Tuesday, August 12 1755

Sent Messrs Margesson and Collison by Frank Smith, paid to him in hand, 13.10.0 and returned them at the same time as under:

6 susis at 21d              0.10.6

3 do. at 24                   0.6.0

1 Doz linen                 0.5.0

1 doz do.                     0.6.6

1 doz do.                     0.6.9

1 doz do.                     0.7.9

1 doz do.                     0.8.0

L doz do.                     0.9.0

1 doz do.                     0.10.0

                                    £3.9.6

This day Mrs Virgoe dined with us on a shoulder of venison. Mrs Vine Jr drank tea with us in the afternoon. At home all day. Paid for bread ½d. In the evening read part of the 4th volume of The Tatler, in which I find some very agreeable stories, in particular one wherein a beautiful and virtuous young lady is ruined by a young debauchee and a sordid parent, his father.

Thursday, August 7 1755

Rec’d of John Vine Sr 6.1.0 on account. Went over to Framfield; looked on Mr Peckham’s wool. Bid him 2d per pound. At Halland twice. Paid for butter 3d. Paid for meat 10½d (to wit, neck of lamb of 3 lbs). This day drew on Messrs Margesson & Co., 30 days’ date, to Mr William Roase, dated tomorrow.

Tuesday, August 5 1755

Paid Francis Smith in cash £17, which sum he is to pay Messrs Margesson and Collison. I this day drew on them to Mr William Smith for £5.6.10 in full, 30 days’ date. Rec’d of Thomas Darby £3.12.0 on account. N.B: Yesterday paid the widow Cayley 4/- for 1 year’s rent due for Mrs Browne’s stable.

Wednesday, July 30 1755

At home all day. Paid for bread ½d. Left off school at 3:40. About 5 minutes before 4 my [wife] went to Whitesmith to see the mountebank. Bought a packet [of patent medicine] which cost her 12d. She came home about 10:45. Mr Taylor, Messrs Heywood and Blake’s man, called on me. I paid him by a draft I drew on Messrs Margesson and Collison for £4.11.0, 30 days’ date, in full.

Tuesday, July 29 1755

Sent Frank Smith by his boy £12.7.0 which he is to pay Messrs Margesson and Collison for me. Paid for cherries 4½d. Paid Master Piper 6/6 for 2 bushels of pale malt received the 28th instant. Gave a traveller and my schoolboy 1½d. Rec’d of Halland gardener 1 gallon of French beans which I am to pay 4d for. Paid Isfield miller’s man 5/- for a bushel of oatmeal received today.

Tuesday, July 22 1755

At home all day Gave over teaching school for this week, being very i11. In the morning posted my day book. Wrote out Mr John Chatfield’s bill and my wife carried it home to Will Rice’s. It amounted to £3.7.8 sent Margesson and Collison in a tobacco box by Dann £9. Paid Dame Vinal for washing 9d. Paid Halland gardener 21d in full for cucumbers sold for him and 1 quart gooseberries.

Monday, July 14 1755

About 3:45 I set out for Lewes; got there 4:50. Called Mr Stephen Fletcher, servant to Mr Samuel Ridings, and balanced accounts with him and paid him £16.14.0 by bill on Messrs Margesson and Collison, 30 days’ date, which with goods I have agreed to return, value £6.11.6, is in full to this day. I bought some goods of him and came home about 8:20. Spent 6d.

After dinner Mr Slater and Nanny set out for Lewes. Paid John Jones 2d for Mr Slater’s horse. At home all the day after the morning. This day was played in the Broyle a cricket match, Mayfield against Ringmer, Framfield and St John’s [in Lewes], which was won by Mayfield with ease. This day received of Rippington’s boys 6d in full for a week’s schooling, ended Saturday last.