Monday, September 29 1755

Sent Mr Will Roase the bill I rec’d of John Cayley on Weeks (the 24th instant), value: 6.6.6, and likewise sent him my draft on Messrs Margesson and Collison… for £20, which makes together 26.6.6. Sent the aforementioned bills in a letter by George Richardson, who called on me in his way to Lewes. This day William Weller and Samuel Elphick came over to Hoathly and signed Samuel’s indentures, in which he is to serve 7 yrs from the 24th June 1754, but on a previous agreement he is to let him free at any time. Paid for bread ½d. Paid Nicholls in goods and money 8/- in full for 8 days’ work. Paid Master Bridgman 6d for a breast of lamb of 2½ lbs this day. Sent Mr John Crouch a bill on Messrs Margesson and Collison… value £10. My brother Moses came over in the afternoon and stayed all night.

Friday, September 26 1755

At home all day and busy. Mrs Rice and her daughter drank tea here. Paid Mr Edward Lashmer for 18 lbs 6d sugar, 8/9. Paid Francis Smith in cash 14.3.6, which with the £10 I gave him the 22nd instant makes 24.3.6 and is in full for money paid in London for me this week (to wit):

To Messrs Margesson and Collison        24.0.0

for 6 alphabets of round hand copies    0.3.6

Thomas Davy here in the evening. Stayed and went to cribbage. I lost 1 gallon of pears valued at 1½d. Borrowed of Thomas Davy in cash 5/-. George Richardson called on us in his way home from Dallington.

Thursday, September 25 1755

To send for next week as under:

3 prs boys! worsted at 10d, 12d and 11d

6 prs pink and red yarn at r*

6 prs boys’ welsh at 1

6 prs men’s worsted at 20d

1 woman’s shroud hca and nca*

2 men’s ditto nea *

2 sheets nca *

1 boy’s ock & oca * Paid Mrs Virgoe 7/6, which with 5/- paid her the 17th instant ls in full for the 12/6 borrowed of her the 12th instant. Paid for bread 1d. George Richardson called on us in his way to Dallington. Wrote to Edward Russell for the balance of his account. Moses came over in the afternoon. Rec’d of Joseph Fuller Jr 1.4.5 in full for a greatcoat. Paid for 2 stone of beef 4/-. Paid for butter 3d. Joseph Fuller stayed and smoked a pipe in the evening. My wife read the 20th and 21st numbers of The Guardian to me, which I think extremely good, the first of which shows how indispensable a duty forgiveness is and the last how much mankind must be delighted with the prospect of the happiness of a future state.

*abbreviation unknown

Monday, September 22 1755

Paid Francis Smith in cash 11.13.3 for money he paid for me in London as under:

To Otway                                  10.0.0

To Stiller in full,                      1 4 0

Pd tor 1 pr shoes and 1 pr pumps        0.9.3

Gave Francis Smith in cash £10 in part of money he is to pay in London for me this week. Doctor Snelling called on me and ordered a poultice of conserve of roses, and about 6 gr of camphor in each poultice, to be laid to my eye, with purging twice a week with sal glabuler [Glauber salts] and manna. George Richardson called on me. I gave him 1¼ yds silk and silk to have a bonnet made, all value n c o [?]. Mrs Diggens called on us. Moses came over after dinner to see us. Paid for bread etc. 2½d. Very busy all day. Thomas Nicholls at work for me today.