Author: Thomas Turner

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the evening went down to Mr Porter’s, where I stayed and smoked a pipe or two. My brother came over in the evening and sat with me till near 12 o’clock. A very wet afternoon… In the evening wrote my London letters.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day pretty busy. Joseph Fuller and Thomas Durrant sat with me some time in the evening. Busy in the day a-putting my shop in order.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the afternoon posted part of my day book. At home all day and very little to do.

Rec’d of Francis Turner 12/- in full for half a year’s land tax due St Michael last. I dined on a piece of beef boiled and some turnips. In the afternoon walked with Mr Bannister to Laughton, but did not stay. Came home about 4:20.

Paid Mr Joseph Attree 19/- in full for 2 dozen pattens received of him today. Posted part of my day book. In the evening Mr Bannister and Joseph Fuller sat with me some time. Sent my brother Richard by the post in cash enclosed in a letter delivered to the post two guineas and a half.

In the forenoon my brother Moses came to stand the shop for me while I went to Lewes. I set out for Lewes about 11:20. I dined at Messrs Richards & Comber’s on some bread and cheese. Paid Mr Robert Plumer in cash 20.17.0 in full. Paid Mr Richard Cardin in cash 3.12.9 in full. Spent today 11d and came home about 7:30, but not thoroughly sober.

My brother went away home in the evening. Dame Akehurst, being to scour for me tomorrow, took part of my servant’s bed. My brother and servant at home dined on a piece of beef boiled and some potatoes.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day. Paid Benjamin Shelley in cash 4/6 in full for the same sum he paid for 2 casks yeast.

In the morning Mr Carman and myself set out for Mr Spence’s, one of his Majesty’s justices of the peace for this county, in order to consult him about an affair on the parish account. From thence we went to Mr Clark’s, a brother-in-law of Mr Thomas Carman’s, where we stayed some time. Came home about 12:20. Spent only 4d for the turnpike.

I dined at Joseph Durrant’s on a piece of beef roasted and an apple pudding… After dinner Thomas Durrant and I walked over to Framfield, but were too late for church. We drank tea at my brother’s, and at the desire of Thomas Durrant we went home by the Black Boy in order to see Mr Thornton. We stayed an hour or two and spent our 6d apiece. Came home about 9:50, very sober.

Not at church the whole day. My servant at church both forenoon and afternoon. A very fine pleasant day.

I dined on a piece of beef boiled and some potatoes. In the afternoon wrote my London letters. At home all day and very little to do. Nothing more of moment.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some apple pie and cheese. Rec’d of Mr Thomas Carman the two following bills:

“Sir, fifteen days after date please to pay to Mr Thomas Turner or his order the sum of six pounds one shilling, and place the same to the account of your humble servant, 86.1.0
 
Thomas Carman

To Mr Edward Aiskell at Sunderland in the county of Durham. December the 20th, 1763 East Hoathly.”

[and one on the same, for 29.6.4]

My brother came over in the evening in order to stand the shop for me while I assist Mr Coates tomorrow in distributing a gift left by some of the ancestors of the Pelham family to be distributed yearly on St Thomas’s day to every poor man or woman that comes for it, 4d each, and to every child 2d, and piece of bread to each and a draught of beer.

I went down to Halland in the evening and supped with Mr Coates and lodged there, my brother and Thomas Durrant keeping house for me at home.

In the morning about 2:40 we began our work, Mr Coates paying the money and I taking down the names and parishes of the people. About 11:20 we completed our work, having given away about 8.6.0, 4 bushels of wheat made into bread and I imagine not less than 100 gallons of beer.

I breakfasted with Mr Coates and received my groat and then came home about 11:40. My brother went away immediately. In my absence today my brother and servant relieved the following poor inhabitants of this parish with a penny each and a draught of ale:

1.	Will Bristow	9.	Thomas Ling
2.	Francis Turner	10.	Ann Wood
3.	Widow Trill	11.	Edward Babcock
4.	Richard Brazier	12.	Widow Cain [No. 8 again?]
5.	Will St[l]arkes	13.	Widow Day, certificate
6.	Will Eldridge	14.	Thomas German
7.	Master Hesman, certificate	15.	Peter Adams
8.	Widow Cain	16.	Sam Jenner

17.	Will Henly, certificate	25.	Susan Swift
18.	Richard Heath	26.	Thomas Dallaway
19.	Thomas Tester	27.	Ben Brinkhurst
20.	John Thomsett	28.	Richard Prall
21.	Thomas Roase	29.	John Durrant
22.	John Streeter	30.	Richard Vinal
23.	Roger Vallow, certificate	31.	Will Sinden
24.	James Emery	32.	Dame Cornwell

I dined on a piece of beef boiled and potatoes. A very wet afternoon. In the evening Joseph Fuller sat with me some time. Gave my brother cash for the following bill:

“Gentlemen:              No. the 15th, 1763, Framfield
 
Fourteen days after date pay to Mr John Stretfield or order the sum of fourteen pounds seventeen shillings and sixpence and place it to the account of your humble servant,
 
     14.17.6                                 John Fletcher
 
To Messrs Lashbrook and West at The Spur Inn,
Southwark. Endorsed by: John Stretfield [Streatfeild]”