Author: Thomas Turner

In the forenoon went up to Mr Vine’s, where I sold a roller to Mr Relfe at Ripe (the property of Mr Vine) for 16/-, and for which I received the money. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Paid Joseph Fuller Jr in cash 9.13.0 in full for the note of hand I gave him some time ago, but I find I forgot to date it; but however it was for a bill of the same value I received of him on Mr Oddy the hop-factor in Southwark.

In the evening Sam Jenner and I played a few games of cribbage; I lost 12½ d. Very little to do all day.

Sam Jenner at work for me all day and dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, and the addition of some rashers of pork boiled, and green salad. At home all day and very little to do.

Rec’d of Mr James Bristed by the payment of Mr Joseph Durrant in cash 1.12.0 in full for the same sum assessed on his lands in this parish by a poor rate made the 17th ult. Very busy a-marking up goods and putting my shop in order. In the evening read part of the OEconomy of Nature, by Richard Russell M.D. and I think it a very well-wrote treatise.

…I dined on some calf’s liver and rashers of pork fried. At home all day and but very little to do. In the forenoon filled up my land and window tax receipts. In the afternoon posted part of my London accounts and wrote my London letters, as I intend (if nothing more than I at present know of intervenes) going to the fair at Uckfield on Monday next.

In the evening T. Durrant and Joseph Fuller Jr sat with me some time. Set down too much today in the book; nought, nought but credit… an excessively wet afternoon.

Myself, Mr Dodson and servant at church in the morning… During the time we were at church my friend Mr George Richardson dined and my brother Richard came to see me and they with me on a calf’s heart in a pudding, a piece of beef boiled, greens and a green salad.

My brother, Mr Dodson and servant at church in the afternoon, Mr Richardson and myself staying at home. During divine service Mr Joseph Hartley came to bring me a new wig, as also to accompany back to Lewes my friend Mr George Richardson and my brother. They all, together with my friend Sam Jenner, stayed and drank tea with me and went away.

Paid Mr Joseph Hartley in cash	0.8.6½
By goods	0.16.5½
	1.5.0
in full for a new wig received today	1.1.0
and new mounting an old one	0.4.0
	1.5.0

but out of the 16/5½ for goods 5/- is for a pair of 4 thread black hose, not delivered. Sam Jenner and Thomas Durant sat with me some time in the evening, to whom I read part of Young’s True Estimate of Human Life.

Rec’d of Thomas Reeve by the payment of his daughter in cash 2.9.0 in part of land and window tax; rec’d of John Cayley by Joseph Burgess in cash £2 in full for half a year’s land tax and one year’s window tax due at Lady Day last.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a plain suet pudding and some pea soup. Took from the cash I have received on my trust from being one of the executors and devisees of Mr William Piper deceased 3.12.0 in full for one year’s window and half a year’s land tax due at Lady Day last. Rec’d of Edward Foord in cash 3.7.0 in full for 1 year’s window and half a year’s land tax due Lady Day last; also received of him in cash 14/-, which with the cash received of him the 23rd ult. makes the sum of 7.8.0 and is in full for the same sum assessed on him by a poor rate made the 17th ult.

In the evening walked down to Whyly where I received of Mrs French 17.14.6 in full for half a year’s land tax and one year’s window tax due at Lady Day last. Rec’d of Richard Hope in cash 1.15.0 in full for one year’s window and half a year’s land tax due at Lady Day last. Mr Dodson in my absence received of James Fuller in cash 2.2.0 in part of land and window tax; rec’d of Thomas Davy in cash 11/- in full for one year’s land and window tax due at Lady Day last; also received of him 5/- in full for 1 year’s interest due on his note of hand the 28^th day of February last to myself and the other executors and devisees of Mr William Piper deceased.

Very busy today in making the new land and window tax books, as also settling other accounts, that I was almost the whole day continually busy a-writing. Dame Akehurst coming to brew for me tomorrow took part of my servant’s bed.

Rec’d of Joseph Durrant in cash 0.17.0 in full for one year’s window tax (3/-) and half a year’s land tax (14/-) due at Lady Day last. Rec’d of John Jones in cash 0.15.0 in full for one year’s land tax (12/-) and one year’s window tax (3/-) due at Lady Day last. Rec’d of James Hutson in cash 1.17.0 in full for one year’s window tax (3/-) and half a year’s land tax (10/-) due at Lady Day last, and 24/- of poor tax assessed on him by the rate made the 17th ult… Rec’d of Mr George Bannister in cash 5/- in full for window tax due at Lady Day last. Rec’d of Edward Hope in cash 1.11.0 in full for one year’s window tax and half a year’s land tax due at Lady Day last.

After breakfast I rode to Maresfield to meet the general receiver of the land tax, where I paid his deputy Mr Thomas Gerry the following cash:

100 Guineas	105.0.0
10 half-do.	5.5.0
1 quarter-do.	0.5.3
2 shillings	0.2.0
	110.12.3

which, with the salary allowed for collecting, is in full for one year’s window tax and house duty, and half a year’s land tax, due from this parish at Lady Day last.

