The Diary, 1754–1765
Sent Mr William Margesson enclosed in a letter (which letter was enclosed in another for Mr Thomas Calverley and for him to deliver) by Benjamin Shelley and delivered to his brother the bill I received of Joseph Fuller Jr the 31st ult., value 22.9.6, as also the bill I received of him the 21st instant, value 21.16.0…
At home all day and very little to do. Dame Akehurst, being to help my servant wash tomorrow, took part of her bed.
Dame Akehurst a-washing for me all day, and she, together with a woman that bought a great many goods in the shop, dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some potatoes boiled. At home all day and thank God very busy. Dame Akehurst took part of my servant’s bed.
Dame Akehurst, a-washing for me all day, dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with some potatoes boiled. At home all day and very little to do. A very remarkable wet day. In the evening we had a very severe gust of wind, and a great deal of hail fell.
Paid Dame Akehurst 18d for her 2 days’ work.
A very windy night and in the first part of the morning it was prodigious high and did a great deal of mischief. I dined on a plain suet pudding and turnips. …A very unpleasant day; the wind very high and extreme cold. At home all day and but very little to do. In the evening Joseph Fuller Jr and Thomas Durrant sat with me some time.
I dined on a piece of beef boiled and turnips. Sent Mr Thomas Martin at Hailsham by his servant in cash £5 on account. At home all day and but very little to do. Took the least present money this week of any one week this 10 months.
Myself and servant at church in the morning… Bett Carman dined with me on a piece of beef boiled, turnips and potatoes. Myself and servant at church in the afternoon. The text in James 1:22: “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” From which words we had an excellent sermon–I think as good a plain discourse as I ever heard, and as sound divinity.
Joseph Fuller Jr and Thomas Durrant drank some coffee with me and sat with me some time, to whom I read one of Tillotson’s sermons. Not from home all day except twice at church.
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day and very little to do indeed. In the evening wrote my London letters. A very dull time for trade, and money scares.
Very little to do all day. In the evening I, in company with Joseph and Richard Fuller and Thomas Durrant, went to the sign of the Chequer in Framfield Parish in order to spend the evening, the people who keep the house having laid out a good deal of money with me. We supped there on some Welsh rabbits and stayed till about 10:20. Spent 19d each and came home about 11:20. I cannot say I was thoroughly sober, but not so much in liquor but I could walk very well. But however, I was the worse for liquor.
In the morning Mr Bannister and I walked to Chiddingly, he in order to survey a victular [victualler?] and I for a walk, it being a fine morning. We came home about 12:10 …
Very little to do in the shop all day. In the evening wrote the receipts for the two first quarters of the land tax. Joseph Fuller Jr smoked a pipe or two with me. I think since I have lived at Hoathly I never knew trade so dull or money so scarce, the whole neighborhood being almost reduced to. poverty.
This morning were married at our church (with license) Joseph Durrant and Elizabeth Reeve, both of this parish, and they, together with Richard Hope, happening to come just as I was at breakfast, breakfasted with me.
This match appears to me to be one of our country sort; that is, the woman is pregnant if her own word is to be taken for it, and I dare say in affair a woman’s word for once may be taken for fact.
John Piper met a coming in at dinnertime, dined with me on a piece of beef boiled and turnips. A very wet day, and I think never less business in the shop than today. Papered out a bag of nails today.