Author: Thomas Turner

…In the forenoon Mr Jeremiah French and one Mr Fletcher of Eastbourne called on me to go with them to take an account of the goods of Thomas Fowler, who, going to London about-6 weeks ago, has not since been heard of; so it is conjectured he must have lost his life by some accident of one kind or another, he being a very old man–I believe above 70. We accordingly broke open his chests, boxes’ etc., but found nothing of any value but common household furniture which we took account of. All this was done in the presence of Mr Fletcher, Mr French, Mr Joseph Fuller, Peter Adams, Mr Josias Smith, Mr Joseph Burgess, Margaret Fox, myself, Thomas Ling, the Widow Cain and a man who was a stranger to me. I came home about, 1:20.

We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the afternoon Robert Diggens called at our house, and I walked over to Framfield with him to get a gray, yard-wide gown for Mrs Porter, but my mother had none. I stayed with my mother about an hour and came home about 5:20. In the evening went down to Mrs Porter’s and acquainted her I could not get her gown before Monday, who treated me with all the affability, courtesy and good humor imaginable. Oh, what pleasure would it be to serve them were they always in such a temper. It would even induce one to almost forget to take a just profit. In the evening read part of the New Whole Duty of Man.

Myself, two boys and servant at church the morning… We had a proclamation read today for the holding a general fast throughout England, the Dominion of Wales and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed on Friday the 17th February next, in order for our humiliation and confession of sins to Almighty God, to implore his blessing and protection on our fleets and armies. We dined on a giblet and a plain suet pudding, Jerusalem artichokes and turnips. Myself, two boys and servant at church in the afternoon…

After churchtime Mr Piper came in to invite my wife and self to come and sup with him tomorrow night. Mr Thomas Fuller also came in to ask me to write a letter for him tomorrow. They stayed and smoked one pipe and then went away. In the evening and in the day read part of the New Whole duty of Man.

My wife at church in the morning (this being the martyrdom of King Charles the 1st). Mary Heath a-washing for us half the day. She dined with us on a piece of boiled beef, Savoy greens and the remains of yesterday’s dinner. My brother Moses came over in the afternoon and brought me a present of a bantam cock and pullet. He also brought me from my mother in cash £12 in lieu of which I gave him a bill… I gave Mr Jeremiah French cash for the following bill, value No. 323 dated December 20, 1757 payable to Stephen Fuller Esq or order on demand for Francis Child Esq & Co., signed: Thomas Devon.

Very busy all day. About 3:20 Master Piper sent his servant and a horse for my wife, who accordingly went. My brother stayed till about 5:30. In the evening wrote my London letters and also one for Mr Thomas Fuller. After I had done writing my London letters, being near 8:40, I walked up to Mr Piper’s, where I supped (in company with Mr French, Thomas Fuller, his wife, son, daughter, my wife and Piper’s family) on a sparerib roasted, a leg of pork boiled, a currant pond pudding, apple-sauce and parsnips. We played at brag till 12 o’clock; my wife and I won 3½d. We came home about 12:30, Mr Piper’s servant bringing my wife home. My wife gave the maid 6d and I gave the man 6d. But sure of all the houses I was ever at, I never saw a more stingy, I may say, mean-spirited old man than Mr Piper. And as for his wife, she deserves more to be pitied than blamed, being a good-natured, poor, harmless, ignorant, inoffensive creature. Paid my brother today in cash and 7 coffin letters 2/5 for 2 dozen and 9 yellow basket butts. My wife’s leg extreme bad all day.

…I also paid [Beckett] in cash 1.15.0, which is part of my last quarter’s carriage. Mary Heath a-washing for us all day. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a piece of beef boiled and some turnips. Gave two women with passes on the parish account 12d… Paid Mary Heath for 1½ days’ washing 13½d. At home all day. My wife very bad with her leg all day. In the evening read part of the Medical Essays. This day Mr Porter’s child was baptized.

At home all day. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the evening Halland gardener and I played at cribbage; I lost 2d. My wife extremely ill all day with her leg. In the evening read part of the Medical Essays.

In the forenoon our servant went over to Framfield. We dined on the goose given us by Mr French roasted, and some apple-sauce… Paid the two Mr Fieldcoxes of Battle 3.1.0 for the pattens and clogs [and creepers] received by them today… About 3:30 Joseph Fuller Jr came with a horse to carry my wife to their house, who accordingly went.

This afternoon Mr Burgess brought me a warrant from George Courthope Esq to bring Mary Hubbard, the late servant to Thomas Osborne, before him or some other justice in order for her to swear the father of the child of which she has been delivered of about a month.

About 6:30 I walked up to Mr Joseph Fuller’s, where my wife and I supped (in company with Mr French and his wife, Mr Calverley, Molly, John and Sam French, Joseph Durrant and his wife and all Mr Fuller’s own family) on a piece of cold roast beef, a cold giblet pasty, some cold roast goose, some cold neat’s tongue, cold apple pasty and bread and cheese. We played at brag; my wife and I won 3½d. We stayed and spent the evening with a great deal of mirth till between 1 and 2 o’clock. Thomas Fuller brought my wife home upon his back. I cannot say that I came home sober, though I was far from being bad company, for I think we spent this evening with a great deal of pleasure.

Awakened very early by the alarming dictates of a guilty conscience. Oh, insuperable burden! I came home about 8:20. Spent this journey on the parish account by signing the warrant etc., 0.9.0. My brother stayed and breakfasted with us and then went home about 10:10… We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of an apple-pie buttered, In the evening Mr Burgess, Master Hook and myself went and searched Jones’s house, Prall’s, Watford’s and Bridgman’s barns for vagrants, but found none. Came home about 8:10. Rec’d of Mr Burgess in cash £10 in order to pay for Thomas Daw’s iron. I accordingly sent it in a parcel of magazines by Robert Tyler to my brother for him to carry it to the forge-man at Buxted for us.

In the morning myself and two boys at church… After Mr Porter had taken his text I went and searched John Jones’s, but found no one there but his own family, and then I went back to church. We dined on a piece of beef boiled, a plain suet pudding, Savoy greens and turnips. Our servant and two boys at church in the afternoon. After churchtime Mr Thomas Osborne and his son Thomas came and assured us they would come on Thursday next and jointly enter into a bond to save harmless this parish, and also to pay the expense we have already been at.

In the evening Mr Burgess, Master Hook and myself went and searched Mr Burgess’s and Potter’s barns, and also William Eldridge’s house, but found nobody. After I came back again, I was sent for down to Jones’s. When I came, I found it was Mr Cooper at Watling and John Elliot at Hartfield that sent for me. I stayed there about an hour with them and came home about 8:40. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening. Spent at Eldridge’s 2d, but would not drink for it.

At home all day. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, Rec’d of Mary Henly and Weaver 0.15.0 in full. Rec’d of Thomas Watson 2/6 in full. In the evening wrote my London letters. Thomas Davy at our house. In the day read part of Burn’s Justice. (The Justice of the Peace and Parish Officer)