Thomas Turner

Mr Elless dined with us on the best end of a leg of mutton roasted. Mrs Piper drank tea at our house. In the evening Mr Elless and I walked down to Halland to carry some hose for Mr Coates, but did not stay. After I came back, read part of Addison’s Evidences of the Christian Religion. My wife continues very ill.

…In the evening Thomas Durrant cutting my wife’s hair and stayed and smoked a pipe or two with me. At home all day. My wife very ill with a pain in the side.

In the morning sent Mr Robert Plumer by John Streeter the post in cash 24.14.0, which money is in full on my account… Rec’d back by the post from Mr Robert Plumer a receipt for 23.13.0, one of the guineas I sent him today not being weight, and which guinea the post says he has put off and will pay Mr Plumer the same sum on Thursday next. In the evening settled an account between Thomas Fuller the previous overseer of this parish and Mr Joseph Burgess the overseer for the next year, when Mr Burgess paid Thomas Fuller in cash 14.13.6; viz.,

To a balance due to the parish from Mr Burgess when he made up his accounts with the parish at Easter last	11.7.6
By a mistake then made to the prejudice of the parish.	3.6.0

Afterwards Mr Thomas Fuller paid Mr Joseph Burgess back again in cash: 2.18.8; viz.,

To Sinden’s poor tax, which the parish agreed to pay.	1.6.8
Do. to Francis Turner’s poor tax which the parish also agreed to pay, both for the year 1757	1.12.0

At home all day. Took physic today. In the evening wrote my London letters. Delivered my watch to Mr Henry Weller of Eastbourne for him to repair for me. In the evening Thomas Davy at our house.

Myself only at church in the morning; the text in Joshua 24:24: “And the people said unto Joshua, The Lord our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.” We had a brief read for a fire that happened in the parish of St John’s Wapping in the county of Middlesex whereby a widow woman and her two daughters are reduced to the extremest want and poverty, their loss amounting to upwards of £1340 beside the ground-rent of the premises, which was £20 per year, and 30 years more to come of the lease, that with rebuilding the same it must still add to their losses. I gave 3d to the said brief. We dined on a roasted pig and bread sauce.

In the afternoon my wife, self and servant at church; the text the same as in the forenoon, from which words we had a very good sermon. In the evening Mr Francis Elless and Thomas Davy at our house, to whom I read 2 of Tillotson’s sermons.

Paid Mr Ben Shelley in cash… 6.13.6… in full for the same sum that he paid this week to Mr Neatby, distiller… We dined on some boiled tripe, a light pudding and some potatoes. In the evening my brother came over, but did not stay… Mr Henry Weller at Eastbourne and Joseph Fuller spent the evening at our house.

…In the afternoon very busy. Molly Geal, Halland housemaid, drank tea with us. In the evening read one of Tillotson’s sermons.

…Paid John Streeter in cash 3/11 for 1 pair silver clasps which he brought me from Lewes on Monday. In the afternoon my wife went to see Mrs Porter, and about 7:30 I went down. We played a few games of whist, but neither won or lost. We supped at Mr Porter’s on some roasted potatoes, sausages and bread and cheese. We stayed chatting with Mrs Porter and Mr Porter till near 12 o’clock. A very melancholy time–but little to do, and really no getting in of any debts. I cannot think what will become of me. Oh, could I be in some piece of business where I could carry on business in it’s proper channel! Then should I be siting in the sphere that is my choice. Not that I would desire to amass a large sum of money together. No, only that I might have the prospect removed from before my eyes of an approaching poverty.

…In the evening made a will for my brother Will wherein he has given my brother John 20/- to be paid in 3 months after his decease, to Bett £5 if demanded in 2 years, but if not, to her son Philip, as also £20 more to him to be put out to interest by his executor and the interest money paid him yearly till he is 22, and then he is to have the whole. But if he dies before, it is to be divided between John, Moses, Richard and Sally. He has given Philip his best Bible, Common Prayer Book, New Whole Duty of Man and The Poor Men’s Help, or Young Man’s Guide. To me he has given all the rest and made me his executor, and I am to make the most I can of it and then pay his debts, funeral expenses etc. and then take £5 myself and any 6 books I like and then divide the residue between Moses, Richard and Sally.

Gave Mr Ben Shelley in cash 5.0.6 in order for him to pay in London for me… In the afternoon went and looked over Mrs Virgoe’s wood to advise her in cutting some of it. Mrs Virgoe drank tea at our house. In the evening read part of Addison’s Evidences of the Christian Religion.

At home all day… Joseph Fuller Jr smoked a pipe or 2 with me in the evening, he having bought a frock of me. In the evening wrote my London letters, and after that I had written them, I read part of Mead On the Influence of the Sun and the Moon on Human Bodies to Thomas Davy.