Author: Thomas Turner

In the forenoon my brother came over, and I lent him my horse. We dined on a piece of beef boiled and turnips. At home all day. My wife, poor creature, extremely ill. Oh, what a melancholy time I have; my spirits are quite sunk beneath a load of grief, and my heart overwhelmed with a sea of trouble, but let me not grieve at the divine will, but the more earnestly let me pray for grace to direct my steps and to put my trust in the Most High, who is a rock of defense to all such as call upon him faithfully and will hear their prayer in the needful time of trouble.

In the morning my brother came over and brought home my horse. He breakfasted with me and stayed and dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Paid Benjamin Shelley in cash 9/- in full for the same sum he paid Mr Charles Browne this week in full on my account… Rec’d of Thomas Diplock in cash 30.12.4 for which sum I am to send a bill of the same value to Mr Matthew Blake in Hickman’s Folly near Dock Head in Southwark, which is his landlord and which bill with the following receipts I received of Master Diplock makes the sum of £37 and is in full for one year’s rent due from Master Diplock to Mr Blake at Lady Day last. The receipts received were as under:

To a receipt for a year’s land tax due Lady Day, 1760	5.8.0
To a receipt for 1 year’s quit rent due St Michael, 1760	0.12.8
To a bill of Mr John Farley’s	0.7.0
To the bill I am to send	30.12.4

…At home all day. My wife, poor creature, very ill.

Rec’d of Mr Thornton 2 rabbits (which I have not paid him for). Myself only at church in the morning… We dined on a rabbit boiled, and another roasted and stuffed. No service at our church in the afternoon, Mr Porter preaching at Laughton. In the afternoon Mrs French came to see my wife and drank tea with us… In the evening read one of Tillotson’s sermons. My wife, poor creature, very ill, but bears her illness with great resignation to the divine will.

…In the afternoon Mr Snelling called to see my wife. Mr Meadows Neatby called on me but did not stay. In the evening wrote my London letters. At home all day. My wife, poor creature, very ill. But very little to do.

…Delivered to Ben Shelley, put up in a paper and sealed, in cash £40 for him to pay in London for me this week; viz.,

28 Guineas	29.8.0
20 half-do.	10.10.0
2 shillings	0.2.0

Paid Mr Percival Hart 6/- in full. We dined on a piece of beef boiled, an apple pudding, turnips and potatoes. Paid Thomas Durrant the 2/- I borrowed of him the 7th instant. At home all day; my wife very ill. Thomas Durrant smoked a pipe with me in the evening, he going today to Dr Snelling’ for a cupping glass for me.

We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day. My wife very ill. In the evening posted part of my day book.

We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. After dinner I went to Lewes, where I paid money as follows:

In cash to Mr Stephen Tasker in full	0.6.8
In do. to Mr William Tooth in full	2.2.6
In do. to Messrs Richards and Comber in full	1.15.6
Paid Mr Faulkner Bristow in full	4.7.6
Do. to Mr John Lambert in full	2.3.0
Do. to Mr Thomas Cruttenden in full	0.18.0
Do. to Mr Ed Ralfe the balance of account in full	0.6.4
Do. to Mr Henry Pocock in full	0.11.0
Do. to Mr Will Tooth for half-pence	0.8.0
Paid Mr Plumer for half-pence	0.4.0
Do. Messers Richards and Comber for half-pence	0.6.0
Do. to do. for do. which he is to  send me the first opportunity	0.0.10
Paid for oatcakes and biscuits for my wife	0.0.4½
Do. to Mr Mercer for 1 ounce elixir  paregoricum.	0.0.6
Turnpike	0.0.2
Horse and Ostler	0.0.5
Spent	0.0.6
	14.0.11½

Paid Mrs Mary Roase one bill on Mr William Margesson… value 13.13.0, which bill when paid is in full on my account. Paid Mr Robert Plumer one bill on Mr Will Margesson… value 23.3.6, which bill when paid is in full on my account. Called on Mr Madgwick and Mr Thomas Scrase. Came home about 6:40. Mrs Virgoe drank tea with my wife in my absence. My wife very ill, but I hope rather better. In the evening busy a-writing.

Paid 8d for 4 lbs tripe bought today. We dined on some boiled tripe. At home all day. My wife, poor creature, very ill. Pretty busy all day.

…We dined on some boiled tripe. In the evening my brother came over and drank tea with me and stayed and supped with us. At home all day. My wife, poor creature, very ill. Lent my brother my horse.

No service at our church in the morning, Mr Porter preaching at Laughton. We dined on two rabbits roasted and stuffed. Our late servant only at church in the afternoon.

Mr Poole, coming to see a child of Mr Porter’s, paid my wife a visit and charged 10/6; really a fine thing it is to be a physician who can charge just as he pleases and not be culpable according to any human law. At home all day. My wife, poor creature, very ill.