Author: Thomas Turner

In the morning rode over to Framfield and breakfasted with my mother. I came home again about 11:10. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of 3 boiled trout… Sent by John Streeter 3/9 for my club arrears. In the evening read the second book of Milton’s Paradise Lost.

…Paid Mr Ben Shelley in cash 1.1.2, which sum he paid to Mr Will Ashmore the 17th instant in full on my account. Paid John Watford 11d for 1 gallon beans which he bought in Lewes for me today. At home all day. In the evening read the third book of Milton’s Paradise Lost, and in the day read part of The Peerage of England.

Paid Dame Dallaway 20d for mending my wife’s stays and making a bed gown. James Marchant cut out for me today 8 pairs linings; he dined with us on a piece of bacon boiled, a light pudding and some spinach, some baked roach, pear and gooseberry pie. Lent Joseph Durrant my horse to carry John to Framfield upon. In the evening Thomas Davy at our house, to whom I read the 4th book of Paradise Lost. At home all day and indifferently busy. A remarkable dry time, there having been no rain of any consequence this 3 weeks.

About 7 o’clock in the morning my wife and I set out for Framfield, she on my colt and I on foot. We got to my mother’s about 8:10. We breakfasted with my mother. My mother, wife, brother and all my mother’s family were at church in the morning, except my sister and nephew, who together with myself stayed at home to get dinner. We dined at my mother’s on a shoulder of mutton roasted, a plain bread pudding and gooseberry pie. Neither my wife nor self at church in the afternoon. We stayed and drank tea at my mother’s and stayed till near 7 o’clock. We came home about 8:30. N.B.: This day my mother informed me that she had lately been told that Master Darby owed so much money that it was expected he would soon be sent to jail (and by someone in Lewes). Oh, melancholy news, for I believe he owes me near £20.

In the morning as soon as I had breakfasted I set out for Lewes in order for to commit the management of the debt due from Master Darby to me into the hands of Mr Rideout, but when I came to Lewes Mr Rideout was not at home; and fearing a delay in the affair might prove of a dangerous consequence (I mean as to my getting of the debt), I therefore committed the same into the care of Mr Burtenshaw, attorney at law, who proposes to send for a writ this day and to arrest him on Saturday next. The debt I swore to be due to me is £17 though I am pretty confident it is more than £18.

Oh, what a confusion and tumult there is in my breast about this affair! To think what a terrible thing it is to arrest a person, for by this means he may be entirely torn to pieces, who might otherwise recover himself and pay everyone their own. But then on the other hand let me consider some of this debt has been standing above 4 years, and the greatest part of it above three years. I have tried very hard to get it these two years and cannot get one farthing. They have almost quite forsaken my shop, buying nothing of me that amounts to any value, but every time they want anything of value, they go to Lewes. And I have just reason to suspect they must be deep in debt at other places, for undoubtedly no people of £200 a year go gayer than Mrs Darby and her two daughters. So I greatly fear they, instead of getting out of debt, go farther in. And as I at this time am so oppressed for want of money that I know not which way to turn, it makes me more eager to get it. For I really and sincerely have no other motive in doing this but to secure my just due, and I think there is no probability of ever getting it but by doing this (and I really am afraid I shall never have it at all).

I called at Mr Bennett’s, Mr Thomas Scrase’s and Mr Madgwick’s. I ate some bread and cheese at Mr Scrase’s. My wife at home dined on some baked roach. Paid Mr Sam Newell 10/- in full. I came from Lewes by Bayley’s Lane where I called at Mr Crowhurst’s and bought some earthenware for myself and mother. I came home thank God very safe and sober about 7 o’clock. Spent today as under:

To the turnpike	0.0.2
Spent	0.0.3
Horse, hay, Oats and ostler	0.0.5½
Gave away to two children	0.0.1
	0.0.11½

Paid Mr Sam Beckett on account in cash 1.10.0. We dined on some biscuit sopped. In the afternoon wrote out Mr Darby’s bill. In the evening Thomas Davy and I walked down to Laughton to know when Wickersham could fetch me some coal. Thomas Davy came back with me, to whom I read the 5th book of Milton’s Paradise Lost. A very hot day and a very remarkable hot and dry time.

At home all day… In the afternoon my wife went up to the common to see a cricket match, the parish of Laughton and ours playing, but there was not time enough to play it out. In the evening read the 6th: book of Milton’s Paradise Lost. This day been a most remarkable hot day. Oh, very uneasy concerning Master Darby’s affair, though I think there is no just room for the world nor him to complain of ill usage.

At home all day… Posted my day book. Between the hours of 10 and 11 o’clock in the forenoon we had a very freak whirlwind for about a minute, and in the afternoon several distant claps of thunder were heard, and in the evening we had several fine showers. James Marchant smoked a pipe with me in the evening. In the morning read part of The Peerage of England. Thomas Cornwell a-boughing my pears in the morning, and he breakfasted with us.

Very busy all the forenoon, part of it at work in my garden… Paid Mr Sam Beckett on account of Messrs Beckett and Shelley in cash 7.5.0, which, with, the is 10.0 I gave him the 23rd instant and a book debt of 0.14.1, makes together the sum of 9.9.1 and is in full as under:

To a bill of carriage from the 14th December 1757 to the 27th April, 1758, both days inclusive.	7.12.6
…Paid the porterage of parcel	0.0.6

In the afternoon wrote out Mr Francis Elless’s bill. At home all day. In the evening read the 7th book of Milton’s Paradise Lost.

In the morning went down to the Rev Mr Porter’s and received of him…6.6.0…as under:

To a note of hand which Mr Porter gave me the 4th January last	7.17.0
To 1 earthen jar	0.8.6
To the carriage of two salt fish	0.0.6

I gave Mr Porter the note of hand he gave me the 4th of January and also took up mine which I gave him the 15^th instant. Paid Joseph Fuller by his son Richard 18d for 1 leg of lamb received by him today, weighing 4½ lbs at 4d per lb. We dined on a light pudding and green salad. Mrs Vine the younger drank tea with us. Very busy all day; at work in my garden part of the day. In the evening read the 8th book of Paradise Lost. In the day read part of The Peerage of England. I have been in a continual anxiety of mind all this day by expecting to hear every minute of my success in Master Darby’s affair.