Author: Thomas Turner

Rec’d of Stephen Weller Sr by his wife 13/7 in full. My brother came over in the forenoon and dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some gooseberry pie. At home all day except going down to Mr Porter’s in the evening, where I sat chatting near two hours. I came home and wrote my London letters. In the day read 3 Monitors.

In the morning about 8:10 Thomas Davy, and I set out for Lewes on foot, I in order to let part of the widow Virgoe’s house, and he for company. I called at Luke Spence Esq’s and got a summons to oblige Henry Osborne and John Browne to appear before him or some other justice to be examined touching their last legal settlement. I treated with the widow Beard for part of Mrs Virgoe’s house, which part I offered her for £8 per year, and she agreed to take time to deliberate upon it and give Mrs Virgoe a further answer.

I dined at the White Horse on a neck of mutton stewed, some sausages, hog’s tongue, some cheek, apple pudding and turnips… I called on Mr Madgwick, Mrs Roase and Mr T. Scrase. I received of Mr Scrase 1.13.6. We came home thank God very safe and sober about 5:50, but I think never more fatigued. Mr Withington, Messrs Bancroft and Nixon’s rider, and my brother Moses called on me in my absence. I spent this day as under on the parish account:

The summons	0.1.0
Spent	0.0.4
	0.1.4

On Mrs Virgoe’s account spent 0.1.0.

At home all day, we dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some turnips and potatoes. In the afternoon wrote out Mr Hutson’s bill. A remarkable wet day, raining almost incessantly. In the evening Joseph and Thomas Fuller smoked a pipe with me. Today and in the evening read part of the 1st volume of The Peerage of England written by Arthur Collins Esq.

In the morning about 7:10 I set out on Mr Piper’s horse for Uckfield. I called at John Browne’s and breakfasted and also took him along with me. After we had been at Uckfield about 15 minutes, Master Hook and Henry Osborne came there to me. We then proceeded to Mr Courthope’s in order for Browne and Osborne to swear their parishes. Upon the examination of Henry Osborne it appeared that he belonged to the parish of St Mary Westout in the Borough of Lewes in the County of Sussex, and Mr Courthope accordingly granted me an order to remove him and Hannah his wife to the said parish. Upon examination of John Browne it appeared he belonged to the Parish of Brede in this county, but he at the same time affirmed that he had hired £10 a year in this parish, which he should enter upon at Lady Day next; so Mr Courthope thought it would be needless to have an order. We dined at the Maiden Head on some bread and cheese… I called at John Browne’s as I came home, and stayed 15 minutes. I came home about 4:10. I

n the evening Mr Burgess and I were down at Mr Porter’s, when he drew up a petition to be signed by the inhabitants of this parish to forfeit £20 each if they employed John Browne any more unless he got a certificate. I spent today on the parish account as under:

To the examination of Henry Osborne and John Browne and the order	0.4.0
Spent etc.	0.3.10
	0.7.10

In the morning John Browne came up to my house and I persuaded him to permit Mr Porter to write to his parish for a certificate… In the evening I went down to Jones’s, where we had a vestry to consult on moving Osborne tomorrow and many other things of small note. The people at the vestry were Mr French, Joseph and Thomas Fuller, Mr Burgess, Richard Page, Joseph Durrant and myself. We stayed till about 11:30 quarrelling and wrangling. We spent on the parish account, 5/-, and also 3½d each of our own. Oh, what pleasure it is to think we have compromised the affair between John Browne and the parish.

At home all day. Paid Joseph Fuller by his son Thomas 12d for a calf’s bell received him today… Rec’d of the widow Virgoe the 12d spent on her account on Tuesday last. Sent our servant over to Framfield in the afternoon. My brother came over in the afternoon and stayed about 2 hours. This day being down at Mrs Porter’s, Mr and Mrs Porter gave my wife and self an invitation to sup with them on Monday night next. In the evening read part of the New Whole Duty of Man. A very windy day.

