Author: Thomas Turner

After breakfast I set out for Lewes in company with Mr George Bannister. I paid Mr Mercer the 10/- received of the overseers of Oving yesterday. I also paid Mr Thomas Gilbert 1.12.8 in full. Also paid Mr George Verral by his wife 4.4.0 on account. Also paid Mr Joseph Hartley in cash 3.4.0 in full on my brother Richard’s account.

I dined at Mr John Madgwick’s on a leg of pork boiled, a plain pudding and greens (my brother and servant at home dining on a piece of beef boiled, an apple pudding and potatoes). I came home about 7:30, not very sober. My brother went home in the evening. Spent today on myself, horse, ostler and turnpike 2/2.

Oh, my irresolute temper! So many times as I have fixed my resolution not to offend the laws of temperance, and yet continually to err against it! Joseph Fuller and Thomas Durrant sat with me some time in the evening.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the afternoon my old acquaintance Mr Francis Elless and his friend T. Howe came to see me, and they together with Molly Carman drank tea with me. Mr Elless, his friend, Sam Jenner and myself played a few games of whist and cribbage in the evening; I lost 6d.

Benjamin Shelley in cash 4.14.7 in full [including]

By cash paid the 14th to Mr Clement Corderoy in full for 1 cart tilt for James Fuller

1.2.0

…At home all day. Sam Jenner, coming in in the evening, took part of my bed.

Sam Jenner dined with me today on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day and very busy. Paid Thomas Tester 3/- in full on Mr John Vine’s account.

In the evening Sam Jenner and I played a few games of cribbage, but neither of us won or lost… This day I received a letter by the post enclosing a receipt from Mr Samuel Beaven and Mr Richard Waite at the Devizes acknowledging the receipt of the bills sent them the 20th ult. Lent James Fuller in cash. £25, for which gave me his note of hand.
 

Myself and servant at church in the morning… I dined on a piece of beef boiled, an apple pudding and potatoes. Myself and servant at church in the afternoon… Sam Jenner and Thomas Durrant drank tea with me and sat with me in the evening, to whom I read 2 of Tillotson’s sermons.

Paid a son of Edward Heaver, miller at Isfield, in cash 1.6.7½ in full for the following goods received by him today:

2 bushels flour	0.12.0
2 gallons oats	0.1.7½
1 bushel oatmeal	0.6.6
1 do. split peas	0.6.6

…Dame Akehurst, a-brewing for me today, dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a piece of pork, an apple pudding and potatoes. At home all day and very busy. In the evening wrote my London letters.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a piece of beef boiled, an apple pudding and some Savoy greens. At home all day.

In the evening went over to Mr Burgess’s, one of our public houses [Jones having gone out of business], where there was a vestry held to consult of several affairs relating to the parish. Our company consisted of myself, Mr Carman, Mr Blackman, Mr French, John Piper, Joseph and Thomas Durrant, Joseph Fuller Jr, Edward Foord and Richard Hope. We spent 3/6 each on the parish account and 12d apiece afterwards, and also raised a subscription for a poor person to whom I gave 12d. We stayed till past 2 o’clock, it being a very wet evening, and I cannot say we parted sober.

Pretty busy today in my shop.

At home all day. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the evening I went into Mr Bannister’s, where he and myself, Sam Jenner, Thomas Davy and Robert Hook played at brag; I lost 2/-. Came home about 12:10. Sam Jenner took part of my bed. Pretty busy in the shop all day. Came home very sober.

Sam Jenner dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day and very wet. Paid Joseph Fuller Jr in cash 4/2½ in full for the following meat bought of him today:

14 lbs beef at 2¾d	0.3.2½
1 bullock’s tongue	0.1.0

At home all day. Sam Jenner took part of my bed.

Sam Jenner stayed and assisted me today in papering out 3 bags of nails. He dined with me on a beef pudding and Savoy greens. Paid Mr Benjamin Shelley in cash 3/3 in full as follows:

1 stone gallon bottle	0.0.9
1 cask yeast	0.2.6

At home all day and thank God very busy. Sam Jenner went home in the evening. Not at all well, having a violent cold upon me. A very fine dry day. In the evening read part of Homer’s Iliad translated by Pope.

Paid Ed Foord 3/- in full for bringing home my cider. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some pea soup. Paid Richard Page 2/6 in full for a side of venison he bought in Lewes for me today. At home all day and very busy. A very wet afternoon.

In the evening Joseph Fuller Jr sat with me some time, as did also Thomas Durrant. Oh, how low and depressed are my spirits, quite low indeed, almost to a stupid dullness!