Tuesday, February 15 or Shrove Tuesday 1763

…A great deal of snow fell in the night and a very hard rain in the forenoon. Sam Jenner dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a piece of pork and some turnips. In the evening Thomas Davy and I played a few games of cribbage; I won of him 10d. Sam Jenner took part of my bed, it being so wet the whole day that he could not get home.

Monday, February 14 1763

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a plain suet pudding and Savoy greens. After dinner I walked down to Halland on some business with Mrs Coates concerning the price of raisins, but did not stay.

Pretty busy all day. Master Jenner, coming in the evening, took part of my bed. In the evening wrote my London letters. A very sharp frost in the morning; a good deal of snow fell in the night, but a very fine sunny day. Ah, the continual disquietude of my mind! What course to steer I hardly know…

Sunday, February 13 1763

Myself and servant at church in the morning… I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Myself and servant both at church in the afternoon… Rec’d of the Rev Mr Porter £4 in full for the interest of £100 due from him to this parish the 20th Nov. last for the same sum left to this parish by the will of Samuel Atkins Esq deceased, which interest is yearly to be distributed among the poor of this parish according to the will and liking of the minister and officers of the parish.

We accordingly disposed of the said interest money as follows:

Richard Brazier0.2.0Susan Burrage0.1.0
Edward Babcock0.1.0John Durrant0.4.0
Widow Dan0.2.0Thomas Tester0.6.0
James Emery0.3.0Richard Vinal0.3.0
Peter Adams0.2.0
Richard Heath0.3.0Ann Woods0.1.0
Sam Jenner0.3.0Will Eldridge0.8.0
Richard Prall0.3.0Thomas Ling0.3.0
John Streeter0.2.0Thomas Roase0.5.0
Susan Swift0.2.0Widow Cain0.2.0
Will Starks [Slarks]0.5.0Widow Cornwell0.2.0
Francis Turner0.3.0Will Sinden0.3.0
Widow Trill0.2.0Thomas Dalloway0.2.0
Sarah Thunder0.3William Elphick0.5.0
4.3.0

As the sum given away did exceed the interest money, Mr Porter made it up out of the money given at the sacrament. As there were several people in the list who were not at church, I kept the money for them and they were as under:

James Emery0.3.0
Will Elphick0.5.0
Richard Heath0.3.0
Peter Adams0.2.0
013.0

which money I stand debtor to them for.

After church I and Joseph Fuller went into Mr Porter’s, where we stayed and smoked several pipes of tobacco. Came home about 6:50. Paid Mr Porter 1/- for the burying of John Dan who was buried today. In the evening we had a great deal of snow fall, but no frost. Indeed it snowed at times all day. In the evening read one of Tillotson’s sermons.

Saturday, February 12 1763

…I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Rec’d by Philip from my brother Moses in cash 8.15.0, for which I sent him 1 draft on Mr Will Margesson…

At home all day. Almost a continual wet day. In the evening Mr Long sat with me a little time. This day agreed with John Watford to keep Elizabeth Burrage another year, the parish being to find her in clothes. Oh, melancholy time!
 

Friday, February 11 1763

In the forenoon posted part of my day book. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the afternoon my brother came over to stand the shop for me, I being a-going to Uckfield. I set out on foot about 5:50 and called on Mr French to accompany me agreeable to appointment, but the weather being likely to prove unpleasant, I stayed and drank tea there and spent the evening till about 7:30.

Elizabeth Trill drank tea with my brother in my absence. My brother stayed and smoked a pipe or two with me and then went home.

Tuesday, February 8 1763

…My late servant dined with me on a piece of a sparerib salted and boiled and some Savoy greens. At home all day and pretty busy. My late servant stayed all night. Oh, the disquietude of my mind! why should I let thoughts run so in my head that disturb my tranquillity of mind when I rest assured that whatever happens by the appointment of heaven is right, is best?