Author: Thomas Turner

My brother came over in the forenoon, but did not stay. Paid 6d for 10 plaice bought today. John Babcock a-gathering of apples for me all the forenoon and dined with us on a piece of beef boiled, some boiled plaice, turnips and potatoes. I gave him 6d for his work… Mr Mason of Eastbourne drank tea at our house. At home all day. And thank God pretty busy.

In the morning Mr Elless called on me and breakfasted with me, and after breakfast we rode to Waldron Thorns where we met Mr Mason and surveyed a farm of Dr Duke’s of Battle. We came home about 4:20. I dined on some bread and cheese (my family in my absence dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of some boiled plaice)… Paid Dame Gower 2/9 for 1 quart honey and 1 lb 14 oz wax received today. Spent (that is, gave a boy) today 3d for drawing the chain.

My wife only at church in the forenoon, except my brother William, who came to see me just before churchtime and went to church along with my wife. Mr Elless breakfasted with me, and he not choosing to go to church, I was obliged to stay at home with him. My brother and Mr Ellesse dined with us on a piece of beef boiled, an apple pudding, a bread pudding, potatoes, turnips and some boiled plaice. My wife, brother and servant at church in the afternoon, myself being obliged to stay at home to accompany Mr Elless, who went away in churchtime. My brother stayed and drank tea with us, and then went away home.

In the evening my brother Moses came over for my horse in order to go to Lewes upon tomorrow to meet Mr Stephen Fletcher, Mr Sam Ridings’s servant. I gave my brother one bill on Mr William Margesson, payable to Mr Sam Ridings or order…value 4.6.11, which…will be in full on my account to Mr Sam Hidings to the 11th day of last month (August). My brother did not stay, but went away immediately. In the evening read one of Tillotson’s sermons to Mr Thornton. Delivered a bill of Mr Duney’s of Hastings (for pails) to Mr John Vine Jr amounting to 3.4.8.

…In the afternoon my brother called on me in his road from Lewes and left my horse, and also brought me a receipt from Mr Fletcher for the bill I gave my brother yesterday on account of Mr Sam Ridings… Rec’d of John Cayley in cash 1.2.3 in full as under:

To making the poor book	0.2.0
To money paid Ling	0.12.0
To do. Trill for spinning	0.2.3
To money I am to pay Richard Braizer	0.6.0

In the evening went down to Jones’s, there being a vestry, but I did not stay on account Mr Vine came for me. I went home with him and I received of him in cash 3.4.8 in full for the bill I delivered to him yesterday. Mr John Vine smoked a pipe or 2 with me. James Marchant and Thomas Davy supped with us, who had been gathering of walnuts for us all the afternoon.

…Paid 6d for 6 plaice bought today. We dined on the remains of Sunday’s dinner, with the addition of a light pudding and some greens. Sent Richard Braizer by his daughter Lucy in cash and goods and with what he before owed me the 6/- I received of John Cayley yesterday. In the evening Thomas Davy and I walked over to Framfield. I stayed and supped at my brother’s. Came home sbout 10:20. Posted part of my day book today.

Paid Mr Will Piper in cash 13.9.2 in full; viz.,

Mr Will Piper Dr.
To a bill for Sundry goods	0.13.11¾
In cash today	13.9.2
	14.3.1¾
Per Contra Cr.
to 2 bushels malt rec’d	0.6.8
Rec’d by window tax	0.9.6
Do. by cash paid by Mr George Tomlin per Mr Piper’s order to Mr William Margesson about the 21st September last on my account	13.7.0
	14.3.2

…In the afternoon finished posting my day book. At home all day and very little to do.

In the forenoon walked down in the park to look at an old pollard from whence a swarm of bees had been taken. Paid Thomas Fuller, chandler, in cash £10 in full for a bill my brother drew on me the 26th ult., payable to Mr Thomas Fuller or order, and which is in full for the £10 I borrowed of my brother the 23rd ult… In the afternoon my wife paid a visit to Mrs Fuller…

In the evening went down to Jones’s to make up the following trifling affair: some time in the summer Master Bull of Whitesmith and a little boy of Francis Rich’s, being together in Halland Park, found a swarm of bees which they agreed to divide between them, and accordingly sometime after, they sent a person to Mr Gibbs the keeper to ask his consent to take the bees at the proper time for taking then. The answer he brought again was that Mr Gibbs gave them his free consent so to do (though the fellow had never seen Mr Gibbs, and only told them lies all the time) but however they, knowing no other but what they had the keeper’s good will and free consent for taking they ventured (innocently enough) to proceed to action and about 3 [weeks?] ago took the bees.

Somebody next day told the keeper of it and he before night committed it into the hands of on attorney, and now it was agreed to be left to me (in behalf of Rich and Bull) and Mr John Goldsmith (in behalf of the keeper) to decide, when it was agreed between us for them to pay 2/6 each, the value of the honey and wax, spend one shilling each and pay the lawyer’s letter, which they did, and then I came away. But the keeper saying he did not want the money, I do imagine he spent most of the 5/- upon them, but sure it must appear cruel in the keeper to use his power in so arbitrary a manner, for he owned that he was thoroughly persuaded the men were honest and that they would by no means have taken the bees if they had not been assured in their own minds that they had his permission for so doing, but yet as it was in some measure contrary to law, he was determined to show his power that no one for the future should dare transgress, but what they must expect the law. Or at least if they disobliged him and the law open against them, they must expect to know something of the charge of law. But however I think that if showing of power tend only to oppress the honest and industrious poor (as it did in the afore going cause) happy is the man that hath least of it.

Lent Thomas Durrant my horse to go to Lewes upon. This day examined the sale of Mr French’s hops, which were sold by Tomlin and for which I paid him the money yesterday. I find Mr Tomlin has made a mistake in casting up the hops to Mr French’s prejudice of 5/3; that so Tomlin is debtor to Mr French for 5/3 more…

In the afternoon my wife paid Mrs Porter a visit… After I had shut up shop, I went down to Mr Porter’s, where I stayed and supped, and came home about 10:30. I hear today that Mr Gibbs, instead of giving the men any of the money he received of them yesterday on the bee affair, again stayed and spent the greatest part of it upon them, which I think was but a small recompense, and specially as it was attended with a worse consequence, for one of the poor creatures, not being used to drinking, being very much in liquor, happened to drop some expression at which the keeper took umbrage, and I suppose positively declared he would [be] his professed enemy.

This day Mr Delves was buried at our church, aged 68 years.

…Paid Ed Heaver the miller of Isfield 5/- in full for 1 bushel oatmeal received by him today… At home all day.

In the morning our servant went to see her friends. myself and wife at church… My wife and self stayed the communion; we gave 6d each. We dined on a loin of pork roasted and apple sauce. My wife and I both at church in the afternoon… Mr Thornton at our house in the evening, to whom, and in the day, I read two of Tillotson’s sermons.