Author: Thomas Turner

Sent Messrs Kendall and Rushton enclosed in a letter by Benjamin Shelley (delivered to himself) one bill: … 24 on Mr Will Margesson, dated today, 30 days’ date, No. 586, value, 24.6.0, which bill when paid is in full on my account with Messrs Kendall and Rushton.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day and pretty busy. John French, coming in the morning to buy some goods, breakfasted with me. A cold windy day.

Lent Richard Page, son of the widow Page, and for her use, in cash four guineas. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the afternoon Mrs Piper, coming to the shop to buy some goods, drank tea with me. Mrs Carman sent me a present of a few sausages and some pork bones.

At home all day and thank God very busy. In the evening Master Hook and I played a few games of cribbage; I won 2½d. Oh, my tumultuous mind! What’s all the world without a friend!
 

In the forenoon Mr Francis Elless my old acquaintance came to see me and dined with me on some pork bones broiled and the remains of yesterday’s dinner with some onion sauce. Mr Elless and I balanced his account, and the balance due to me was 3.16.7; in consideration of it’s being a pretty long time standing, he gave me his note of hand for the sum of four pounds, payable on demand with lawful interest.

In the evening Thomas Durrant, his father and myself went down to Joseph Fuller’s to spend the evening with Joseph Fuller Jr, which we did and came home about 10:20, but I am not so happy as to have the pleasure of saying quite sober.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day, and but very little to do. In the evening at Master Durrant’s some time. Thomas Durrant took part of my bed, they having company at home. Paid Mr William Gilbert in cash and goods 27/6 in full for wooden ware received of him today.

…Paid Mr Benjamin Shelley in cash 3.2.9 in full for the same sum he paid for me this week… I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some pork bones. A person coming after the school could not get any lodging at our public houses; so I permitted him to take my servant’s bed, she a-sitting up with Mrs Elizabeth Hicks, and Thomas Durrant took part of mine.

At home all day and but very little to do. In the evening down at Mr Porter’s about a half-hour.

Mr Wheeler, the gentleman who came to take the school, went away in the morning. Thomas Durrant breakfasted with me. Myself only at church in the morning… Thomas Durrant dined with me on a breast of veal roasted. Myself and servant a at church in the afternoon; the text in the 1st verse 52nd Psalm: “The goodness of God endureth continually,” from which words we had an excellent sermon.

Joseph Fuller drank tea with me, and to him and Thomas Davy in the evening I read a sermon preached by the Rev Mr Courtail, Rector and Vicar of Burwash, at a visitation of the Rev Thomas D’Oyly, Archdeacon of Lewes. In the morning the banns of marriage for the first time were published between Will Osborne of this parish and Mary Wortson of Buxted.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day, and but very little to do. In the evening wrote my London letters.

Sent Mr Thomas Neatby & Son enclosed in a letter by Shelley…£9. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some sausages boiled. Rec’d of Thomas Prall 16/- in full for half a year’s land tax due at St Michael last. At home all day, and very little to do.

In the evening Richard Prall came to Mr Banister’s end of the house, he being in bed, and called him all the knaves, villains etc. he possibly could think of, which so far enraged Mr Bannister as to occasion him to come down into the street and indiscreetly enough give him the discipline of the horse-whip. I cannot but own Prall very justly deserved what he had a pretty sufficient dose of, but at the same time I dare say as it’s a breach of the peace it will cost my neighbor Bannister some money.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Walked up to Mr John Vine’s twice today, I being apprehensive that he is a-going to abscond for debt. A young woman from Laughton, buying some things in the shop, drank tea with me.

In the evening Thomas Durrant and his father, Joseph Fuller and Robert Hook sat with me some time, I being a-reconciling Joseph Durrant and Roger Vallow, they having had a few words about the letting of a house, which I had the good fortune to complete.

All the forenoon I was endeavoring to make up the affair between Mr Bannister and Mr Prall, and both of them being very headstrong, I could not prevail. Mr Carman being headborough served the summons on Mr Bannister and dined with me, as did Dame Akehurst, who was a-brewing for me all day, on a piece of pork, a light pudding and greens.

After dinner they set out for to appear before the justice in order to abide by his determination. As I heard it, Mr Bannister desired me to accompany him as an evidence, which I did. Upon their appearing before Luke Spence Esq, the justice who granted the summons, he seemed to think it a very great breach of the peace and told them the best way for the mutual interest of both parties was to agree it up, which they agreed upon. Accordingly we went to the Cats where we made it up. After three or four hours squabbling and wrangling about nothing, Mr Bannister gave him a guinea and was to pay the horse hire of Prall’s horse to Lewes. We came home very sober about 1:30. I spent nothing, Mr Bannister paying my expenses.

Paid Mr John Madgwick 19/- in full. In my absence my brother came over and stood the shop for me and also stayed all night. My servant in my absence paid Dame Akehurst 9d for her day’s work…