Thomas Turner

Molly French and my sister dined with me on a turkey roasted and a plain rice pudding, and both drank tea with me.

In the evening they, Sam French, Thomas Durrant and Richard Fuller played a few hours at loo. I won 3d. We broke up about 9:50. In the morning we had several claps of thunder, and in the evening from about 4:30 to 11:30 we had several flashes of lightning and a good deal of rain.

Paid Joseph Fuller Jr 2/3 for 11 lbs of beef bought of him today.
 

Paid Mrs Browne by her servant Henry Godley in cash 8/6 for the coffin had for Will Lidlow. In the forenoon Mr William Goldsmith the constable, Mr Thomas Carman and myself assisted John Watford in distraining the goods of Sarah Thunder for three pounds for three years rent due the 5th instant. Mr Goldsmith as constable swore Mr Carman and me to appraise the said goods, which we did at 46/-. John Watford delivered her a list of the same and a notice to either pay the rent or replevy the said goods or he would at the expiration of 5 days sell the same.

My sister dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the evening Mr Bannister, myself and Richard Fuller walked down to Mrs Browne’s agreeable to an invitation given us. We played at brag in the evening; I won 12d. We supped there on some pork bones fried and came home very sober about 2:10, my sister keeping house for me during my absence. A very wet afternoon and continued raining excessive hard till near 1 o’clock. In the morning we had several claps of thunder. My brother Moses sent me a present of a turkey.
 

Paid Mr Clymson, a glover at Willingdon, 18/10 for goods received and bought of him this day, and in full of all other demands. My sister dined with me on part of a leg of mutton roasted and potatoes. Paid John Braizer and William Starks 8/- for their trouble laying out etc. of William Lidlow found dead in our parish the 11th instant.

At home all day and but very little to do in the shop. In the evening wrote my London letters. I think to the best of my memory I never remember so wet a time as the present there having been hardly 48 hours of fine weather together for this 2 to 3 months past, it raining almost continually.

 
In the morning my old acquaintance and friend Dr Hill called on me, and sat down to breakfast with me, that being all, for he neither ate nor drank anything. I lent him, in cash £30, for which he gave me his note of hand payable to me or order on demand for the same sum, which said note was witnessed by Mr George Bannister. Mr Hill stayed with me till about 12:20 and then set out for Yalden.

I went down to Mr Coates’s, where I dined on a buttock of beef boiled, a roast duck and mince pie, carrots, turnips and greens (my servant at home dining on the remains of yesterday’s dinner). I stayed and spent the afternoon with Mr Coates, and in the evening Mr Porter coming in, we stayed and supped with Mr Coates and came home about 9:20. During my absence my brother and sister came to see me. My brother was gone home, but my sister came to stay with me some few days.

Paid John Shelley for his brother, Benjamin Shelley, in cash 2.2.3 in full for the same sum paid this week in London for me… I dined on part of a leg of mutton boiled and some turnips. In the evening balanced accounts with Joseph Durrant and paid him 8/3 in full. My servant sat up with Mrs Hicks, and Thomas Durrant took part of my bed.

At home all day, but very little to do. Rec’d of Thomas Overing one guinea for the expense our parish has been at on account of the death of Will Lidlow, and he accordingly took his body to Chiddingly in order for interment.

In the forenoon walked down to the Nursery where the body of Will Lidlow was, who was found dead in our parish the 11th instant, the coroner’s inquest being to sit touching the same. Accordingly Mr Attree, one of the coroners of this county, came and swore the jury; viz., myself the foreman of the jury and the other 12 were:

1. John Watford Sr	7. Henry Godley
2. John Watford Jr	8. James Hutson
3. Francis Turner Sr	9. William Osborne
4. Francis Turner Jr	10. James Marchant
5. George Bannister	11. John Baker
6. Joseph Durrant	12. John Braizer

The verdict brought in, as it appeared plain by the examinations of the people who found him, that he was in liquor and laid himself down on the ground and perished through the inclemency of the weather.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a light pudding. Rec’d of Will Driver 4/-; ditto of Mrs Atkins 26/-, both in full for half a year’s land tax due at St Michael last. Rec’d of the collectors of excise by James Fuller in cash £8 in full for the land tax assessed on the officer of excise’s salary for the year 1763. In the evening Joseph Fuller Jr, Robert Hook and Mr Bannister came into my house, and the weather being extremely bad, we sat down to brag. I won 4/6.

My father Slater stayed and breakfasted with me and then went home. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day and pretty busy. In the evening Joseph Fuller and Thomas Durrant. sat with me some time.

…Mrs Browne drank tea with me. I received of her in cash 4.5.0 in full and also 10/- in full for half a year’s land tax due St Michael last. My father Slater came to see me in the evening, and he, Mrs Browne, Henry Godley, Thomas Durrant and myself and Mr Bannister played at brag the evening. I won 20 ½ d. They all, excepting T. Durrant, supped with me on some bread and cheese and went away about 2:10. My father Slater stayed with me all night.

This morning about 7:30 in the morning was found dead in our parish Will Lidlow, a person belonging to Chiddingly, supposed to have dropped on account of his being in liquor and to have perished by the inclemency of the weather. At home all day and very little to do. How should such instances as these teach mankind to shun that hateful vice of drunkenness, a crime almost productive of all other vices.

Rec’d of Mr John Morris in cash 3.15.0 in full, also received of him 2/- in full for half a year’s land tax due St Michael last. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, At home all day and very little to do. A very wet day.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Rec’d of Will Eldridge 8/- in full for half a year’s land tax due at St Michael last. Sent Mr Nicholas Wake of Winton enclosed in a letter by the post one bill on Mr William Margesson… At home all day and but very little to do. In the evening wrote my London letters. A very wet day…