I called at my brother’s at Framfield as I went and as I came home. Stayed and dined on some new biscuit (my family at home dining on a beef pudding). Came home about 3:20. Spent today upon myself and horse 3d. Rec’d by the carrier today a receipt from Messrs Barlow, Wigginton and Francis for the bill sent them the 14th instant and which they have acknowledged to be in full. I also received a receipt from Mr Thomas Neatby & Son for the bill value £20 sent them the 14^th instant. Paid John Shelley for his brother Ben Shelley in cash 8.13.1 in full as under:

To money paid the 16th instant to Mr Robert  Nixon in full on my account	1.18.6
To do. the l6th to Mr Miles Stringer in full on my account	3.10.6
To money paid the 16th of May to Mr Thomas White in full on my account	2.0.6
To do. the 16th to Mr Ralph Doubleday in full on my account	1.2.6
To money paid for some garden seeds Bought for me	0.1.1

In the afternoon very busy; in the evening, read part of The London Magazine for April.

I dined on part of shin of beef stewed. Paid Barbara Vine by her mother in cash and goods 27/- for part of the wages due from her father. At home all day and very little to do in the shop. I received from Thomas Overing 1 guinea out of which I paid John Mott 4/6, William Farley 5/3 and Thomas Collingham 5/3. In the evening read part of the 5th volume of Collins’s English Peerage. An excessive fine day and seasonable for the time of year.

Rec’d of Francis Turner in cash 15/- in full for half a year’s land tax and one year’s window tax due at Lady Day last. Myself and Mr Dodson at church in the morning… We had a brief read for rebuilding the parish church of Alverney in the county of Salop, the expense of rebuilding which amounts in the whole to the sum of £1104 and upwards; I collected upon the brief 2/- and one penny I gave myself makes collected in the whole on this brief the sum of 2/1. We had a vestry called, and we stayed in the churchyard to consult whether we should lend Francis Turner the sum of six guineas on the parish account, in order for him to discharge a debt with which he is threatened with an arrest if the same is not paid tomorrow; it was the unanimous consent of all present to lend him the said sum. The persons present were myself, Joseph Fuller, Richard Hope, Edward Foord and Joseph Durrant.

After the vestry I went into Mr Porter’s and signed the brief. I dined on a piece of beef roasted and horse radish. Rec’d of. John Vine Jr in cash 14/6 in full for one year’s window tax (3/-) and half a year’s land tax (10/-) due at Lady Day last, and the remaining 18d with a bill of carpenter’s work (30/6) brought in at Easter and passed in the yearly parish account, makes together the sum of 32/- and is in full for the same sum assessed on him by a poor rate made the 17th ult. Myself, Mr Dodson and servant at church in the afternoon… Rec’d of Charles Vine in cash 3/- in full for one year’s window tax due at Lady Day last. After churchtime Mr Dodson and I walked down to ask Sam Jenner how he did, with whom we stayed and drank tea and came home about 8:20.

A very fine pleasant day, but when I consider the nature of my circumstances, that is no one person to whom I may entrust the management of my affairs, it almost drives to distraction.

Mr John Richards called upon me in the morning and breakfasted with me. In the forenoon walked up to Mr Vine’s about his affairs, where I gave him two guineas and 3 half, out of the cash received on his account.

I lent Francis Turner in cash 6.6.0 on the parish account and took his and his son’s note of hand for the same, payable to myself and Mr Carman as churchwarden and overseer, our or either of our orders on demand, for value received of me, and to bear interest at £4 percent per annum. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of a green salad.

In the afternoon my servant went to Whitesmith Fair. I received of Mr Henry Crowhurst the sum of 1.5.0 in full for one year’s window tax (3/-) and 22/- in full for the same sum assessed on the widow Rich by a poor rate made the 17th ult. I also received of him 10/- in full for one year’s tithe due from the widow Rich to Mr Porter at St Michael last. At home all day, except as before mentioned.

Sent Mr Paul Hornsby…8.16.0. Also sent Mr John Crouch…£10. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Rec’d of Mr James Bristed 12/- in full for half a year’s land tax due at Lady Day last. Rec’d of Joseph Fuller Jr one bill drawn by Mary Ranger of Waldron on Mr Gale Winbolt Sr at the East India House, Leadenhall Street, London, dated the 18th instant, 1764, payable to me or order, ten days after date, value £24… Rec’d of Joseph Fuller Jr in cash 8.5.0 in part of money he sold stock for yesterday at Whitesmith Fair (the late property of Mr Vine).

In the evening Mr Bannister myself, Joseph Fuller and Sam Jenner went over to the ale house kept by Mr Burgess, where we stayed about half an hour and spent 2d each… Paid Mrs Porter (for the Rev Mr Porter) the 10/- I received yesterday of Mr Henry Crowhurst for one year’s tithe due from the widow Rich at St Michael last.

At home all day, but not all busy. This morning about 5 o’clock died Joseph Hutson, aged 19 years, of a diabetes.