Got up in the morning about 3 o’clock. Weighed of my rags; sent them by Smith’s cart to Waldron in order to go by Noakes the Wadhurst carrier to Loose, where I am to have 29/6 per cwt. I am to pay carriage. The weight was 6 cwt O qr 18 lbs, 9.1.9½. Very busy all day. Paid for bread 4d. Mr George Beard and my brother Moses and Mr Slater and Nanny Slater came to see us and dined with us. Mr Beard, Mr Slater and my brother went away about 5 o’clock. Rec’d of my brother in cash 5.5.0, which with 11.8.0 I am to receive of their wool money makes 16.13.0, which I am to pay Mr Thomas Calverley & Son in full for my mother. Sarah Mott drank tea here.
Sunday, October 19 1755
Rec’d of Joseph Fuller 1 shoulder mutton 4½ lbs, 13½d. My brother William came over to see us; stayed and dined with us and stayed till 7 o’clock. Paid for bread 1d.
Saturday, October 18 1755
At home all day and busy. Wrote to William Rice for the balance of his account and gave him 14 days to the bringing it… Rec’d of Francis Smith a receipt from Margesson and Collison, value £10, and 11/- I gave him the l4th October was reckoned in the cash I paid him yesterday, so that both of it’s in full for the 10.11.0 I gave him the l4th October. Paid for bread 1d.
Friday, October 17 1755
Paid Frank Smith… 6.11.5 in full of all accounts to the 9th October. My brother Moses came over and dined with us and stayed till about 6 o’clock in the evening. I wrote out Mr J. Shoesmith’s, Mr Edward Miller’s, Mr Robert Turner’s and Mr Samuel Gibbs’s bill.
Thursday, October 16 1755
At home all day. Messrs Grant, Barlow and Wigginton’s rider called on me. In the evening wrote out Mr Coates’s, Joseph Fuller’s and John Watford’s bills. Paid for 2 lbs of beef 6d.
Wednesday, October 15 1755
At home all day. Paid for milk ½d. Nothing more of moment; only posted part of my day book. My wife read part of Clarissa Harlowe to me in the evening as I sat a-posting my book.
Tuesday, October 14 1755
At home all day. Paid Francis Smith in cash 10.11.0 which he is to pay in London for me. Paid for bran 2d; paid for 1 hundred [i.e., hundredweight] walnuts 6d…. In the evening about 8 o’clock Mr John Dulake of Waldron brought me 2 tuns of salt and other things from Lewes.
Monday, October 13 1755
Rec’d of Samuel Elphick 6/10 in full for his indentures, which I saw William Fuller and him cancel today in my kitchen. Rec’d of John Jones the 21/- I lent him the 16th day of July. Paid John Jenner of Hailsham in goods 16/11¼ and in cash 10/2, which is in full for hats I this day rec’d from him under:
6 hats at 2/- 0.12.0
4 ditto at 2/6 0.10.0
3 hats at 13 0.3.3
l ditto 0.1.10
N.B.: I charged 13½ lbs of lamb’s wool at 4½d, which I am to send on Saturday. Paid the postboy 9/- for 1 dozen women’s cloth pattens I received this day from Thomas Freeman. My brother Moses came over and stayed about 2 hours.
Sunday, October 12 1755
At home all day. Not at church all day. No churching in the morning. My wife very bad with the rheumatism. Paid for bread 1d.
Saturday, October 11 1755
At home all day and busy. Paid for part of a neck veal weight 4 lbs, l4d. Rec’d of Joseph Fuller 3 tod 20 lbs of wool at 7d, 3.7.8. Rec’d of Richard Carter by wool and money 5/- in full for making a bond for him in April last. This day weighed of my wool; to wit, 334 fleeces, weight 20 tod 20 lbs, which I have sold to Messrs Reeder, Cox & Co. at 19/- per ton. Paid for butter 3d. This day I left Mr Samuel Virgoe’s shop and I owe him l¼ years’ rent, 12/6. Paid Francis Smith… in full for money he paid this week in town for me [including] … for stamping Samuel Elphick’s indentures, 0.3.6… Rec’d of Mrs Mary Virgoe the 27/ lent her the 8th instant. My brother Moses came over and helped me pack my wool.