Thomas Turner

In the day very busy. I dined on part of a calf’s bell boiled and minced, and some greens. At home all day and thank God very busy. In the evening wrote my London letters. Mr Shoesmith and Joseph Fuller, coming in to my house in the evening by accident, as it should appear, though by them a contrived thing, spent the evening with me till about 10:20. My friend Joseph Fuller I must own is rather too fruitful in the invention to contrive some way to get a little liquor or a pipe or two of tobacco.

Myself and brother at church in the forenoon…We had a brief read for repairing the church of St Albans, the expense of which amounted to the sum of £2561. I collected upon the same 2/- and 6d I gave myself, making collected on the whole on this brief 2/6. After churchtime I went into Mr Porter’s and we signed the same.

Mr Carman dined with me on a calf’s heart pudding and some potatoes. After dinner Mr Carman, my brother and myself walked down to Laughton, but we being too late for church went to Mr Shoesmith’s, where we stayed and drank tea with them, and stayed till about 7:10, when we came home very sober. I received of Mr Shoesmith in cash 3.15.0 in full for the share of the expense due from Laughton Parish attending the expenses I was at for searching the wills of the Pelham family, relating to a gift formerly given to this parish and the parish of Laughton, but lately discontinued. As it was a thing of some value the parishes concluded to have the wills of the Pelhams searched at Doctors’ Commons [but without success] and to pay the expenses jointly between them.

Paid Richard Vine, weaver at Laughton, in cash 1.3.8¼, which with a book debt of 1.0.2¾ makes together the sum of 2.3.1 and is in full for a bill of weaving on the parish account… Paid Richard Fuller 12d for a calf’s bell bought of him today. Dame Akehurst a-ironing for me all day and dined with me on some calf’s liver and rashers of pork fried.

In the afternoon my old acquaintance Mr Francis Elless came to see me and stayed and drank tea with me. At home all day and thank God very busy. In the evening Sam Jenner sat with me some time. A very pleasant day. In the evening read part of Butler’s Hudibras.

In the forenoon my brother came over and dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of a piece of salt fish boiled, some parsnips and potatoes and egg sauce. At home all day and pretty busy. A very wet evening.

…Dame Akehurst, a-washing for me all day, dined with me on a loin of mutton boiled and turnips. In the afternoon rode over to Chiddingly to pay my charmer, or intended wife or sweetheart or whatever other name may be more proper, a visit at her father’s, where I drank tea in company with their family and Miss Ann Thatcher. In the evening we played at loo in company with their own family and Nanny and Thomas Thatcher; I won 1d. I also supped there on some rashers of bacon.

It being an excessive wet and windy night I had the opportunity sure I should say the pleasure, or perhaps some might say the unspeakable happiness — to sit up with Molly Hicks, or my charmer, all night. I came home about 5:40 in the morning, I must not say fatigued — No! No! that could not be. It could be only a little sleepy for want of rest. Well to be sure she is a most clever girl, but however to be serious in the affair I certainly esteem the girl and I think she appears worthy of my esteem.

Paid Dame Akehurst 18d for her 2 days’ work.
 

…Sam Jenner, being a-packing of rags for me, and Dame Akehurst, a-washing for me all day, dined with me together with my late servant Mary Martin on some salt fish, a breast of mutton boiled, egg sauce, potatoes and parsnips. My late servant stayed till evening and then went home, as did also Sam Jenner.

At home all day and pretty busy. Sam Jenner, Thomas Durrant and Joseph Fuller sat with me some time in the evening Dame Akehurst took part of my servant’s bed.

Sent Mr Ben Shelley by his servant (Sam) delivered to him by my servant in cash £60 for him to pay in London for me… Sent Mr Porter’s letter enclosed in another to Mr John Crouch, grocer, Southwark, in order for him to put in penny post.

In the morning my late servant Mary Martin came over to see me and breakfasted with me, and dined with me on a wild duck roasted and the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Sam Jenner coming in the evening and the weather proving very tempestuous, both he me and my late servant stayed all night. In the afternoon carried up to Mr Coates his bill, which amounted to 11.2.7¾. Mary Nutley and Bett Nutley drank tea with me…

Gave Mr Porter today a bill on Mr Will Margesson… value 48.10.3, but Mr Porter as yet has neither given me cash for it or any note acknowledging the receipt.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner… At home all day and thank God pretty busy. In the evening wrote my London letters. Dame Seaman, her two, daughters and Mary Nutley drank tea with me. Mr Porter, having endorsed the bill I gave him today, enclosed it in a letter and directed it for Mr Adams at the Indian Queen in Penton Street, St James, Haymarket, gave it to me in order to send by the carrier to be put in the penny post.

Myself, brother and servant at church in the morning… I dined on a beef pudding and potatoes. Before churchtime in the afternoon my brother Moses came over. I borrowed of him in cash £20, for which I did not give him any note of hand. Myself, two brothers and servant at church in the afternoon… Mr Carman, Sam Jenner, my brother and Joseph Fuller Jr drank tea with me.

After tea my brother Richard and I took a walk (Molly Hicks, my favorite girl, being come to pay Mrs Atkins a visit in the evening, went home to her father’s, and I along with her, my brother going with her companion for company). We came back about 8:10. This is a girl which I have taken a great liking to, she seeming to all appearances to be a girl endued with a great deal of good nature and good sense, and withal so far as has hitherto come to my knowledge is very discreet and prudent.

Paid Mr Ben Shelley in cash 2.8.0 in full for the same sum he paid Mr Thomas White in full on my account the 18th instant. Charles Diggens coming over to take up a suit of clothes for Mr Porter, he stayed and dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s, Thursday’s and Wednesday’s dinner. I received of him in cash 6.3.0 in full. I then paid him 10/- in full on my brother Richard’s account.

At home all day and very busy. In the evening Sam Jenner sat with me some time.