Author: Thomas Turner

This being the day that the poor of this parish go about asking for charity against Christmas, I relieved the following with 1d each and a draught of beer:

1.	Will Henly	15.	John Durrant
2.	Francis Turner	16.	Thomas Heath
3.	Richard Brazier	17.	Richard Heath
4.	Widow Trill	18.	Thomas Tester
5.	Dame Dan	19.	Sam Jenner
6.	Widow Day	20.	Thomas Dallawy
7.	Widow Cain	21.	Widow Cornwell
8.	Thomas Ling	22.	John Streeter
9.	Will Eldridge	23.	Rober Baker
10.	John Elless	24.	Dame Burrage
11.	Roger Vallow	25.	Richard Vinal
12.	James Emery	26.	Dame Novice
13.	Susan Swift	27.	Ann Wood
14.	Richard Prall	28.	Will Slarkes
		29.	Edward Babcock
		30.	Will Sinden

Paid the post 4/2 in full for the same sum he paid Mr Thomas Davy in full on my account today. Borrowed of Mr Laurence Thornton in cash 5.15.6 for which I gave him no note. In the evening wrote my London letters. At home all day. My wife very ill, but I hope somewhat better. Paid Thomas Burfield in goods 8/9 in full for 15 beehives received by him today.

…Lent Mr French in cash £6 for which he gave me his note of hand, payable to me or order on demand… Paid John Jenner hatter at Hailsham, in cash and goods 6/- in full for 3 hats received by him today.

At home all day. Thank God my wife somewhat better. In the evening Joseph Fuller Jr smoked a pipe with me. In the evening posted part of my day book. Borrowed of Mr Long in cash 4/2.

Mr Snelling came to see my wife and dined with us on a hot beef pie, a light pudding cake, potatoes and greens. At home all day. My wife somewhat better, which God grant she may continue. In the evening finished the posting of my day book.

This being Christmas Day, our servant only was at church. Just at churchtime my brothers Moses and Richard came to see me and stayed with me about an hour and a half. Mr Long dined with us on a piece of beef roasted, a suet plum pudding boiled and potatoes. Mr Long stayed and drank tea with us. In the evening read one of Tillotson’s sermons. At home all day. My wife, poor creature, worse again. Mr Stone bled her today in the foot.

Paid Joseph Fuller in cash 0.4.0 in full for the surveyor’s tax. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of some boiled trout (which Roger Vallow made my wife a present of yesterday). Gave the following boys box-money:

To Robert Hook	0.0.3
To William Sinden	0.0.3
To Isaac Turner	0.0.3
	0.0.9

At home all day. My wife, poor creature, very ill. This day died Mr Edward Calverley after a long illness, aged 76 years. Paid Ben Shelley’s servant 6d for 6 lemons received of him today.

Thomas Davy breakfasted with us. In the forenoon I set out for Lewes in order to get a set of plates etc. for Mr Calverley’s coffin. I dined with Mr John Madgwick on a beef pudding…

I also made the following agreement with Mr John Madgwick: That he is to take my brother Richard as a servant to serve in his shop for the term of 3 years from the 14th day of January next, for which service he is to give him £21, but if at the end of two years he had rather part with him then keep him the third, he is then only to pay him the sum of ten guineas, and whether he either keeps him 2 or 3 years, he is once during the time of his service to take him with him to London, and once to Maudling Hill fair at his own expense, the hire of his horse only excepted. Rec’d of Mr T. Carman 1.1.0 in part of land tax…

In the morning I walked down to Whyly with a shroud, sheet etc. for Mr Calverley. Myself and late servant at church in the morning, where we had a sermon preached by a young clergyman just come to be curate at Laughton, and I imagine this to be the first time of his preaching (Mr Porter administering the sacrament at Laughton). The text was in the former part of John 1:5: “And the light shineth in darkness,” from which words we had in my opinion a learned sermon and I think if the young gentleman’s morals are good he will in time make a fine man.

We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of some boiled trout. Myself and servant at church in the afternoon, where the same gentleman preached as in the forenoon, the text in the latter part of I Timothy 6:17; “Who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.” In the evening read one of Tillotson’s sermons. My wife, poor creature, very ill. Oh, melancholy situation, but still, let me not repine, for doubtless many are as much afflicted.

We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of some boiled trout. Balanced accounts with Joseph Fuller and received of him 6/4 in full to this day. Rec’d of him 1.12.0 in full for half a year’s land tax due at St Michael last… In the evening wrote my London letters. My wife very ill.

In the forenoon went and collected in land tax of the following people:

Ed Hope	1.8.0
Thomas Reeve	2.16.0
Will Wenham	1.16.0

which is in full for half a year’s land tax due at St Michael last. I received of William Wenham 5/- too much, not having silver to give him change.

My brother came over in the forenoon and dined with us… After dinner I went and served part of Mr Ed Calverley’s funeral, Mr Lashmore also serving a part. In the evening received of Mrs Atkins 1.6.0 and of Mrs Virgoe 4/- in full for half a year’s land tax due at St Michael last. In the evening Thomas Davy and I played a few games of cribbage; I won 1d. My wife continues very ill… Gave a man who came from Lindfield with a petition for his house being consumed with fire 6d.

In the forenoon rode to Mr Bristow’s and received of him 5.2.0 in full for half a year’s land tax due St Michael. Came back and rode down to Whyly…

My wife, poor creature, very ill. In the evening wrote out Mr Coates’s bill. Thomas Davy sat with us in the evening a little time.