Monday, April 4 1757

In the morning arose and went over to Framfield. Came home again to breakfast. Then went up to Mr Vine’s with some goods for the audit and from thence to Sinden’s. As I came home, called at Mr Reeve’s, Mr Piper’s and Mr John Vine Jr’s for poor tax but found none of them home. After I came home, went up to Mr Vine’s again with more goods… I went down to Halland and received of Mr Coates in cash 2.9.0 for poor tax. I came home and went up to Mr Piper’s and received of him 4.11.0 for poor tax and paid him 14/1½ on the parish account; viz., 5/- for removing John Durrant, and 8/1½ for 39 lbs of cheese for Dame Burrage. I stayed and supped at Mr Piper’s and smoked a pipe and came home about 9:20.

As I came home, I found Thomas Cornwell and John Durrant had come home from their journey and brought bad news; namely, that they had let the man make his escape, but that they had left Mr French and Joseph Fuller to proceed on their journey with the woman, Dame Vinal a-washing for us today…

Friday, April 1 1757

After breakfast I went down to Jones’s, where I stayed till near 12 o’clock, when we all went down to Mr French’s in order to set the people off to carry home the man and his wife. They set off about 1:20; viz., the man and his wife and child, Mr French, Joseph Fuller, Thomas Cornwell and John Durrant. I came home immediately and dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Very busy all the afternoon. Mrs Atkins drank tea with us. In the evening Thomas Davy at our house, of whom I received 1.5.7 in full. Gave Mr French in cash 5.5.0 to bear the expenses of the journey. In the evening read 2 papers of The Monitor lent me by Mrs Atkins.