Author: Thomas Turner

Paid Joseph Fuller 4½d in full for 1½ lbs mutton received today. Rec’d of Mr Joseph Burgess 2.7.6 in full for that part of the bill I sent to Mr James Burfield yesterday, which was Dame Burrage’s rent. This day sent (by the man that rode with the orders for Mr Beckett, carrier) to Messrs Margesson and Collison, in a small parcel with a stocking, the bill I received of Mr Porter yesterday on Swainstone and Hedges, value 10.9.8, and the bill I received by my brother the 25^th instant from Mr John Smith on Mr John Thomson, value £20, which bills together make the sum of 30.9.8… We dined on the remains of Sunday’s and yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a scrag end of a neck of mutton boiled. Balanced accounts with Richard Page and received of him 5/- in full; viz.,

Richard Page Dr.
To goods etc. at sundry times	2.7.5¾
Per Contra Cr.
Rec’d by bringing me 5 tun salt in the years 1756 and 1757	1.10.0
Rec’d by carriage of 2 chaldron of coal etc.	0.12.5¾
To cash received today	0.5.0
	2.7.5¾

At home all day. In the evening posted the parish account and received of Mr Burgess 19/- which I have paid this year for him; viz., for men with passes, wheat the first week after Easter, 12d paid Mary Vinal the 1st week after Easter, 14d spent with going to Uckfield with Braizer and 23½d spent at Waldron. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening, to whom I read part of Sherlock on death.

Gave one Duffield at Isfield (who came with a petition signed by the minister and churchwardens of the said parish, to ask charity on account of his house being burned down last summer by lightning) 6d. Just before dinner my brother Will came in, who dined with us on the remains of Sunday, Monday and yesterday’s dinner with the addition of 2 ducks roasted and a light pudding. He stayed at our house until near 4 o’clock. James Marchant drank tea with us. About 5:10 I went down to Jones’s to the parish meeting (notice thereof being given Sunday last in the afternoon) when we made a poor…

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In the morning paid Joseph Fuller by his son Thomas 18d for 1 loin mutton weighing 6 lbs received today. We dined on the loin of lamb (bought today) roasted today in the oven. Gave a seaman with a pass, just come in a cartel ship from France, 12d. Sent the poor book made last night by the post today to have it signed, which was accordingly done by Henry Shelley and John Bridger Esqrs. I paid the post 4d for carrying the book. At home all day. In the evening read part of the 2nd volume of the Medical Essays.

Paid Joseph Fuller 3/8 for two stone of beef received today. We dined on the remains of Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and yesterday’s dinners with the addition of some mutton broth and cold rice pie. Drew out a barrel of perry today. Paid 4d for 2 lbs tripe. Gave a man and a woman with a pass 6 pence on the parish account. At home all day. In the evening my wife very ill. Read part of the 4th volume Medical Essays. Joseph Fuller in the evening stayed and smoked a pipe or 2 with me.

In the morning I went down to Mr Porter’s and informed him I had just received advice from Messrs Margesson and Collison that Mr Wright had paid them on my account for his use the sum of 57.13.6. And then I gave Mr Porter my note of hand for the same sum payable to him or bearer on demand… Very busy all day; marked up a parcel of hose, and in the evening read part of Sherlock on death. Oh, now pleasant has this day been — to have been almost continual busy, and then after the hurry of the day to enjoy the pleasure of the evening in reading.

In the morning our servant went over to Framfield, by whom I sent in cash to my mother £14… Myself and the two boys at church in the morning… My wife was not at church on account she was not well, being ill with a cold. We dined on a beef pudding, some boiled tripe and greens. Myself and the two boys at church this afternoon; the text in the former part of Hebrews 10:25: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another.” From which words we had in fact a very good sermon, though it appeared to be delivered with a warmth that had a tincture of anger in it, or at least seemed to point at some particulars as if the deliverer had taken a pique at some one or more of the hearers. But that he alone must be best judge of.

Rec’d by our servant the note of hand which I gave the Rev Mr Thomas Wharton the 7th of November, value £10, and for which I sent by my brother the 25th of November the said £10. This day completed the reading of Sherlock on death, which I esteem a very plain, good book, proper for every Christian to read; that is, rich and poor, men and women, young and old. I also in the day and evening read part of Sherlock on judgment. At home all day except being at church. A very hard frost in the morning, and a remarkable quantity of rain fell this evening.

Paid John Watford 15d for ½ bushel oats. …At home all day. Paid Joseph Fuller 3/- for a cleaver he brought from Pocock’s at Ringmer for me, and which he paid him for. Rec’d of Mr Sam Gibbs 1.3.9 in full. When Mr Gibbs paid me his bill, Mr French and Thomas Fuller were in company with him; so that common civility and gratitude obliged me to ask them all to walk in, which they did and stayed with me till near 7 o’clock. But I think nothing can be more frothy than those men’s discourse, for let us only think that they are all masters of families and fathers of many children, and yet their whole discourse seems turned to obscenity, oaths, gaming and hunting–nothing to the improvement of the mind nor the honor of God or man, which still confirms me in the opinion I have of the degeneracy of this present age. Not that I would be thought to draw a conclusion from a single instance or a few people, but it is what I see daily and almost hourly. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening, to whom I read part of Sherlock on death.

Paid Mr Sam Beckett in cash 3.10.0 in full for 112 ells of canvas at 7½d, which I bought of him and also received the 29th November. We dined on a piece of beef roasted in Marchant’s oven, and a light pudding and turnips. At home all day and indifferently busy. In the evening Peter Cornwell made me a present of 6 trout, for which I gave him 6d, though in gratitude I must say it was not enough. But the smallness of my finances would not admit of more. My wife very lame all day with an ulcer lately broken out on her left leg. In the evening read part of Tillotson’s Rule of Faith and part of Sherlock on judgment. Sent by Beckett to Mr Richard Norfolk 9 3/8 lbs old pewter.

Rec’d of Richard Smith by Sarah Vine 10/- in full, and received by her for her mother 10/6 for a scarlet cloak… At home all day. Rec’d of James Awcock 1 bushel apples. In the day read part of some Monitors lent me by Mr Calverley, by which paper the author endeavors to point out the only way to restore this nation to its former strength and dignity, which is by suppressing vice and immorality and encouraging virtue and merit. In the evening read part of Sherlock on judgment.

…My brother Moses came over just as we were a-going to dinner and dined with us on the remains of Tuesday’s and yesterday’s dinners with the addition of some boiled trout and some cold rice pie. He stayed and drank tea with us. My wife continues very lame with her leg. Oh, the misfortunes that attend me! But still they are small to what we deserve, considering the many animosities that have subsisted amongst us since I have been married. And many doubtless, ah, too, too many have the faults been that I have committed, though many and great are the difficulties I labor under. But yet why, why should I palliate my own transgressions by laying them on other people, though sure I and my friends have all contributed to forward my ruin. The ill usage and unjust treatment I think I may say I have received has been great, but then how silly and thoughtless as a Christian (if I deserve that name) have I been to mind it and to make it turn out so much to my disadvantage. But I heartily forgive it all, hoping for the same of the great Disposer of all events. In the evening read part of Sherlock on judgment.