Author: Thomas Turner

Myself and Mr Dodson at church in the morning; the text in I Peter 1:18,19: “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish.”

I dined on a hot beef pie. Paid John Watford by a book debt and cash 11.18.0 in full for his bill on the parish account, and nothing between him and myself… In the evening walked down to Whyly, and from thence Mr John French and myself walked up to Mr John Vine’s in order to settle the account between Mrs French and Mr John Vine. But it appearing a very intricate affair, we were obliged to postpone it till further consideration. Joseph Fuller, Sam Jenner and Thomas Durrant sat with me some time.

In the forenoon walked to Halland with some goods, but did not stay. I dined on a beef pudding and greens. In the afternoon walked up to Mr Vine’s, where I drank tea, but did not stay. Paid Mr Richard Vine, weaver, by a book debt and cash 3.13.2½ in full for his bill on that parish [?].

Paid Sam Jenner 2/- for the same sum he paid the justice’s clerk for their signing the poor rate made the 17th instant. In the evening Charles Diggens came, and we played a few games of cribbage, I won 8d. Lent Mr George Bannister in cash 1 guinea and a half, for which he gave me his note of hand payable to me or order on demand.

In the morning Mr Vine called on me, and we, together with Mr Joseph Burgess, walked to Lewes in order to settle Mr Vine’s affairs. We called upon Mr Baley and Mr Michell to consult them, and we agreed to have all his effects turned over (by virtue of a letter of attorney or some other deed that Mr Michell should think more proper) to Mr Abraham Baley, Joseph Fuller and myself to sell and dispose of for the benefit of ourselves and his other creditors, and to distribute it among his other creditors in proportion to their respective debts.

Rec’d of Mr Michell in cash 17.4.0 in full for the Duke of Newcastle’s poor tax by the rate made the 17th instant. I came home about 3:20. Spent today 8½d. After I came home, I dined on the remains of what my family had for dinner; viz., a bullock’s heart roasted and stuffed and a green salad. In the evening read one of Tillotson’s sermons. Very much fatigued with my journey.
 

Rec’d of John Vine Jr a bill on the parish account of 30/6 which is not paid, but is in part of his poor tax for the tax assessed on him by a poor rate made the 17^th instant. Paid Joseph Fuller in cash 2.1.2;… paid Joseph Durrant in cash 1.1.6; …paid Mr Thomas Carman in cash 7.8.0 in full for his bill on the parish account.

My late servant Mary Martin came to see me in the morning and breakfasted with me. Sam Jenner came in the forenoon to assist me in stating the parish accounts, and he and my late servant dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a green salad.

In the afternoon went down to Jones’s, there being a public vestry held for making up the present overseers’ accounts and choosing new officers. Mr Carman and I as overseers made up [?] accounts with the parish, and there was due to the parish 6.7.1. The officers nominated for the ensuing year are: Thomas Turner, churchwarden, Edward Foord, electioner; myself again, overseer (as well as [churchwarden]), Thomas Carman, overseer; James Fuller and John Watford, electioners.

Rec’d of Joseph Fuller	4.12.0	Rec’d of Widow Page	6.16.0
do. Richard Hope	4.12.0	do. Thomas Pelham Esq.	1.0.0
do. Robert Hook	0.8.0	do. Richard Bristed	10.0.0
do. John Walter	0.4.0	do. Mrs French	34.0.0
do. Edward Hope	2.16.0	do. Arnold Nesbit Esq. in cash	4.0.0
do. Mr Porter	15.2.0	do. Edward Foord	6.14.0
do. John Watford	2.12.0	do. John Nutley	3.2.0
do. Joseph Burgess	1.12.0	do. John Martin	0.2.9
do. John Cayley	2.16.0	do. Joseph Durrant	2.4.0
Mrs Piper	6.6.0	do. James Fuller	3.18.0

all of which is in full for the same sum assessed on them by a poor rate made the 17th instant, except Edward Foord. We stayed and spent till near 3 o’clock in the morning before we broke up late 10/- allowed out of the poor book and a halfpenny each. My servant and Sam Jenner stayed all night.

