The Diary, 1754–1765
Paid needle-maker 8/9 in full for needles and shirt buttons bought of him today… Mr John Long dined with me on some sheep’s liver and rashers of pork fried. Paid Mr Hook 20/3 in part of his bill on the parish account.
In the evening Mr Bannister gave myself, Joseph Fuller, T. Durrant and Mr Long a treat (at my house), he having lately made a seizure of some brandy from the smugglers. Mr Long took part of my bed.
Mr Long breakfasted with me and then went a-way. Jarvis Bexhill, buying some things in the shop, dined with me on a sheep’s lights, mint and head boiled and some greens. At home all day and very little to do.
In the evening my old acquaintance Sam Jenner came to see me, having just finished his business as cider assistant. He supped with me and took part of my bed. A very fine pleasant day. My servant taken very ill this afternoon. Oh, how unpleasant and irregular is my present state of life when compared to that in my dear Peggy’s lifetime.
Myself at church in the forenoon… My friend Sam Jenner dined with me on part of a sparerib (made me a present of by Dame Durrant) roasted and some applesauce. After dinner we walked over to Framfield where we stayed and drank tea with my brother and sister. Came home about 6:20.
In the evening I read to my friend a sermon preached at the last visitation held at Lewes, written by Mr Nicholl, Vicar of Westham in this county, and part of three discourses written by James Walder, a Baptist preacher, the last of which I esteem the best performance, it being in my judgment written with a true spirit of piety and in a pretty modest style. And I presume it proper for to be read by any sect whatsoever, there being nothing more in it than what is the duty of all Christians both to practise and believe.
My late servant Mary Martin came to see the morning and breakfasted with me, as did Sam Jenner who went away immediately afterwards. Mr Vine at Heathfield, coming to consult me about some parish business, dined with me in company with Mary Martin on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a sheep’s heart pudding and some greens. My servant Mary Martin stayed with me all day and also took part of my servant’s bed.
About 5:20 myself, Joseph Fuller Jr, Thomas Durrant and Robert Hook set out for the Black Boy in order, to meet some more company there to spend the evening with our old acquaintance Mr Thornton, who was formerly excise officer in this place, but has lately relinquished the excise and taken the Black Boy. We accordingly arrived there about 6:50 where we supped on some cold boiled beef and bread and cheese in company with Mr Peters, John Jones, John Durrant of Waldron, Dr Stone, George Cornwell, James Martin, John Smith, Richard Savage of Framfield and Mr James Fuller of Hoathly. We spent 2/6 each; then myself and companions came away and came home about 12:20 very sober, where I found my worthy friend Sam Jenner, who was come to accompany me on a journey tomorrow and took part of my bed.
In the evening, before I went and after I came home, wrote my London letters and also wrote out a bill for my late servant.
…Thomas Durrant and my friend Sam Jenner breakfasted with me, and then we set out on our journey, there being a sale of condemned goods to be sold at the Custom House at Newhaven, some of which I went with an intent to purchase.
Thomas Durrant accompanied us as far as West Firle where we parted. Sam Jenner and I dined with my very worthy friend Mr Tipper on a knuckle of veal and a piece of bacon boiled and some greens. My brother, who came over in the morning to stand the shop in my absence, and my late servant dined at my house on a breast of mutton boiled and some greens.
I bought at the sale 56 lbs of currants at only 50/- per hundredweight (which I paid for) and came away from Newhaven immediately. We walked home by Lewes and stayed some time at Mr Madgwick’s and ate and drank with him. Thank God came home to my own house about 11:30, very a sober and not greatly fatigued. My late servant went away in the evening and my brother stayed all night. Spent today 12½d.
My brother stayed and breakfasted with me and then went home. Sam Jenner at work for me and dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a piece of pork boiled and some Savoy greens. At home all day and very little to do. Sam Jenner took part of my bed.
In the day read part of Nelson’s Law of Manors. A very fine day. My servant very ill. Oh, how different the scene now and in my wife’s life. Then all was calm and serene; now nought but tempest and irregularity.
Rec’d of John Vine Jr by the payment of his son 10/- in full for ½ year’s land tax due St Michael last… Rec’d of Joseph Fuller 1 bullock’s cheek value 10d. Sam Jenner at work for me the whole day and dined with me on a bullock’s cheek stewed and the broth. Paid Mr Ben Shelley in cash 4.3.0 in full for the same sum he paid Mr Will Post in full on my account yesterday.
At home all day and pretty busy. Sam Jenner took part of my bed. In the evening Robert Hook and I played a few games of cribbage. I won 6d, but in lieu thereof gave him a supper of bullock’s cheek broth. Oh, how unpleasant is my present situation! What’s life without a sincere friend? And when that valuable thing happens in a wife, how great the blessing!
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day and thank God pretty busy. In the evening very busy a-writing, for during the evening I wrote 8 letters and some of them very long ones…
In the afternoon several smart showers of snow. How pleasant was a winter evening in the lifetime of my dear Peggy! The greatest worldly happiness and pleasure I then knew was the enjoyment of her entertaining and delightful company, as much alone as possible. But now to be alone is to be unhappy, or at best unpleasant…
After breakfast Mr John Robinson, servant to Mr William Margesson, called on me, and I paid him in cash 21.8.0, and by a bill on his master Mr Will Margesson, payable at sight, value £30, which leaves due on my account with Mr Margesson the sum of thirty pounds on my account of goods. I then gave him an order for some goods, and he stayed and dined on some beefsteaks fried and mint pudding. At home all day…
A Very cold day and several very smart showers of snow fell. In the evening it snowed very much. My worthy friend Sam Jenner came in the evening, and the weather being very bad, he took part of my bed. Sam Jenner and I played a few games of cribbage in the evening. I lost 2 games, being very incapable to play, having a just heard of a book debt of £40 I am like to lose–and that in a measure through the knavery of the man and my own too great indulgence, showing him more favor than I am now by woeful experience like to find he deserves. But who can tell as the world goes the man that is now honest? For what by our extravagant living and an indolent way of life we are got into, makes custom so prevalent he that rather than retrench our expenses, we too often see people run out of their estates and defraud their creditors.
In the morning immediately after he arose, Sam Jenner went away. No service at our church in the morning, Mr Porter being at Chailey. In the forenoon my old and I wish I could say worthy acquaintance Mr Tucker of Lewes came to see me and dined with me on a bullock’s mint pudding, part of a bullock’s cheek hashed and some boiled tripe. Myself at church in the afternoon, where we had a sermon preached by the Rev Mr Griffiths, Curate of Ripe, from Ecclesiastes 12:15: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”
During churchtime my foolish and drunken visitant went home. I drank tea at Thomas Durrant’s and then we walked up to Joseph Fuller’s, where we spent the evening till about 8:10. Sam Jenner came in the evening and took part of my bed. Last night we had a pretty deal of snow fell, it being shoe-deep in the morning, and a sharp frost.