When John died in 1801 there were two barges on the river: The Good Intent, ownership of which passed to Sarah, skippered by one of her sons,Thomas; and The Adventure, owned by William Stevens of Berwick but skippered by another of Sarah’s sons, Charles. There was legitimate trade enough to keep both comfortably occupied. In 1793 England had gone to war yet again with France and to meet any threatened invasion, the Army had stationed troops along the Sussex coast. In 1798 it assembled one hundred and forty volunteers in Alfriston itself who, between them had subscribed £200 towards their own uniforms. [1] This, along with the Government’s own allowances, provided money for circulation in Alfriston. Later the Royal Westminster Middlesex Militia and a battalion of the Hampshire Militia were stationed in the parish. Alfriston thrived enough to support not only agriculturalists but brewers, coopers, glovers, harness-makers, malsters, ropemakers, soap-boilers, tallow-chandlers, tanners and even a peruke-maker.

Prosperity, however, did not reach down to all levels of Alfriston society. According to the Government survey made in 1804, eight-five adults and sixty children out of the total population of five hundred and seventy-six recorded in the 1801 Census were permanently on Poor Law Relief, which cost the parish’s ratepayers £888.3.10d. Less fortunate branches of John and Sarah’s families were forced into applying to the Vestry for help. On March 28^th, 1790 , for instance, the Vestry Minutes recorded that it was “agreed to let George Reeds” – this was Sarah’s maiden name - “have 1 change apiece for 5 children, 1 hat apiece for 2 boys, 1 pr. Shoes for 2 boys. And a pair of shoes for Lydia Lower’s child.”

However the barging business boomed and John and Sarah were able to afford the fees the village schoolmaster, Mr. Thomas Susan, required for admitting children to his school. Amongst those who attended, probably the brightest and most eager pupil was Richard.