Author: Thomas Turner

Mr Stone paid my wife a visit… At home all day and thank God pretty busy, but my wife very ill. Oh, how melancholy a time it is, [when I], quite destitute of father or mother, am in all probability like to lose my wife, the only friend I believe I have now in this world, and the lone center of my worldly happiness! When I indulge the serious thought, what imagery can paint the gloomy scene that seems just ready to open itself as it were for a theater for my future troubles to be acted upon.

Paid 3d for 14 lbs tripe bought today. Lent Mr Jeremiah French in cash 5.5.0 for which he gave me his note of hand, payable to me or order. Lent Mr Joseph Burgess in cash 10/6. Lent Robert Hook in cash 10/-. We dined on some boiled and fried tripe. Paid Mr William Piper 2/4½ for 1 pig received by him today weighing 9½ lbs at 3d. Dame Merricks and Dame Rotherfield drank tea at our house.

My brother came over in the afternoon and brought me a receipt from Mr Stephen Fletcher (for the bill I delivered to my brother the 28th ult.) which he acknowledges to be in full on account of Mr Sam Ridings. In the evening Mr William Godfrey called and left with me (he being somewhat in liquor) in cash 19.8.6 for which I gave him my note of hand, payable to him or order on demand. At home all day and very busy. In the evening Mrs Porter came and sat a little time with my wife, who is really very ill…

No service at our church in the morning, Mr Porter preaching at Laughton. In the morning my brother came over and borrowed my horse. In the afternoon my friend George Richardson called on me in his road to Waldron, but did not stay. Mr Stone paid my wife another visit and let her blood. Dame Hook dined with us on a pig roasted and bread sauce. In the afternoon my good friend George Richardson called on me in his way home and stayed and smoked a pipe or two with me. Our servant only at church in the afternoon. In the evening read two of Sherlock’s sermons. My wife really very ill. A melancholy time.

…In the afternoon Mr Godfrey came over and I gave him his cash again which I received of him on Saturday and he accordingly delivered me my note of hand again. Sent Messrs Barlow and Wigginton enclosed in a letter by Shelley, delivered to himself, one bill on Mr William Margesson, 20 days’ date, dated tomorrow, No. 451, value £60.

At home all day and pretty busy, but surely my wife is extremely ill. Oh, what an agony of mind I am in with doubt and fear of my wife’s illness proving mortal. In the afternoon we had some thunder. Dame and Master Durrant and Elizabeth Mepham supped with us. Bett Mepham sat up with my wife.

In the forenoon my brother came over… My uncle and cousin Charles Hill came to see me; also I received of my uncle one bill on Mr Henry Swainstone… value 27.15.0, which is in part of a note of hand of £30 due to my brother William and which my brother Moses and I laid down for John Browne till such time as my uncle could pay it in. My uncle did not stay, but my cousin stayed and dined with us on the remains of Sunday’s dinner.

Dame Durrant and Mrs Virgoe drank tea with my wife, who is extremely ill. In the evening there was a rejoicing at Halland and a bonfire for our armies under the command of General Amherst having taken Montreal and all Canada from the French. All the neighbors were regaled with a supper, wine punch and strong beer. Today sent Thomas Durrant to Brighthelmstone for Dr Poole, who came to my wife in the evening, who is prodigious ill. At home all day and thank God pretty busy.

In the morning Mr Poole (he lying at Mr Porter’s) paid my wife another visit, and I paid him for his fee 2 guineas… At home all day and thank God pretty busy. My wife extremely ill. Borrowed of Mr John Long 3/6 in cash. Paid 12d for 2 chickens bought of Richard Piper.

In the morning got Bett Mepham to come and wait on my wife during her illness. In the forenoon my father Slater came to see us and dined with us on a piece of bacon, a plain suet pudding and cabbage. Mrs Atkins, Mrs Hicks, Mrs Jessup and Mrs French drank tea with my wife. My father Slater went home again in the evening.

Paid Mr Will Piper in cash 60.0.6 in full for money paid by Mr George Tomlin (for 2 pockets of hops sold for him… to Mr Will Margesson on my account on or about the 16th September last). At home all day and thank God my wife something better and pretty busy all day. Mr Poole, when he visited my wife yesterday, gave it as his opinion that her illness was the fluor albus and an ulcer in the right kidney.

…This day balanced accounts with Will Sinden… Bett Fuller drank tea with my wife. At home all day and pretty busy. My wife not quite so well again. Thomas Davy sat a while with us in the evening…

Thomas Davy a-gathering of walnuts for me in the forenoon and dined with us on the remains of Thursday’s dinner, with part of a chick boiled… Rec’d of Ben Brinkhurst 7/6½ in full. Dame Cornwell drank tea at our house. Rec’d of Mr Joseph Burgess the half-Guinea I lent him the 4th instant. At home all day. My wife something better, and pretty busy all day.

Myself at church in the forenoon… The communion was today, and I stayed (gave 6d). John Shoesmith and Sarah Vine were asked today for the first time.

We dined on a shoulder of mutton roasted and onion sauce, potatoes and a plain rice pudding. No service at our church in the afternoon, Mr Porter preaching at Laughton. In the evening Thomas Davy at our house, to whom, and in the day, I read 3 of Sherlock’s sermons.