In the forenoon went down to Halland where I received of Mr Coates 2.16.0 in full for the same sum assessed on him by a rate made the 17th instant towards the relief of the poor.

Sam Jenner at work for me all day, and dined with me on a piece of beef roasted. In the afternoon walked up to Mr Thomas Reeve’s, where I received of him in cash and by a bill on the parish account 5.11.0 in part of poor tax. Rec’d of Thomas Davy 16/- in full for poor tax. Sent Mr William Margesson in cash £100 by Ben Shelley, which was delivered to himself by Mr H. Dodson and Sam Jenner. My late servant stayed all night.

My late servant stayed and dined with me. At home all day and very busy. My late servant stayed all night.
 

In the morning I set out for Yalden to see my old acquaintance and cousin (and I ought to have reason as well to say worthy friend). I called at the Hand and Scepter on the road to Tunbridge where I dined on some cold beef and baited my horse.

I got to Yalden about 3:10. After I came there Mr Hill and I took a walk and called and spent an hour or two with a gentleman of his acquaintance. We came back about 7:20. I supped with Mr Hill on a loin of lamb roasted and green salad Spent the evening with Mr Hill and stayed all night. Spent on myself, horse and ostler and turnpike 2/-.
 

After breakfast Mr Hill and I set out for Maidstone where he gave me a bond for £60, dated today, bearing interest at £5 percent per annum, the same witnessed by Thomas Pope Jr. The above bond is in lieu of the £30 for which he gave me his note of hand the 5th day of November last, as also the £30 lent him the 15th of January last, both of which notes of hand I gave up to Mr Hill. He paid me the interest; viz., 1.2.6 due on the said notes to this day.

I bought of Mr Thomas Pope Jr a parcel of thread etc. amounting to 5.15.0, for which I paid him, and he is to send it to the White Hart Inn, Southwark, carriage paid. We baited ourselves and horses at Maidstone and came back to Yalden about 6:20. In the evening we took a walk and came back and supped with Mr Hill on some sausages in company with two gentlemen his acquaintances, the one a writing master, the other a wheeler and philosopher. I stayed at Mr Hill’s all night. Spent today 13½d.

In the morning, it being wet, I concluded to stay another day. In the forenoon I took a walk with Mr Hill to visit a patient. Came back and dined with Mr and Mrs Hill on some pork bones boiled and greens.

In the afternoon we took a walk to see Mereworth Place and Church, the first the seat of the I think late earls of Westmoreland, but now Lord de Spencer’s, and the seat as beautiful a little seat as I ever saw, there being and great deal of extreme good painting, some very fine marble and everything of ornament very noble. The church is modern built and excessively handsome, but small. We came back to Yalden where I supped with Mr Hill and stayed all night. Gave the servant who showed the place 12d, Mr Hill paying the person who showed us the church. We spent about 7d each at the public house.

After breakfast I intending to come away, I gave Mr Hill’s servant 12d, the man who cleaned my boots 6d, and to my very great surprise, Mr Hill permitted, nay almost forced me to pay the expense of my horse at Yalden, which was 5/-. Now this is what I could not have once thought would be so. I always gave Mr Hill, when at Hoathly, entertainment both for himself and horse, though I might use the same excuse Mr Hill did, of not having a stable of my own. And then I went entirely about Mr Hill’s business to Yalden, which was to talk to him about the money he owed me. Because had I written about it, Mrs Hill would in all likelihood have discovered it, and as it was unknown to her, so he desired it might remain a secret. Oh, ingratitude, ingratitude! thou common but hateful vice, a vice which in my opinion clouds all our other virtues, and I think no man guilty of it in a higher degree than Mr Hill. Mr Hill accompanied me on my road as far as Tunbridge where we dined on a calf’s head boiled, a piece of bacon and greens, and then we parted, he for Yalden and I for home.

I just called at my brother’s in Tunbridge Wells, but did not stop, as I also did at my Aunt Ovendean’s at Boarshead, but did not stay. Came home thank God very safe and sober about 7:20. Spent today on myself, horse and ostler 2/2.