letters. But what shall I do? No trade; no none, no prospect of amending trade–I think it will break my heart!