Tag: Peter Adams

Saturday, July 24 1756

After breakfast went down to Mr Porters to have Mr Poole’s advice again upon the bond. What I wanted to know was now to proceed against Peter Adams in the underwritten affair. He, the said Peter Adams, had a female bastard child by Ann Cain, now the wife of Thomas Ling, and as security to the parish for the said child that it should not become chargeable, he gave the said parish a bond, dated l April 1752, wherein he binds himself, his heirs, executors and administrators to pay the churchwarden and overseer of the parish for the time being the sum of 18d a week and every week from the birth of the child for so long time as the said child shall continue to be chargeable to the parish.

Now during the last months of Joseph Fuller’s being overseer, he [Fuller] paid the said woman the 18d per week for keeping the child, but as yet has not been paid it again, and when I first came into office, I asked Mr Adams about it. He seemed to make use of a great many quibbling expressions concerning paying it. But after 2 months had been elapsed and he often asked about it, he at last told me I should pay it and he would soon pay me again. But now there is almost 2 months more past and mine is not paid. Ling and his wife continually harassing me for the money, I have again mentioned it to Mr Adams and told him I would pay no more and that he must pay it soon, upon which he told me it was my business to pay it.

Mr Poole gave me a summons to oblige Adams to appear before him at the White Hart at Lewes on Saturday next to give his reasons for not paying. Then if he could give no reason for not paying and could not be brought to do it by the justices, we must then immediately execute the bond against him and sue him for the same. I gave Mr Poole’s servant 12d for the summons. We dined on the remaining carp given us yesterday with pork and beans and the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

I this day lent John Streeter in cash 0.10.6, and also Thomas Darby in cash 10/-. Posted my day book. At home all day. Read part of Hervey’s Theron and Aspasio. Edward Wood called on me, but did not stop. In the evening talked to Peter Adams again, who still quibbles on, but will not absolutely deny paying it.

Friday, July 23 1756

…In the morning Mr French and the keeper drew the pond before our door and made us a present of a brace of carp. Afterwards we went down to the church to take Peter Adams’s bond out of the chest in the church to ask Mr Poole’s advice on it, who is at Mr Porter’s. We went into Jones’s and spent 5d apiece. Dined on a piece of pork and peas with a baked beggar’s pudding. After dinner went down to Mr Porter’s to ask Mr Poole’s opinion on the bond, who says without the order he could do nothing, but we must execute the bond against him. Afterward searched the church chest to find the order but could not. My brother came over in the afternoon and stayed and drank tea with us. In the evening I went up to Mr Piper’s to ask him after the order and found about half of it. Came home about 8:25. I gave my brother the best of the 2 carp.

Saturday, June 12 1756

At home all the forenoon. We dined on the remains of Thursday’s dinner with the addition of ½ hundred asparagus. Paid Thomas Fuller Jr 23d for 1 neck of veal, 9¼ lbs.

After dinner Robert Hook and I went down to see Peter Adams. After we had stayed there awhile, he went to Waldron and I went to see one John Baker (at Mr Adams’s request), whom the same people that abused Mr Adams have in a manner abused; to wit, as he was a-coming home from the fair, they overtook him and whipped his horse and made him throw him off, and many more such-like actions. Came home about 8 o’clock not very well with being so continually haunted with my conscience, it has thrown me into a slight fever…

Friday, June 11 1756

At home all day. Dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of ¼ hundred asparagus. Posted my day book and wrote out several bills. In the afternoon our maid went over to Framfield. I went over to Mrs Virgoe’s about 1 hour. In the evening my wife walked down to Peter Adam’s. Oh, what a shamed face does a troubled conscience make!

Tuesday, June 8 1756

This day at the request of Mrs Virgoe I went with her brother to Lewes on foot to know the result of counsellor Humphrey’s opinion on her late husband’s will, which was that by that will’s being badly made she had no power to make one. And he also said Mr Tourle’s mortgage, or as he expressed it, “Tourle was damned bad security.” My brother and I dined at Mr T. Scrase’s on a cold quarter of lamb and green salad. Paid Mr George Verral 8/8 in full for 2 doz soap.

Now what I am a-going to mention makes me shudder with horror at the thought of it. It is I got very much in liquor. But let me not give it so easy a name, but say I was very drunk, and then I must of consequence be no better than a beast. And what is still more terrifying, by committing this enormous crime I plunged myself into still greater; that is, of quarrelling, which was this: my walking yesterday and again today, my feet were very sore; so, meeting with Peter Adams I asked him to carry me home, which he agreed to. I accordingly got on horseback at the Cats after first having some words with a person for no other reason I can think but because he was sober, at least I know it was because I was drunk. We then proceeded on the road home and, as I am since informed, oftentimes finding an opportunity to have words with somebody, and, doubtless as often, giving somebody the opportunity to sneer and ridicule myself, as well in justice they might. And, I suppose to gratify Mr Adams for his trouble, I told him if he would go around by William Dicker’s, I would treat him with a mug of 6d, which he readily accepted of (though he, I understand, was very sober). There we met Mr Laugham and several more, but who I cannot remember, and I suppose also in liquor. Now there was formerly a dispute between Mr Laugham and me about a bill wherein I was used ill. I imagine I must have told him of that. Or whether they, seeing me more in liquor than themselves, put upon me, I do not remember, but Mr Laugham pulled me by the nose and struck at me with his horse-whip and used me very ill, upon which Mr Adams told them he thought there was enough for a joke, upon which they used him very ill and have abused him very much. Then while they were a-fighting, I, free from any hurt, like a true friend and bold hearty fellow, rode away upon poor Peter’s horse leaving him to shift for himself, glad enough I got away with a whole skin. I got home about 10 o’clock. But what can I say in my own behalf for getting drunk? Sure I am a direct fool–so many resolutions as I have made to the contrary, and so much as I am desirous of living a sober life–that I should suffer myself to be so easily deluded away when I know almost the sight of a bottle of wine will make me drunk. But, oh, may the Supreme Director of all events give me grace to be wiser for the future; and as I have in so miraculous, a manner several times been preserved from danger, I hope I shall never more be so weak, but have resolution enough to make this the last time!

My wife in my absence sent Francis Smith by his man 1.12.0… My brother William went away tonight about 9 o’clock… Paid for a coffee-pot 18d. Paid for ½ hundred asparagus 5d.

Saturday, January 17 1756

At home all day… After breakfast Mr Collison went to Framfield. Gave John Gibbs 1d for some touchwood he brought me today… In the evening Peter Adams and I balanced accounts… Rec’d by oatmeal at sundry times 3.18.9; remains due 5.5.0¼ for which I received his note of hand dated today, payable to me or order on demand. Thomas Davy and I played at cribbage in the evening; I won 6d. Sat up till near 1 o’clock.