Author: Thomas Turner

We dined on the remains of Sunday, Monday and yesterday’s dinners the, addition of some baked herrings and pear pie. Rec’d by Richard Page 13 sacks salt and paid him 6/6, which money he paid to Mr John Wilbar for me; viz., for 2 dozen and 4 brushes received by him today:

1 doz. Dairy	0.2.0
1 doz. do.	0.3.0
4 clamp do.	0.1.6

At home all day and busy. In the evening read two of Tillotson’s sermons.

At home all day… In the afternoon wrote out Mr Piper’s bill. In the evening read 2 of Tillotson’s sermons. Paid 5d for 10 whiting bought today. In the evening Master Paris came to me and begged I would draw up a petition in behalf of his sons for them to endeavor to ask some relief of their neighbors, upon which I drew up the following petition:

“Whereas Francis and John Paris having formerly through mistaken Notions followed that unwarrantable Practice of Smuggling tho’ for a considerable time past being convinced of the mischievous Consequences of such a Practice (to the British Nation in General as well as to every individual thereof), have intirely refrain’d from the said practice, but as they who have once ventured on such an illegal course may Years after become subject to the Law (as many unhappy instances too justly testifie) and which is now become the case of those unhappy Men who have lately been sworn against in his Majesties Court of Exchequer for a very considerable Sum. Which if the Law is executed against them in the most rigorous manner they must be obliged to abandon their native Country and that which is still more dear to them their Family and relations, But as they have some prospect and hopes to believe the said affair may be made up for a small sum in proportion to so great a one which they are sworn for, tho’ still so a great that they are unable to raise the same from their affects. They therefore humbly implore the Assistance of their Neighbours and acquaintance hopeing they will commiserate their unhappy affair and Yeild them some relief and succour in this their day of adversity and trouble and they will ever (as bound in duty) thankfully acknowledge the favours they shall be pleased to confer upon Them.”

I gave the man 2/6 for his sons–not that I did it so as much from principle of charity as self-interest, having formerly bought some brandy of them. I could not tell but their poverty might induce them to do that for me which another has done for them, in order to clear themselves.

In the forenoon my brother called at my house in his road to Lewes; I gave him the £2 to pay my mother, which she paid to Mr Wharton in part of the bill I received from Mr Wharton by my brother the 7th instant. I also gave him in cash 1.3.0, with which he is to pay Mr George Lambert in full on my account…

In the evening went down to Jones’s, there being a vestry to consult further about Thomas Daw’s affair. It was agreed that the parish should borrow of John Watford the sum of £20 and pay interest for the same after the rate of four pounds percent per annum, and for which Mr Joseph Burgess and myself should give our notes of hand for in behalf of the rest of the parishioners of this said. parish; and that we should lend them the said money upon mortgage to Thomas Daw, to bear interest at four pounds percent per annum.

I came home about 8 o’clock. After I came home, I read 3 of Tillotson’s sermons…

…About 11:10 Mr John Box, attorney-at-law at Hailsham, called on me in order to settle the affairs about Thomas Daw. We then went down to Mr Cayley’s at the Moat where Mr Burgess was already and John Watford and Thomas Daw came soon after. We then borrowed of John Watford the sum of twenty pound and gave him the following note written by Mr Box:

“We Thomas Turner Churchwarden of the Parish of East Hothly and Joseph Burges Overseer of the Poor of the said Parish do for ourselves Joyntly and severally and for the rest of the Parishioners of the said Parish promise to pay Mr John Watford or Order the sum of Twenty Pounds for Vallue received with Interest for the same after the rate of Four pound per. Centum per. Annum within three Months Notice thereof witness our hands this Twelfth day of November 1757.”

We then lent the same to Thomas Daw and took his note of hand till such time as Mr Box can draw up the mortgage. Thomas Daw then paid to Thomas Price, steward or servant to Mrs Browne the sum of £55 for a tenement etc. in the parish of Waldron, and had proper writings delivered to him, which Mr Box had perused and declared the title to be good. I drank there some beer which they informed us was above 60 years old. I came home about 1:40.

We dined on some boiled tripe and pear pie. …In the evening made part of the poor book. Thomas Davy at our house the latter part of the evening, to whom I read 3 of Tillotson’s sermons. Tonight there has been the greatest light in the air that I think I ever observed, being, I imagine, what is called the Aurora Borealis.

In the morning our servant went over to Framfield, there, being no service at our church this forenoon on account of Mr Porter’s being gone to preach at Mayfield. My wife, self and 2 boys not at church anywhere in the morning. We dined on a piece of beef boiled and turnips and a piece of the scrag end of a neck of veal boiled. My wife, self and 2 boys at church in the afternoon when we had a sermon preached by the Rev Mr Shenton, Curate of Laughton, from Genesis 42:21: “And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.” At home all day. In the evening and in the day read 6 of Tillotson’s sermons. A very cold day.

…Mr Richard Warriner called on me. I paid him in cash 2.12.0 in full on account of Messrs Warriner and Hartley. He stayed and dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. My brother came over in the afternoon and drank tea with us, as did Mr Warriner… In the evening balanced accounts with Mr Piper… At home all day and busy. In the evening wrote my London letters, and in the evening read 5 of Tillotson’s sermons.

In the morning I rode to Lewes (in company with Joseph Durrant) to talk with Mr George Verral on some business of Mrs Virgoe’s, but Mr Verral not being at home, I could do no business on her account. I dined at Mr Madgwick’s on a roasted pig (my family at home dining on the remains of Sunday’s and yesterday’s dinners with the addition of some bloated herrings)… Master Durrant and I came home about 6:20, though I cannot say either of us thorough sober. I think this to have been as wet a day as could well be, for I think it has rained all day without any intermission.

At home all day. Drew off a barrel of perry. Dined on a roasted sparerib (given me by Thomas Darby) and a piece of a neck of veal boiled and applesauce. Dame Rothfield and Dame Merricks drank tea with us… Pretty busy all day. In the evening ground some pepper and read 2 of Tillotson’s sermons. This day has been spent with more pleasure than the preceeding one.

In the forenoon walked over to Framfield. I dined at my mother’s… I balanced accounts with my mother and received of her in cash 6.3.4½ which leaves the sum of £21 due to me on this balance in the book, besides one bond, bearing date the 14th Oct.,.1754, value £130 and one note of hand, dated the 25th Dec., 1756, value £60, and a parcel of Manchester goods with a bill delivered the 10th Oct., 1757, value 13.13.6¼… After my mother and I had balanced, I received of her in cash 1.5.0 in full for 1 quarter’s board etc. for Philip Turner, due today. N.B.: There is due to my mother £10 (exclusive of anything I have before mentioned) on account of her wool, which I am to pay to Messrs Margesson and Collison on her account.

After I came home, I went down to Mr Porter’s with some silver; I stayed and chatted there near two hours. I came home and read 3 of Tillotson’s sermons. I stayed and drank tea at my mother’s before I came from Framfield, and my brother came home along with me, but did not stay, going home again almost immediately.

In the morning walked up to Mr Piper’s and persuaded him to let Thomas Daw’s mortgage we made to him as mortgagee in the stead of Mr Burgess and myself… We dined on some broiled herrings, light pudding and boiled tripe, with some veal broth. Paid John Lewer in cash 1.12.9 in full for 65½ lbs of butter received by him today for Mr Thomas Scrase at Lewes… Posted my day book and wrote out several bills…