Author: Thomas Turner

Sent Mr John Crouch… £10. Also sent Mr William Margesson…the banknote value £10 I received of Mr Thomas Ranger the 16th ult… In the morning my late servant Mary Martin came to see me, and she, together with Thomas Durrant, breakfasted with me. Sam Jenner came to cord up some wood for me, as did my brother William in the forenoon to see me, and all dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of a calf’s heart pudding and the liver, lights and mint boiled, a piece of pork and some spinach.

My brother went away very soon after dinner; my late servant stayed and drank tea with me and then went home about 7:30. Balanced accounts with Mr Thomas Carman today as follows: First paid him in cash 35.7.4 in full for the two bills I received of him the 20th day of December last, and for which I then gave him my note of hand (to pay the same when the said bills were paid) and which I have now taken again of Mr Carman and burnt it. I then paid him in cash 13/4 in full for wool had last year of him. Mr Carman then paid me in cash 3.16.0 in full for a book debt, as also 1.6.0 in full for half a year’s land tax due at Lady Day last, and 13/- in full for 1 year’s window tax due at Lady Day last. At home all day and thank God very busy.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the afternoon Mr Porter and I walked up to the house of Mrs Piper to settle some accounts relating to our trust as executors to Mr Will Piper. We balanced accounts and there remains in my hands (as accountant and treasurer to the trust, as well as executor) the sum of 16.7.6½ I paid Mrs Piper 4/6 for 1 bushel malt delivered for the use of Mr John Vine. We stayed and drank tea with Mrs Piper and came home about 7:20.

During my absence my brother Moses and Mr Snelling came to see me; they both spent the evening with me, and Mr Snelling stayed all night with me. But very little to do in the shop today. Trade is most certainly very dull.

Rec’d of Mary Mott by the payment of her mother 1.14.6 in full. Mr Snelling stayed with me till about 4:25 and then went away, having dined with me on some bread and cheese and butter. At home all day and very busy. In the afternoon read part of the Medulla Medicinae, which I esteem a very good thing of its kind.

In the evening Joseph Fuller Jr and Sam Jenner sat with me some time. Today I signed and sealed a bond wherein Joseph Fuller and myself were joint obligers in a bond of £200, the condition, the good behavior of Mr Long, now employed as an officer of excise. The bond was witnessed by Thomas Pepper, supervisor, and George Bannister, excise officer.

In the morning my late servant Mary Martin came over to assist my servant today in my absence and breakfasted with me. About 11:30 I set out for Newhaven, where was to be a sale of foreign brandy at the customs house there. I dined at the White Hart at Newhaven (my friend Tipper not being at home) in company with 5 gentlemen (or at least other men) on a shoulder of mutton roasted, a plain hard pudding, a currant butter pudding cake, cabbage and lobster.

The sale came on about 3:50, when there were put up for sale to the highest bidder 78 half-ankers of brandy, 3 in a lot, which is 26 lots, each lot containing 13½ gallons of foreign brandy. Each lot was sold as under:

1. Myself	at 6/3 gallon
2. Thomas Tipper	6/1
3. John Goring	6/1
4. Mr Bathcombe	6/1
5. John Smith	6/-
6. Mr John Pentecost	6/-
7. Thomas Tipper	5/10
8. Mr Brooker	5/11
9. Mr Burrows	5/11
10. Mr Brooker	5/11
11. Mr Bean	5/11
12. Mr Olive	5/11
13. Mr Pentecost	5/10
14. Mr Thomas Tipper	5/11
15. Mr Edward Blackman	5/10
16. Mr Olive	5/11
17. Mr Sam Olive	5/11
18. Mr Blackman	5/10
19. Mr Goldsmith	5/10
20. Mr Brooker	5/10
21. Mr Goldsmith	5/10
22. Myself	5/10
23. Mr Burrows	5/10
24. Mr Olive	5/10
25. Mr Goldsmith	5/9
26. Myself	5/9

After the sale was over I paid as follows:

Lot No. 1, 13½ gallons at	6/3	4.4.4½
Do. 22	5/10	3.18.9
Do. 26	5/9	3.17.7½
		12.0.9

I then rosined down my casks and spent about half an hour with my friend Tipper, who came to bring me going on my road almost as far as Lewes. I came home about 9:20 very safe and sober Spent today as under:

My Dinner	0.0.6
Drink	0.0.6
Turnpike & Ferry	0.0.3
Horse	0.0.6

Mary Martin and my servant at home today dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of a piece of pork and some cabbage and turnips. They in my absence paid either a son or a servant of Mr Edward Heaver, miller at Isfield, 0.17.10 in full for the following received by them today:

2 bushels flour	0.11.4
1 bushel oatmeal	0.6.6

They also paid Mr Ben Shelley in cash 3.9.8 in full for the same sum he paid in London for me this week… My late servant went home in the evening. Rec’d a receipt today by Mr Shelley from Mr Crouch and Mr Margesson that the bills I sent them by Mr Shelley the 12th instant came safe to hand and were placed to the credit of my account.

Paid Joseph Fuller 15½d for a loin of veal 7½ lbs at 2d. I dined on part of it boiled and green salad. At home all day and thank God very busy. Rec’d of William Eldridge 8/- in full for 1 year’s land tax due at Lady Day last.
 

Myself and servant at church in the forenoon… I dined on a veal pudding, turnips and cabbage. After dinner Thomas Durrant, Robert Hook and myself walked to Hellingly Church where we had a sermon preached by the Rev Mr Herring, curate of Hellingly and vicar of Chiddingly, from I John 5:7: “For there were three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”

After churchtime Master Hook went to Hailsham, and Thomas Durrant and myself came away home immediately. We came home about 6:30. My servant not being at home, I went into Thomas Durrant’s, where he and I and Joseph Fuller smoked a pipe or two and then came home.

Paid Master Bridger at Framfield in cash and goods 20/- in full for 18 fleeces of wool weighing 32 lbs bought of him today at 7½d per lb, but as the prices of wool are not yet thoroughly settled, if there can be more afforded I am to give it upon honor.

I dined on part of a loin of veal roasted and green salad. Rec’d of Thomas Lewer 2/- in part of a poor tax. In the evening wrote my London letters. At home all day and very little to do; that is, I took but very little ready money.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner; at home all day and but very little to do. In the evening read part of Addison’s Travels. Thomas Durrant and Master Baker drank some coffee with me.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a green salad. At home all day and very little to do in the shop. In the day read part of Every Man his own Broker.

Paid Joseph Fuller Jr 9½d for 3 lbs of beef bought of him today. I dined on a beef pudding and some greens. Mrs Gibbs buying some things in the shop, she and Ann Prall drank tea with me… At home all day and but very little to do. In the evening read part of the Athenian Sport.