Author: Thomas Turner

Mary Heath a-washing for us all day and dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Just as we had dined my brother Sam Slater and my mother Slater came in, who dined at our house on some mutton cutlets fried… Paid Mary Heath 13½d for 1½ days’ washing.

At home all day. My wife very ill. My mother and brother Slater stayed all night. Paid Mr Heaver’s son, the miller at Isfield, in cash and goods 5/9 in full; viz.,

To 1 bushel oatmeal	0.5.0
To 1 do. Pollard	0.0.8
	0.5.8

received by him today.

After breakfast my brother Slater went home… At home all day. In the evening wrote out some bills. My wife, poor creature, very ill. A melancholy time — trading very bad.

…We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of some boiled mutton. At home all day. My wife very ill.

We dined on a beef pudding, turnips, parsnips, greens and potatoes… In the forenoon we had a great deal of snow fall, but as there was no frost it melted as it came down. At home all day. My wife very ill.

…My brother came over in the forenoon and dined with me on a piece of beef, a piece of pork, a suet pudding, boiled turnips, potatoes and greens. At home all day; a very cold day. My wife very ill. Mr Long made my wife a present of a woodcock and blackbird. He stayed and supped with us. In the evening read part of the London Magazine.

No service at our church in the morning, Mr Porter preaching at Laughton. We dined on a piece of beef boiled, a piece of pork, a raisin suet pudding, turnips and potatoes. Myself, servant and late servant at church in the afternoon… Mr Long drank tea with me… Borrowed of Thomas Durrant 2/-. My wife very ill.

…At home all day. My wife very ill. In the evening wrote my London letters. Sent Mr Paul Hornsby enclosed in a letter by Shelley, delivered to himself, one bill on Mr Will Margesson, dated tomorrow, 30 days’ date, No. 461, value 8.19.6, which bill when paid is in full on my account to Mr Hornsby to the 18th November. Paid John Gosling Jr 3/9 for 6 hedging cuffs received by him today.

After breakfast John Watford carried my mother Slater part of her way home… Paid Mr Heaver’s, the miller at Isfield, his son 19½d in full; viz.,

To 2 bushels bran	0.1.0
Do. 1 gallon grats	0.0.7½

At home all day. My wife, poor creature, extremely ill.

We dined on a piece of beef and some pork boiled and a woodcock roasted, turnips and potatoes. At home all day. My wife, poor creature, extremely ill.

…Paid Thomas Burfield in goods 8/9 in full for 15 beehives received by him today. At home all day. My wife, poor creature, most prodigious ill, but surely she bears her pain, which is excessive, with uncommon patience and resignation to the divine will, praying for grace with the greatest fervor and devotion, that she may bear her illness with patience.