Author: Thomas Turner

My wife and servant at church in the morning (my-self staying at home). My wife stayed the communion. Just after churchtime my old friend Mr Tucker came to see us, who dined with us on a piece of pork, a knuckle of a shoulder veal boiled, a light pudding and greens. Mr Tucker stayed and drank tea with us, and then went home. No service at our church this afternoon, Mr Porter preaching at Laughton. In the evening Mr Long at our house, to whom I read one of Tillotson’s sermons.

In the morning my brother William brought my horse home and he and Mr Elless dined with us on a shoulder of veal stuffed and roasted. After dinner I went down to Jones’s to the vestry, where I made up the parish accounts between John Cayley and the parish and there was a balance of 3.0.3½ due to John Cayley. William Piper was chosen overseer, Joseph Fuller electioner; John Cayley churchwarden, Joseph Durrant electioner. Came home about 8:10.

Paid John Cayley 14/8 for my poor tax. My brother William stayed with my wife till about 6:10. My wife’s brother Sam Slater came to see us in the afternoon and stayed at our house all night. As John Cayley came home from the vestry he called and paid me 10.3.6 in full; viz.,

To my bill on the parish for goods	8.17.11½
To money paid T. Ling	0.12.6
To do. Richard Braizer	0.7.6
Widow Trill for spinning	0.2.7½
Do.            do.	0.0.11
To making the poor rate	0.2.0

In the evening wrote my London letters. We had several warm arguments at our vestry today and several volleys of execrable oaths oftentimes resounded from almost all sides of the room, a most rude and shocking thing at public meetings…

Rec’d of my brother Sam Slater on account of my father Slater in cash 6.6.2½. My brother stayed and dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of a plain pudding. After dinner Mr Long and I rode to Lewes. I paid Mr George Verral 19/- on account. We came home about 6:40… My brother Slater went home in the afternoon. Our late servant and her sister drank tea with my wife…

Thomas Davy at work for me in the forenoon, who dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of a light pudding and some turnip greens. John Cayley, Sarah and Elizabeth Trill drank tea at our house. At home all day, and thank God pretty busy; In the evening read part of English Peerage.

After breakfast I rode over to Framfield, but did not stay. We dined on the remains of Monday’s dinner. In the afternoon posted my day book and wrote out part of Mr Sam Gibbs’s bill. In the evening read part of The English Peerage.

Ah melancholy time! But little to do, and what lies heavy upon my spirits is I am afraid my brother at Framfield will not do well and I am so deeply concerned that, should he do ill, I must be entirely ruined.

In the forenoon rode to Little Horsted to my uncle Hill’s, but did not stay… In the evening my wife walked down to Whyly…

We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Paid the widow Virgoe by a book debt, goods and cash 10/6, which is in full for the same sum received the 5th instant of Matthew Lower on her account. At home all day and thank God pretty busy.

Took some salts in the morning. No service at our church in the morning, Mr Porter preaching at Laughton. Our servant went to Laughton church. Mr Long dined with us on a piece of bacon boiled, a light pudding, a raisin batter pudding and turnip greens. My wife, self and servant at church in the afternoon… Mr Long and Thomas Davy drank tea at our house, and after tea we took a walk. In the evening Mr Long and Thomas Davy at our house, to whom and in the day I read 5 of Tillotson’s sermons.

…Gave Mrs Hannah Atkins in cash £10 in exchange for a bank post bill (received of her)… In the afternoon Mr William Francis, rider to Messrs Barlow and Wigginton, called on me. I gave him the bank post bill I received of Mrs Atkins today, out of which he is to send me from Mayfield 1.19.0, so that when I have received it I shall have paid him 8.1.0, which is in full on my account to Messrs Barlow and Wigginton to the 12th of March last. Mr Francis and Dame Couzens of Laughton and Dame Fitness drank tea with us. At home all day and quite ill.

In the evening wrote my London letters. Paid Mr Laurence Thornton in goods and cash 12/- in full for a quarter of oats he bought for me of T. Reeve.

Sent Messrs Gore and Perchard enclosed in a letter by Beckett and Shelley (delivered to Shelley) one bill on Mr William Margesson… in full on my account. Also sent Mr John Wathen enclosed in a letter by Beckett and Shelley (delivered to Shelley) 1 bill on Mr William Margesson… in full on my account. I also gave to Mr Benjamin Shelley in cash £20 in order for him to pay the same in London for me… Dame Martin drank tea with us. At home all day and quite ill.