Author: Thomas Turner

…In the forenoon walked up to Mr John Vine’s, where I received my audit bill of 1.7.6. Sam Jenner at work for us part of the day and dined with me on the remains of yesterday‘s dinner with the addition of some broiled eels.

Paid Mr Blackwell, paper-maker of Hawkhurst, in cash and a sort of rags called hand-stuff 4.4.6 in full for 20 reams of paper received of him today… At home all day and but very little to do. Sam Jenner lodged at my house all night.

Oh, who can express the anxiety of my mind! I am really greatly distressed in my resolution of what manner to proceed in or what way of life to pursue. The way I am now in is neither agreeable nor advantageous. Sam Jenner lodged at my house all night.

Sam Jenner at work a-sawing for me all day. He dined with me on a loin of mutton boiled, cabbage and an apple pudding. At home all day and very busy. But oh, the cloud that overspreads my mind! Samuel Jenner lodged at my house all night.

…I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day but not at all busy. In the evening read part of The Royal Magazine for October.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner; with the addition of some beefsteaks broiled. At home all day and pretty busy.

In the evening received 12 sacks salt by Page’s team. Mr Long, Thomas Durrant and Mr Sam Jenner assisted in getting in the salt. They supped with me on some bread and cheese. In the evening read some papers of The Guardian. John Reynolds of Chiddingly was this day buried at our church.

In the forenoon my brother Richard and Mr John and Joseph Hartley came to see me and they together with Mr Tipper dined with me on a beef pudding and cabbage boiled and two chickens roasted. They stayed and drank tea with me and then all went home.

Paid Mr Joseph Hartley in cash and goods 1.1.0 in full for a wig received of him today. In the evening my brother Moses came over to acquaint me that there was a sale at Newick tomorrow of Mr James Allen’s effects, lately foiled is trade. He stayed and smoked a pipe or 2 with me. After he went away, I read 1 of Tillotson’s sermons to Mr Tipper and Thomas Durrant.

Sam Jenner at work for me part of the day and dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some bones of beef boiled. In the evening balanced accounts with Mr John Long…

In the evening wrote my London letters and pretty busy till it was late in the evening… Sam Jenner lodged at my house. Today Mr French made me a present of a hare, which I sent to Mr Will Margesson.

Paid Joseph Fuller in cash 24.1.0, which with the £20 paid him the 20th ult., together with twenty pounds also paid him the 28th ult., makes together the sum of 64.1.0 and is in full for the same sum paid the 12th ult. per his order by Mr Swainstone to Mr Will Margesson on my account.

This day received of Mr Thomas Braizer 1.0.4 in full for a book debt… Sam Jenner dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a piece of beef boiled. In the afternoon Mr Piper drank tea with me. At home all day, pretty busy. Not very well in the evening.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Posted part of my day book. At home all day and really very little to do. A very rainy day; in the evening we had several flashes of lightning and some extreme long and loud claps of thunder.

I dined on a piece of beef boiled and an apple pudding. Finished posting my day book. A very cold day and a great deal of snow fell, but there being no frost, it did not lie long on the ground. In the evening went down to Mr Porter’s, where I stayed and supped and spent the evening with him (Mrs Porter being ill at Mayfield). I came home about 9:50, and after I came home read part of Butler’s Posthumous Works.

…In the forenoon my brother Will and my brother Moses came over. My brother Moses and I settled the account of our wool, and there remains due to him on that account 25.18.10. I borrowed of him in cash two guineas. My brother Will stayed and dined with me on a piece of beef boiled.

Mrs Browne and Dame Pentecost drank tea with me. Paid Ben Shelley in cash 9.17.5 in full for the same sum he paid in London this week for me… My brother Will stayed all night with me. At home all day and very busy, but prodigious cold day, there being a very hard frost. When my brother and I balanced today about his wool there was 5/7 for some rags I sold for him omitted…