In the morning myself, Philip and a servant at church; the text in Proverbs 18:21: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue”. From which words we had as good a sermon as I ever heard Mr Porter preach, it being against swearing. While we were at church, my brother Moses came over (in order to accompany me to Lewes to meet Mr Fletcher). I received of him from my mother the bill value £14, which I sent her, dated the 15th ult., No. 338, out of which I gave him 6/6, which left 13.13.6 and is in full for a parcel of Manchester goods etc., I also received of my mother by him in cash £21 on account.

My brother dined with us on calves’ lights etc. boiled and minced, and turnips. After we had dined, we set out on foot for Lewes where arrived about 5:10. We supped with Mr Thomas Scrase and lodged at the White Horse where we went to bed sober. This day Thomas Cornwell of this parish and Sarah Goodwin of Hellingly were publicly asked in the church in the morning.

In the morning arose about 5:30 and bought a parcel of Manchester goods and paid Mr Stephen Fletcher in cash 0.12.0, and by a bill on Messrs Margesson and Collison, payable to Mr Sam Ridings or order, dated today, 6 weeks’ date, No. 340, value £22, which makes together the sum of 22.12.0, and is in full on account of Mr Sam Ridings except the parcel bought today.

We breakfasted at the White Horse in company with Mr Fletcher and George Beard. We came home about 12:10… After dinner my brother went to Uckfield to hire 2 horses for us to ride to Seaford upon tomorrow, there being a sale of goods saved out of a vessel stranded on that coast. In the evening wrote my London letters, and about 8:20 my brother came back and brought 2 horses and stayed all night. Spent this journey 12d…

In the morning about 5 o’clock my brother and I set out on our intended journey. We arrived at Seaford about 8:20 where, after viewing the goods (which consisted of about 26 quarters of peas, 18 quarters grots, 5230 lbs of Smyrna raisins, and 20 bags of hops–all very much damaged with sea-water) in company with Mr George Beard, we then walked down to the sea-side. The sale began about 11:20 when the peas were sold from 15 to 22/- per quarter, and the grots nearly the same, the raisins from about 14 to 18/- per cwt. But they having lost much of their goodness, neither Mr Beard or myself bought any. The sale ended about 1 o’clock.

My brother and I dined at Mr Beard’s mother’s on a leg of mutton boiled, turnips and a plain pudding (my family at home dining on a calf’s heart pudding). We came home about 5:10. My brother went away immediately. My wife in my absence paid Mr Sam Beckett in cash 1.18.0, being the same sum which he paid to Mr William Ashmore in full on my account to the 1st instant. Spent today… 0.1.9½.

After I came home, my wife and I went down to Joseph Fuller’s, where we drank tea. We stayed and played at brag with the company hereafter mentioned. My wife and I won 18d. We stayed and supped there on two boiled chickens, a roasted shoulder of mutton, part of a cold ham, cold tongue, a cold veal pasty, tarts etc. in company with Mr and Mrs Porter, Mr Coates, Mr and Mrs French, Mr Calverley, Thomas Fuller and his wife, Dame Durrant, Master Fuller’s family and Mrs Atkins. After supper my wife being very ill, she went home, as would I very gladly, making several vigorous attempts, but was still opposed by Mr Porter; so at last I was obliged to sit myself down contentedly and make myself a beast for fashion’s sake, or else be stigmatized with the name of bad company.

There we continued drinking like horses (as the vulgar phrase is) and singing till many of us were very drunk, and then we went to dancing and pulling off wigs, caps and hats. There we continued in this frantic manner (behaving more like mad people than they that profess the name of Christians) till 9 o’clock when I deserted them and was twice pursued, but at last got clear off with first being well-rolled in the dirt. I came home far from being sober, though I must charge all this upon our reverend clergyman, whose behaviour I am sorry to see. I shall always think it is contrary as well to the Christian religion as my own conscience. They then continued their perambulation from house till 12 o’clock when they got home and with imprudence and impudence declared themselves neither sick nor sorry. Now whether this is consistent to the wise saying of Solomon, let anyone judge: “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” Gave Molly Fuller 12d.

Abed all day. My family dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a bullock’s kidney. Paid for a kidney 1½d. In the evening myself and wife went up to Joseph Fuller’s, but did not stay.