Author: Thomas Turner

Took physic today. We dined on a hog’s flesh pudding, and part of a rabbit boiled, with potatoes and turnips. Thomas Fuller Jr made me a present of a hare, for which I gave 12d. Paid John Page 15d for half a pound of cotton he bought for me at Lewes today. At home all day, but not very busy. Read part of Gay’s Fables.

…My wife went to Joseph Fuller’s to dinner… About 8:05 I went up to Joseph Fuller’s, where we played at brag till suppertime; my wife and I won 16d. I supped there on some roasted chicken, a shoulder of mutton roasted, some cold neat’s tongue, cold ham, part of a cold roast goose, part of a cold chicken pasty, tarts and puffs etc. in company with Mr and Mrs Porter, Mr and Mrs French, Mr Calverley, Mrs Atkins, Mr Piper, Dame Durrant and Thomas Fuller. We came home about 1:55 and I think quite sober. My wife and I gave their servant 12d.

Paid Mr Heaver’s son, the miller at Isfield, 6/4 in full for good received by him today; viz.,

To 1 bushel oatmeal	0.5.0
To 2 bushels pollard	0.1.4

Paid John Gosling in cash and goods 3/- in full for 6 pairs men’s out-seamed tan gloves received by him today. Paid Ben Shelley in cash 2.1.9 in full for the same sum be paid in London for me this week; viz.,

17th To Mr Thomas Neatby	1.16.9
16th To dyeing a cloak scarlet	0.5.0

We dined on some pork bones roasted in the oven and applesauce. At home all day and pretty busy. A very cold day.

Myself, wife and servant at church in the morning… We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. No service at our church in the afternoon, Mr Porter preaching at Laughton. Our servant went to Laughton church. In the afternoon Mr John Robinson, Mr William Margesson’s rider, came to our house. He drank some coffee at our house and also stayed all night.

In the evening we balanced our accounts, and I paid him in cash £18, which is in full on account of Messrs Margesson and Collison. I then paid him in cash £20 on account of his master Mr Will Margesson, and gave him a bill at sight on his master Mr Will Margesson, payable to Mr John Robinson, dated tomorrow, No. 426, value 18.7.0, which with sundry returns and abatements leaves due to Mr Margesson £20.

Mr John Robinson stayed and breakfasted with us and then went away. In the day busy a-selling of Mr Whitfield’s household goods. Rec’d of Roger Vallow by his son 2/2¼ in full on account of Mr Whitfield. Rec’d of Mr French by the payment of his wife 2/10½ in full for Mr Whitfield. Paid Mrs French by a book debt and goods 1.10.0 in full for 60 lbs of butter she put up for me (that is, I got it put up for Mr Thomas Scrase at Lewes). In the forenoon Mr Scrase came to see me and dined with us on a rabbit stewed, some sausages and the remains of yesterday’s dinner. I received of him in cash 2.9.4 which is in full on his account except the butter I had put up for him this year.

Thomas Scrase Dr.
To 26 yards Irish at 2/2		2.16.4
To 60 lbs butter	} the year 1750
To 31 do.	}	2.5.6
		5.1.10
Per contra Cr.
To 2 wigs for my brother William		1.11.6
To one do. myself		1.1.0
Rec’d in cash today		2.9.4
		5.1.10

so that there remains due to me only for the butter that I got put up for him this year, which was 104 lbs. Mr Scrase stayed and spent the afternoon with me and then went home. Master Hook and I played a few games of cribbage in the evening; I lost 2d. The money I sold Mr Whitfield’s goods for was 0.12.11 (that is, for all I have sold today). In the evening wrote my London letters. Very little to do all day. My wife a good deal disordered with the rheumatism.

Rec’d of Thomas Jones by the payment of his son 2/9 in full on account of Mr Whitfield. Sold 22d of Mr Whitfield’s goods more today… Charles Diggens drank tea at our house. Borrowed of Mr Laurence Thornton in cash 2.2.0; that is, he left so much silver with me and I had not the opportunity to give him gold for it. At home all day, and but very little to do.

…Rec’d of John Stapley by the payment of his servant boy 19/6 in full on account of the widow Virgoe, and which I am to give her account credit for between her and me… We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of same boiled mutton and turnips.

This day balanced accounts with the widow Virgoe and outset all the money I have received upon her account, as also the guinea I borrowed of her the 20th June, 1758, and there remains due to me the sum of 7/6… Rec’d 2/4 for more of Mr Whitfield’s goods which I sold today. At home all day, and but very little to do.

Rec’d of Mr Porter 4/9 in full on account of Mr Alexander Whitfield. Richard Fuller carried my wife down to Mr French’s to dinner… About 7:40 Master Durrant and I walked down to Mr French’s, where I played at brag till suppertime. My wife and I lost 3/7. I supped there on some roast ducks and roast chickens, part of a cold boiled buttock of beef, cold ham, a cold chicken pasty, tarts, puffs etc., in company with Mr and Mrs Porter, Joseph Durrant and his wife, Joseph and Thomas Fuller, Ms Virgoe and Mrs Atkins, William and John Piper.

We came home about 3:20 and thank God very sober, as was all the company (except Dame Durrant). But I must own it grieves me to lose so much money, and especially as I think it wrong, nor would I ever play, were it not upon the account of being sneered at by the company; not that I think it a crime to play at cards, no farther than the consequences accruing therefrom. As for tradesmen to lose anything considerable, it is a-lessening the stock-in-trade and perhaps injuring the creditors. My wife and I gave Mr French’s maid 6d each.

After breakfast I rode over to Framfield, but finding my brother was came to Hoathly, I immediately came home. My brother dined with us on some pork bones boiled, some mutton boiled, and the broth, with turnips and potatoes. Rec’d of my brother in cash 1.14.1½ for

19 lbs pepper at 14½	1.2.11½
2 gallons brandy	0.11.2

Paid Mr Sam Beckett in cash 2.8.0, it being in full for the same sum paid the 23rd instant to James Baird Esq on account of Lieut Alexander Whitfield. At home all day and very little to do. Our servant sat up with William Vine.

…After dinner I went to Lewes. I paid Messrs Richards and Comber… Mr Faulkner Bristow… and Mr John Madgwick… Paid Mrs Mary Roase one bill on Mr William Margesson… value 11.18.0 in full on my account to the 1st instant. Came home about 6:20…