Author: Thomas Turner

Lent the widow Page by her son John in cash three guineas. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the afternoon Mr Faulkner Bristow called on me and drank tea with me. I paid him in cash 3.3.0 in full on my account. He and my worthy friend Dr Snelling, who called on me, stayed and spent the afternoon with me and drank a glass of ale with me.

In the evening I wrote my London letters. Pretty busy all day. Sam Jenner sat chatting with me in the evening. My brother came over in the forenoon and dined with me.

…In the afternoon there was a game of cricket played between this parish and an eleven picked out of Framfield. It was played in the park and my servant went to see it, but it was not played out. At home all day and pretty busy.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a green salad. In the afternoon Mr John Warriner called on me and drank tea with me. I paid him in cash 5.9.0…

In the evening went up to the common where Richard Fuller and I played a game of cricket with James Fuller and Sam French for half a crown’s worth of punch, and to our disappointment were beat. We went down to Jones’s in the evening and spent the money in company with Joseph Fuller, Samuel Jenner and Thomas Durrant. Came home about 11:20 very sober.

…I dined on a hot beef pie and green salad. At home all day and very little to do. In the evening read part of Bishop Beveridge’s Thoughts.

I dined on a cold beef pie and green salad. In the evening walked down to Halland, but did not stay. In the evening read part of The London Magazine for June. Very little to do all day.

…My old friend Dr Snelling called on me and breakfasted with me. I dined on a piece of bacon boiled and green salad. At home all day. In the evening my brother came over, but did not stay. Pretty busy today.

Myself md servant at church in the morning… Mr Bannister’s child being to be baptized, and the sponsors not being all came, it could not be baptized before dinner. As T. Durrant and myself were to be sponsors, we dined at Mr Bannister’s on a piece of cold roast beef, some cold roast chickens, tart, custards and a piece of cold bacon in company with Mr T. Martin and his wife, Mr T. Colbran and his wife, Molly Fuller, James Fuller and his wife and Miss Hall (my servant at home dining on the remains of yesterday’s dinner).

Myself and servant at church in the afternoon… After churchtime myself, Thomas Durrant, Miss Hall and Molly Fuller appeared at the font as sponsors for Mr George Bannister’s daughter, which was baptized by the name of Molly (simple enough!). We retired to Mr George Bannister’s, where we drank tea and spent the afternoon. Came home about 9:40, very sober. Gave the nurse 12d; ditto the servant 6d.

My late servant Mary Martin came to see me in the forenoon and brought me a present of green peas. She dined with me on some garden beans and bacon.

In the afternoon Mr Josias Smith, attorney at law, and Mr Turner, clerk to Mr Burtenshaw, drank tea with me. The former came to take my further orders concerning two trials we have the ensuing [quarter] sessions, the other to summon me to bring the land and poor rates to the sessions…

In the evening wrote my London letters. Pretty busy all day and at home. Mr Carman, coming in the evening, smoked a pipe or two with me.

…In the morning John Piper called on me and we walked down to Mrs Browne’s and bought 42 posts at 16/10. I dined on some peas and pork. At home all day and thank God very busy. Paid Ben Shelley in cash as under:

Shelley Dr.
To cash received of Mr John Kennard for ½ a year’s land tax due at Lady Day last	0.10.0

I dined on a piece of pork and beans. In the evening T. Durrant and I walked down to Halland, there being some servants belonging to my lord Duke come in order to provide for a public day at Halland on Sunday the 24th instant. Pretty busy all day.

In the evening read several political papers called The North Briton, which are written by John Wilkes Esq, member for Aylesbury in Bucks, for the writing of which he has been committed to the Tower. He procured his release by a writ of habeas corpus. I really think they breathe forth such a spirit of liberty that it is an extreme good paper.

Gave Joseph Fuller cash for a bank bill value £20, dated the 20th Apr., 1763, payable to Mr Thomas Hann or bearer, No. 326, John Bridger, entd. J. Warren.