The Diary, 1754–1765
Sam Jenner at work for me all day and dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Rec’d of Mr Coates per the payment of Mrs Coates 4.3.6 in full. Rec’d of Elizabeth Trill 15/5 in full.
At home all day and pretty busy. Sam Jenner took part of my bed. Oh, how pleasant is a busy active life! It adds fresh life and vigor as it were to the natural man. In the evening Sam Jenner and I played a few games of cribbage.
Sam Jenner at work for me all day and dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Mrs Carman and her servant, buying a great many things in the shop, drank tea with me. At home all day and very busy. In the evening Sam Jenner and I played a few games of cribbage, but neither of us won or lost. Sam Jenner took part of my bed.
In the forenoon Sam Jenner went over to Framfield for me. In the evening read part of Collins’s Peerage of England. Remarkable fine pleasant weather for the season. Rec’d of Elizabeth Akehurst the guinea I lent her the 7th instant. In the morning began stating and settling an account between Thomas Davy and Mr John Gosling, but could not complete it.
Sam Jenner, at work for me, dined with me on a plain suet pudding and greens. At home all day and very little to do. In the evening Mr Henry Dobson, late servant to Mr John Madgwick, and partner with my brother, called at my house and stayed all night.
Mr Dobson stayed and breakfasted with me and then went away… I dined on a hot veal pie. At home all day and but very little to do. In the afternoon my brother came over and stayed an hour or two with me… In the evening Joseph Fuller, T. Durrant, myself and John Piper smoked a pipe or two with Mr Bannister and came home about 10:10, and, I think, not quite sober.
As soon as I had breakfasted, Thomas Durrant and I set out on foot for Lewes where we arrived about 11:10. I paid Mr James Lambert for painting etc. of our parish church clock-face 1.16.0; paid Mr John Lambert 17/- for a set of bell ropes; paid Mr John Turner 21/- for coming to the wife of Thomas German, but she was delivered before he came; paid Mr Josias Smith his bill 11.5.0, all of which is paid on account of the parish. Paid Mrs Mary Roase £20 on account.
I dined at the Star in company with Mr Will Francis on a piece of beef boiled, a rabbit pudding, a shoulder of mutton roasted, a currant bread pudding, greens and green salad. I gave Mr Francis an ordered for some goods. I met with my brother and sister at Lewes and stayed till it was somewhat late. And, we being somewhat in liquor, we stayed all night at the Cats.
This day about 10:10 began an annular eclipse of the sun, but as it was not clear weather during the time, it yielded but an indifferent prospect to the spectator with the naked eye, though I heard some of the curious say, who viewed it with proper glasses, that they saw a star or two appear, so we may conclude the sun must be a good deal darkened. But I am pretty certain had I not been apprized of it before, I should never have discovered anything about it.
Oh, how unhappy I am to be so imprudent as to be so fond of company as to prefer that to sobriety as is oft too oft the case with me! Home is now irksome and very unpleasant, which in the time of my dear Peggy was the only pleasurable place. I found then happiness was to be found at home with her; I required no other company.
In the morning set out for home where we arrived safe and well about 8:45. Spent just 6d this voyage. Dame Akehurst, a-washing for me all day, dined with me on a calf’s head boiled, a piece of pork and greens. At home all day and very little to do. In the evening wrote my London letters. Sam Jenner, coming in the evening, took part of my bed, as did Dame Akehurst part of my servant’s.
Oh, what uneasiness does my folly give me! What is the pleasure of a steady and regular life compared with the life of irregularity!
Sam Jenner and Dame Akehurst at work for me all day and dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Rec’d of William Thunder in cash 20.10.0 for Mr Ashdown at Waldron. At home all day and very little to do. In the afternoon and evening very busy a-writing and making up the parish accounts. Sam Jenner took part of my bed.
Rec’d of Dame Akehurst for 2 days’ work 18d and for nursing T. German’s wife 7/6, which together makes 9/-, and which sum I now owe her.
Sam Jenner at work for me and dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a plain suet pudding and greens. At home all day and really very little to do. Busy in making up the parish accounts and writing. Sam Jenner took part of my bed.
…I dined on part of a leg of mutton boiled. Paid Mr Thomas Carman in cash £21 on account. Paid Mrs Browne by Henry Godley 4/9½ in full on the parish account. Paid Mr Basset 24/- in full for repairing our church clock on the parish account.
Dame Henly and her niece, buying some things in the shop, drank tea with me. At home all day and thank God very busy. In the evening making up the parish account. Today I sold a bed etc. to Mr Vinal for Thomas Davy for 50/-.
Rec’d of Mr Will Sturt 27/6 in full. Rec’d of Mary Rich 13/- in full. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of part of a leg of mutton boiled and greens. Paid Mr Thomas Carman in cash £1, which, with the £21 paid him yesterday makes £22 and is in full for a bill of the same value on Mr Thomas Hooker which I received of him the 2nd of January last, and for which I then gave him my note of hand, but have now taken it up.
Paid Mrs French by her son Sam in cash and by a book debt 3.9.4½ in full on the parish account. Paid Ben Shelley by his servant in cash 5/- in full for the same sum he paid Mr Daniel Mecham in full on my account the 4th instant. In the evening went down to Jones’s to a public vestry in order to make a poor rate, but Mr Carman, the other overseer, not being there, we were obliged to postpone it till Tuesday next.