Author: Thomas Turner

In the morning walked up to a sale of the late Master Goldsmith’s, where, after staying an hour or two and buying a handbill and a pot-hook for 8d, I came home… In the evening my brother came over and stayed all night. Paid Mr Burgess 16/6 for 1 brass pot, which he bought at the sale, but afterwards has a dislike to it. I thought I had bought it at the price of old bell brass, but I doubt I am deceived, which if I am confirms the old proverb that covetousness never brings anything home. Paid 4d for 2 lbs of tripe. Rec’d of my mother by my brother in cash 19.4.4, for a parcel Manchester goods and dowlas had last March.

After breakfast my brother went home… We dined on a light pudding and some boiled tripe. This day received a letter by the post from Hazard’s lottery office that one of the tickets I got registered for Master Hook was come up a blank; viz., 38561. Paid John Lewer 16/7½ in full for 33½ lbs butter received today…

Myself, maid and 2 boys at church in the forenoon… There was a brief read for the parish church of Corely in the county of Salop, amounting to the sum of £1005 and upwards. I collected upon the said brief the sum of 22d, and 1d I gave myself makes in the whole 23d. We dined on a piece of beef roasted in the oven yesterday, boiled plum suet pudding, and a hard pudding, turnips and onion sauce. My whole family at church in the afternoon… After churchtime I went to Mr Porter’s and signed the brief read today, but did not stay. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening, to whom, and in the day, I read 7 of Tillotson’s sermons.

In the morning wrote my London letters and very busy. Thomas Davy at our house a-helping me gather apples most part of the day. He dined with us about 3:30 my brother came to my house; he, Thomas Davy, Dame Hook and Molly drank tea at our house. About 5 o’clock my brother and I set out for Lewes in order to meet Mr Stephen Fletcher (Mr Samuel Ridings’s servant). We arrived at Lewes about 7:50; we spent the evening at the White Horse in company with Mr Fletcher, Mr Buckall and Mr George Richardson. We also lodged at the White Horse and went to bed thanks be to God very sober. My wife at home in my absence left my business with the care of a servant and went and stayed at Dame Weller’s all night.

In the morning my brother and I arose and bought a parcel of goods of Mr Fletcher and breakfasted with him at the White Horse. I gave him in cash 1.6.0 and by a bill… the sum of 41.6.0 in full of all demands due to Mr Ridings til1 the parcel bought today. I spent and paid at Lewes today as under:

[Paid] for one loaf of bread brought home with me	0.0.6
Bought 7 large plaice	0.0.6
Do. 1 basket 3d	0.0.3
Do ½ hundred needles for James Marchant	0.1.0
Paid Mr Will Kemp for a silver seal, the 2 initials of my name ciphered on it	0.7.0
Do. Mr Henry Scrase for 6 yds cotton bought Today	0.15.0
Do 2 1bs gunpowder	0.3.0
Paid Mr Lee for advertising Mrs Virgoe’s house to be let	0.3.6
Spent also on Mrs Virgoe’s account in treating with Mr Lee to let him same, but did not	0.0.7
Spent on my account, my half bed	0.0.3
Gave the maid	0.0.3
Spent	0.0.2

My brother and Mr Will Bennett came home with me and dined with me on a cold beef pie, and some apple-pie… After staying about an hour, we all three walked over to Framfield and drank tea at my mother’s; I stayed there till near 6 o’clock. Then my brother came and brought me going on my way home as far as Durrants’, but would not walk in with me by reason he could not tarry all night… My wife in my absence paid Mr Piper and Mr French 7/6 in full for window tax.

After breakfast Joseph Fuller called me in order to go to the sale at Bentley, and we accordingly went. As we went by Peckham’s at Terrible Down, there we met with Mr French and Mr Sam Gibbs, both as seeming happy as could be over a dram of gin. We stayed there and spent 4½d, though I drank nothing but a little mild beer. We then went to the sale where I bought a brass candlestick which cost me 8d.

We came home by Peckham’s, where we stayed and spent 1½d in company with Mr James Shoesmith. I came home and dined on the remains of what my family left; viz., some boiled plaice. Dame Dallaway, buying many things, went in and drank tea with us. In the evening read part of the 5th volume of Medical Essays and Observations, published at Edinburgh by a society of physicians.

Very busy all the morning. Paid Thomas Fuller 9/- for a stone of beef received today. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with a piece of boiled beef, an apple pudding and turnips. After dinner our servants went to Blackboys Fair and stayed all night. There was a public vestry held at Jones’s, to which I went, but not being very well I did not stay to conclude upon anything, but came home immediately. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening, and he and I played a few games of cribbage; I won 1d.

This day how are my most sanguine hopes of happiness frustrated! I mean in the happiness between myself and wife, which has now some time been continued between us, but, oh, this day become the contrary! The, unhappiness I which has, almost ever since we were married, been between us has raised such numberless animosities and disturbances–and among our friends–that I think it has almost brought me to ruin. What the cause of it is I cannot judge. I cannot judge so ill of my wife as to think she is only to blame, and I think I have tried all experiments to make our lives happy, but they all have hitherto failed of their end. I can see nothing that so much contributes to our unhappiness as an opposition that proceeds from a contrariness or at least spitefulness of temper, but an opposition that seems indicated by our very make and constitution…

This day received a letter from Mr George Hodges & Co., who keep the new state lottery office in Cornhill, that the ticket belonging to my wife… was drawn a blank on Monday last.

At home all day and busy. We dined on a piece of the scrag end of a neck of mutton boiled and the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the evening read one of Tillotson’s sermons. Busy a-writing in the afternoon.

At home all day and not very well. Sent my watch by the post to Mr Kemp to be better regulated…

My wife, self and maid at church in the morning (the 2 boys staying at home)… This day the holy sacrament being administered, my wife, self and maid all stayed… We gave 6d each, we paying for our servant. This day have my wife and I taken up a resolution in the presence of our almighty God and Saviour with His divine Grace and Holy Spirit, to forsake our sins and to become better Christians. Oh, may the God of all goodness and perfection pour into our hearts His Holy Spirit that we may live together in true unity, love and peace with each other, bearing with each other’s infirmities and weaknesses, and that we may also live in peace with all mankind.

We dined on beef pudding, carrots and some cold raisin suet pudding. My whole family at church in the afternoon… Thomas Davy at our house in the evening, to whom, and in the day, I read 6 of Tillotson’s sermons.