Author: Thomas Turner

This morning about 7:30 died Mr Will Piper. We dined on some hog’s chine-bones boiled and turnip greens. In the afternoon walked up to Mrs Piper’s to consult her about the burying her husband. In the afternoon our late servant Mary Martin came over to see us and stayed and drank tea with us and then went home. At home all day except as before. My wife, poor creature, very ill indeed. In the forenoon my brother came over…

…In the afternoon Mr Porter and myself went up to Mrs Piper’s and broke up her late husband’s will, wherein Mr Porter, myself and John Piper are left joint trustees to the same. We sealed up his writings and came home about 6:20. Mrs French drank tea with my wife, who is, poor creature, most extreme ill.

In the evening Sam Jenner brought me Mrs Browne’s books and I put some things in them to rights and kept the books in order to write out some bills for her.

We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a plain rice pudding. Mrs and Mr Porter drank tea at our house… Wrote out a great many bills for Mrs Browne. My wife somewhat easier today, but really very ill…

…We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of some sausages broiled. Sent Mr Coates by Thomas Emery the 16/- I received over his bill the 21st instant… At home all day; wrote out a great many bills for Mrs Browne and sent her books

Myself only at church in the morning… We dined on a shoulder of veal roasted and stuffed, an apple pudding and green salad. After dinner I rode to Horsted and my uncle Hill signed the note of hand I received from my cousin Charles Hill the 4th instant, whereby they promise for themselves jointly and severally to pay me or order £20 on demand with interest for the same after the rate of £5 percent per annum, which is as security for the bill I sent my cousin Charles Hill the 10th ult.

I called on Mrs Browne to advise her in regard to her affairs, and called on Mr Will Lewer and settled accounts with him for her. Came home about 4:40. My niece only at church in the afternoon. In the evening Thomas Davy at our house, to whom, and in the day, I read three of Sharp’s sermons. My wife, poor creature, most extreme ill. Ah, melancholy repetition; but why should I repine or think myself afflicted, as it is the hand of Almighty God who knows what is better for us than we ourselves and through whose unbounded goodness it is that we live, move and have our being.

In the morning Mr Will Francis called on me and breakfasted with me. I gave him one bill on Mr Will Margesson…value 30.12.0… in full… In the forenoon my brother Sam Slater came to see us, as did our late servant Mary Martin, who came to stand the shop for me while I went to serve Mr Piper’s funeral. They both dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. After dinner I went to the house of the late Mr Piper, where I served his funeral, giving away 39 pairs gloves and 6 hatbands.

We came to church about 5:50, when we had a sermon preached for him, the text in Matthew 25:46: “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” Mrs Browne drank tea with my wife. My brother Slater went away about 4:30. Our late servant went home in the evening. In the evening wrote my London letters. My wife, poor creature, most extreme ill. How does her illness afflict me to see as it were my own flesh and blood, my sincere and bosom friend, afflicted in so miserable a manner.

Delivered to Ben Shelley in cash £32 in order for him to pay in London for me… Robert Diggens dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of some broiled sausages. My brother Moses called on me in the forenoon in his way to the crock-kiln at Bayley’s Lane in order to take my orders for crocks etc. He also called on me in his road home and drank tea with us.

There being at Jones’s a person with an electrical machine, my niece and I went to see it, and though I had seen it several years ago, I think there is something in it agreeable and instructing, but yet at the same time very surprising. As to my own part I am quite at a loss to form any idea of the phenomena. I paid for myself and niece 6d. At home all day; but very little to do, and my wife, poor creature, very ill and worn to death with continual pain.

…Paid Mr Howard 2/3 for 15 lbs gingerbread bought of him today… In the evening paid Mrs Virgoe in cash 2.17.4¼, which with a book debt of 0.13.5¾ makes together the sum of 3.10.11 and is in full for the money my brother sold her old plate for… Jenny Bell drank tea at our house. At home all day. My wife, poor creature, most extreme ill.

…At home all day. My wife, poor creature, most extreme ill. Ah, how melancholy my situation! How does the prospect of losing her (who to me is the only valuable blessing this world affords to make the rugged and uneven paths of this life glide smoothly on) afflict me to see her so afflicted and can get her no relief. Oh, may she one day enjoy the happiness of that comfortable sentence, Come, ye blessed children of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of a plain rice pudding. Paid Ben Shelley…33.7.0 in full for the sum he paid in London for me this week; viz., the 29th to

Mr William Margesson	32.0.0
Apr. 29th To Mr Thomas White in full	1.7.0

Rec’d of Mr John Morris 7/1 of which 3/8 is due to John Cayley for the poor tax for the year 1759, and the remainder, 4/3, was due to Mr Will Piper for the year 1760, which money I sent to Mrs Piper by our servant. At home all day and a very cold day. My wife, poor creature, extremely ill, ah, ill, even almost unto death. How do these thoughts afflict me; but let me trust in the Almighty Goodness, who is a present help in trouble.