Author: Thomas Turner

About 4 o’clock in the morning Thomas Fuller called me and we walked down to John Browne’s in order to have him to Lewes to swear his parish. We called him up, and as he appeared very willing to go, I left Master Fuller and him to walk to Lewes together and came away home about 5:20. In the forenoon I was sent for down to Laughton pound. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, and as soon as I had dined, I walked down to Laughton pound where I drew up a general release from Thomas Cornwell and Elizabeth his wife, and Will and Sarah Goldsmith of the parish of Waldron, William Gurrs and Anne his wife of the parish of Laughton and Will Butler Jr of the parish of Chalvington, to John Goldsmith of the parish of Laughton The same was witnessed by Joseph Fuller and myself. They gave me 2/6 for my trouble. I came home about 6:50 in company with Joseph Fuller and Will Goldsmith, but I must not say sober. In the forenoon busy a-gardening.

…Very busy at work in my garden all day. We dined on the remains of Sunday’s dinner. At home all day. In the evening read part of Wake’s Catechism… A very hot day. In the evening it lightened very much. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening. Mr Elless drank tea with us.

At home all day and a-brewing. We dined on the remains of Sunday’s dinner with the addition of some bread and cheese. In the evening read part of Wake’s Catechism. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening.

…We dined on a light pudding and some potatoes, Mrs French and Thomas Fuller’s wife drank tea with my wife. At home all day and busy, but all, or at the least, the greatest part of the goods delivered are booked. Thomas Cornwell made my wife a present of a few fine roach, but as I was not in the way, my wife, gave him nothing. In the evening read part of Wake’s Catechism.

In the morning rode over to Framfield to see my brother, he being very bad with an ague. I breakfasted with my mother and stayed all the forenoon; cut her out 2 round frocks. I dined at my mother’s on some calves’ liver fried and a light pudding and green salad. I came home about 3:30. Sarah Stevens drank tea with my wife. In the evening read part of Wake’s Catechism and wrote a letter to Mr Stanley Crowder in answer to one I received by Thursday’s post, wherein he very peremptorily demanded a debt which I have already paid. My family today in my absence dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Rec’d of my mother today 4/3 for some buttons etc. which I bought for her at Lewes on Saturday.

…We dined today on some fried roach and some biscuit sopped. Paid the widow Virgoe in cash 8.9.0 and by a book debt 1.11.0… in full for the same sum borrowed of her by my wife the 8th of April. Paid Richard Prall and Edward Martin 7½d for slitting a batten for me. At home all day and very busy. In the evening finished reading Wake’s Catechism, which I think a very good book and proper for all families, there being good instructions in it and also something which is prodigious moving. It was written in a lively, brisk manner and not as if the author wrote more out of form than for the good of peoples’ souls. At the same time it is in a very plain, familiar style, suitable I think to the meanest capacities that can read. And so far as I can judge there is everything contained in it necessary to a man’s salvation.

Myself and wife at church in the morning… My wife and I both stayed communion; we gave 6d each. In the time we were in church Mr Tucker came to see us and brought my wife a present of two mackerel. He dined with us on a cold veal pie, gooseberry pie and custard, and stayed and drank some coffee with us, and went away about 6:20. In the evening and in the day read part of Sherlock on judgment. No service at our church this afternoon, Mr Porter preaching at Laughton.

…Paid Mr Francis Elless 12d in full for William Dallaway’s schooling. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a boiled mackerel. Thomas Cornwell at work for me in the morning. He breakfasted with us and made my wife a present of 5 trout, for which, with the roach he gave her Friday, I gave him 12d… In the evening read part of Sherlock on judgment. About 10 o’clock my brother Sam Slater came to see us and stayed all night.

…Thomas Cornwell at work for me about half the day. He and my brother Sam Slater dined with us on a piece of bacon and part of loin veal boiled, a light pudding, and greens and a boiled mackerel. As soon as we had dined my brother Samuel Slater went away. In the evening Thomas Davy at our house to whom I read part of Euclid’s Elements of Geometry.

At home all day. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some boiled trout. The widow Cornwell and Thomas Cornwell’s wife drank tea with us. In the day read part of The Peerage of England. In the evening read the first book of Milton’s Paradise Lost.