Author: Thomas Turner

In the morning set out for Chailey. Called at Framfield and breakfasted with my brother. I dined at Mr George Beard’s on some hog’s chap and knuckle boiled, a plain hard pudding and greens…

This being the day that my brother Richard’s apprenticeship expired, I and Mr Beard cancelled my brother’s indentures and Mr Beard paid my brother in cash £14, agreeable to a note of hand he gave my brother when bound, and I accordingly delivered him up his note of hand. I also took up of him a note of hand which my mother gave Mr Beard when my brother was bound, promising to pay him 24/- if he should think proper to demand it when my brother’s time was expired, which Mr Beard did not, but generously gave me the said note up. My brother delivered to me to keep for him 12.12.0, but I have given him no note or anything to show for it…

I called at Framfield and drank tea with my brother. My wife, poor creature, very ill. Oh, most melancholy situation. Paid Mr South 4/6 in full for 3 diuretic draughts for my horse.

Rec’d of Mr Coates 1.8.0; ditto of Mr Thomas Fuller 1.8.0; ditto of Mr Will Piper 2.8.0; ditto of Mr Morris 0.2.0 (in full of each) for half a year’s land tax due at St Michael last.

My friend George Richardson came to see us and dined with us on a piece of beef boiled, an apple pudding, potatoes and turnips. My friend George Richardson stayed and drank tea with us. In the evening our late servant went over to her friends in the evening.

This day Mr Poole generously called on my wife and took nothing for his fee, but told me the melancholy news that there was no prospect of my wife’s recovery but by a miracle. My wife, poor creature, very ill. At home all day. This day died a daughter of Mr Porter’s, about 4 years of age.

…Rec’d of Mr Thomas Swaine by the payment of Mr Richard Bridgman in cash 4.1.0 in full for half a year’s land tax for part of Halland farm due at St Michael last.

In the afternoon my brother Richard came over and stayed with us all night. Our late servant came home in the evening… My wife, poor creature, very ill, but still bears her illness with a patient and cheerful resignation to the divine will, still maintaining a Christian temper and mind.

Gave the carrier’s servant 12d to his Christmas box.

No service at our church the morning on account of the death of Miss Porter.. …We dined on a calf’s head, a piece of bacon, turnips, potatoes and greens boiled. Mr Jones, curate of Waldron, preached at our church in the afternoon from the latter part of Matthew 1:21: “And thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.”

After dinner my brother went to Lewes for me. Myself and servant only at church in the afternoon. In the evening Thomas Davy at our house, to whom I read three of Tillotson’s sermons. This day received of Richard Hope 1.12.0 for a year’s land tax due at St Michael’s last. Rec’d of Thomas Fuller in cash 8.11.0 in full for the same sum he received in Lewes for me yesterday; viz.,

Of Mr William Michell for ½ year’s land tax for Halland House	7.19.0
Of Mr Burtenshaw for ½ year’s land tax for late Fowler’s	0.12.0

both due at St Michael last. My wife, poor creature, very bad. My brother stayed with us again all night.

Rec’d of the widow Prall 16/-; ditto of Francis Turner 12/-; ditto of John Cayley 1.6.0; of each in full for half a year’s land tax due at St Michael last. In the forenoon rode to several places to collect in land tax, but received none… In the afternoon my brother went to Framfield. Gave Richard Fuller 6d to his Christmas box. In the evening wrote my London letters. My wife very ill.

In the morning Ed Foord, our headborough, and myself went down to Henry Osborne’s with an intent to distrain his goods for window tax, but his brother paid me the same after some words, it being only 3/-, without the trouble…

Rec’d of Richard Page 2.16.0 in full for half a year’s land tax due at St Michael last. In the evening went down to Mr Porter’s and received of him 1.10.0 in full for half a year’s land tax due at St Michael last. Gave Sam Tooth, an apprentice to John Browne, 6d for his Xtmas box. My wife very ill, but hope she is something better.

In the morning went and invited the children to support Miss Porter’s pall… At home all day, and but very little to do. My wife continues very ill. Paid Ed Hope 21d for a sparerib bought of him today weighing 7 lbs.

…In the afternoon went and served Miss Bett Porter’s funeral, where I gave away, with the gloves ordered which I have not served, in all 24 pairs; viz.,

2	pairs Men’s kid
3	pairs Women’s ditto.
7	pairs Men’s lamb
6	pairs women’s lamb
6	pairs maid’s ditto.

Rec’d of Mr Jeremiah French 15.16.0 in full for half a year’s land tax due St Michael last. Rec’d of Joseph Durrant 14/- in full for half a year’s land tax due as above. My wife, poor creature, very ill.

Rec’d of Mr Joseph Burgess £3; rec’d of John Jones 6/-; ditto. of Francis Gibbs 4/-, in full of each for half a year’s land tax due at St Michael last.

After breakfast went to Maresfield to meet the receiver-general of the land tax, where I paid his clerk, Mr Thomas Gerry, the sum of £62 in part for half a year’s land tax due to his Majesty at St Michael last. Called at Framfield as I went and came, but did not stay…

Spent on myself and horse 7d. We dined on a piece of beef boiled and turnips and some boiled trout, which was made my wife a present of yesterday by Thomas Fuller Jr. After dinner walked down to Halland to fit Mr and Mrs Coates to a pair of gloves. Gave Elizabeth Akehurst 6d for her Christmas box. My wife, poor creature, very ill.

Paid Mr Benjamin Shelley (by money he received of Mr Ben Treacher in full for rabbit skins sent him some time ago) 2.3.4 on account of carriage and 0.0.5 for 6 lemons, which together makes the sum of 2.3.9 and is the same he received of Mr Treacher…

After dinner I set out with an intent to have gone to Yalden, but finding the riding extremely bad I rode no farther then my brother’s at Framfield, and came back immediately. In the evening Mr Snelling called at our house in his way to Stonebridge, and it being somewhat dark, stayed with us all night. A very cold frosty day. My wife, poor creature, very ill. Rec’d of Robert Hook 1 roasting pig weight 10¾ lbs – 0.2.8¼.