Author: Thomas Turner

Paid Richard Fuller 9½d for 3½ lbs bullock’s skirts I bought of him today. We dined on a skirt pudding, some boiled tripe and potatoes. At home all day except walking down to Halland in the afternoon. After we had drunk tea our late servant went home. In the evening my brother and John Elphick came over, but did not stay. Pretty busy all day.

Myself and servant at church in the morning… We had a brief read for the parish church of Dyndlebury (or some such like name) in the county of Oxford, the charge of rebuilding which, exclusive of the of materials, amounts to the sum of £1237 and upwards, to which I gave one penny. We dined on a bullock’s skirt pudding, a plain butter pudding, turnips and potatoes. Myself and servant at church in the afternoon… At home all day except being at church. Mr Thornton at our house in the evening, to whom and in the day read 2 of Tillotson’s sermons and part of Burkitt on the New Testament. Rec’d of Thomas Durrant the 2/- I lent him the 16th instant.

Paid Mr Alexander Whitfield 2/4 in full for Philip’s schooling to this day. Paid Edward Martin 6d for 24 herrings bought of him today…

Paid John Cayley in cash 1.2.0 in full for 44 lbs butter received of him today, which is for Mr Thomas Scrase of Lewes… Molly and Bett Fuller drank tea with my wife.

After breakfast I set out for Alfriston, there being a sale of a shopkeeper’s goods who has lately failed in trade. I dined with Mr Elless at his lodging… There being no goods at the sale that I wanted which I could buy worth my money, I came home about 5:15. My brother came over in my absence and stayed all night…

Paid Mr Ambrose Austin of Brighthelmstone in cash 1.3.0 for goods received by him today; viz.,

2 dozen shoe hemp	0.18.0
1 dozen short do.	0.5.0

…Paid Mr Will Piper 18d for 1 bushel oats and in full. My brother stayed and breakfasted with us and then went home… Borrowed of Mr Laurence Thornton (by way of change) 1 guinea. At home all day, but not very busy. Bought today of Mr Will Piper 2 quarters of oats at 1l/- per quarter.

…We dined on a sheep’s head and pluck boiled, some broiled herrings, turnips and potatoes. In the afternoon Thomas Davy carried my wife down to Mr Sam Gibbs’s, he having a son baptised today, and my wife and I were both invited to the christening. And about 7:40 I went (in company with Joseph Durrant). My wife and I supped at Mr Gibbs’s, on a turkey roasted, 3 roast teal, a roast chine and 4 boiled chickens, a cold venison pasty, gooseberry and bouillis pie and a cold ham (in company with Mr and Mr Coates, Mr and Mrs Porter, Joseph Fuller and his wife, Thomas Fuller and his wife, Mr French and his wife, Mr Calverley, Joseph Durrant and his wife, Mr Hurdis and Mr Joseph Gibbs, Mr Francis Gibbs and his wife, Thomas Page and his wife, Mr Goldsmith and Mr Whitfield). We came home about 3:50, pretty indifferent, though not sober. My wife played at brag in the evening; she lost 6½d. We gave the nurse and servant 12d. Lent Mr Calverley in cash 5/-.

…Mrs Jones of Bentley with her son and niece dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with some fried mutton chaps. They all drank tea with us. At home all day and very busy.

My wife, self and servant at church in the morning… Charles Vine and Ann Fuller asked their last time. We had a proclamation read for a day of general thanksgiving to Almighty God for his manifold mercies vouchsafe to this our happy isle (on the 29th of this instant).

We dined on the remains of Friday’s dinner, with a raisin suet pudding and potatoes. Myself, wife and servant at church in the afternoon… Rec’d of John Cayley (by the payment of his wife) in cash 2.7.6 which I am to send to Mr James Burfield of Steyning, It being in full for 1 year’s rent due at St Michael last for that part of the house in which the wife of William Burrage lives. In the evening Thomas Davy and Mr Thornton at our house, to whom I read two of Tillotson’s sermons. At home all day, except being at church.

Took physic today… We dined on a sheep’s heart pudding and the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with turnips and potatoes. My brother came over in the afternoon but did not stay… In the afternoon wrote my London letters and posted my day book. At home all day and thank God very busy. Charles Vine and Ann Fuller were married today.