Author: Thomas Turner

…Dame Akehurst, a-brewing for me today, dined with me on a beef pudding and greens and potatoes. Mrs Stace drank tea with me, as did Master Baker. Paid Robert Hook in cash £5 in part of his parish account. Paid Mr Sam Gibbs 6/3 in full for half a cord wood delivered to Peter Adams on the parish account.

At home all day. In the evening Sam Jenner coming in, we played a few games of cribbage; I lost 2 games.

My brother and servant at church in the morning; myself at home busy a-writing. Posted my day book. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a plain suet pudding and greens. Rec’d of Thomas Sturt 14/6 in full. In the afternoon about 3:30 set out for Lewes. Paid. Mr Henry Burtenshaw 5.17.4 in full. Paid Mr Edward Verrall 4/7 in full. Paid Mr George Verrall 3/2 in full, where I drank tea.

In the evening met with Molly Hicks (by appointment ) and walked home with her, where I stayed with her, the weather being excessive bad, till morning, past 5, and then came home. Spent upon myself 21d, horse and ostler 11d, turnpike 4d. Thank God very busy today in the first part of the day.

Paid John Shelley, brother to Ben Shelley, in cash 3.7.9 in full for money paid in London for me… I dined on a bullock’s kidney pie. At home all day and thank God very busy…Charles Diggens drank tea with me. Paid Mr Joseph Fuller Jr in cash 0.2.1½ in full for 1 shoulder of veal weighing 8 ½ lbs at 3d.

In the evening very dull and sleepy; this courting does not well agree with my constitution, and perhaps it may be only taking pains to create more pain.
 

Myself and brother at church in the morning; the text in part of the 14th verse 15th chapter 1st Corinthians: “And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.”

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a knuckle of a shoulder of veal boiled and greens. Myself, brother and servant at church in the afternoon; the text in part of Luke 24:46; “Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day.”

After churchtime I, Mr Bannister and my brother walked down to Sam Washer’s, he owing some money and his landlord having distrained for rent. But my journey answered no other and then to spend 4½d each. We came home about 8:40 very dirty and wet. A very fine day, which is the first fine day we have had for a great while past.
 

Paid Richard Wrothwell in cash 3.1.0 in full for a bill of flax on the parish account from himself and Edward Merricks. Paid Mr. Richard Stone in cash 1.5.3 (by Christopher Vine) in full for a bill due on the parish account. I dined on a shoulder of veal roasted and stuffed and some watercress. Rec’d of the Rev Mr Thomas Porter in cash 48.10.3 in full for the draft on Mr Will Margesson which I gave him the 25th ult… Paid John Shelley in cash 12/- in full for the same sum paid Dr Godfrey last week, for which he had no receipt. Paid John Streeter in cash 2.7.6 in full for his clerk’s wages and washing the surplice three times. Paid Sarah Prall in cash 7/1 in full for post letters. Also lent her in cash 14/- for which she left in my hands a broad piece of gold, value: according to weight 18/-.

In the afternoon walked up to Mr Coates’s, but did not stay any great time. In the evening wrote my London letters, after which my brother and I played a game or two of cribbage; I won three games. A very [ ??] afternoon and part of the evening.

Delivered to Ben Shelley by my servant in cash £70 in order for him to pay in London for me… Sent Mr Will Lee in Nottingham enclosed in a letter 1 bill on Mr William Margesson… 4.6.0 in full on my account… Sent Mr Will James at Ashwick near Shepton Mallet in Somersetshire enclosed in a letter one bill on Mr Will Margesson…value £10.9.6. Both the above bills enclosed in letters were enclosed in one to Mr John Perchard in Crooked Lane in order for him to forward by the post, and both sent by Ben Shelley, delivered to himself by my servant. Also sent enclosed in a letter by Ben Shelley, delivered to himself, to Mr Will Margesson the bill value 17.3.2. I received of Joseph Fuller Jr yesterday.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Paid John Watford in cash 9.17.0 in full on the parish account. He then paid me in cash £1.16.11 in full for a book debt. Paid Thomas Davy in cash 2.4.2 in full for the parish bill. Paid Thomas Durrant 3/- in full for a bill on the parish. Paid him also in cash 1.17.6 in full for 1 year’s rent due from the parish to Mr James Burfield of Steyning for John Durrant’s end of a house due at Lady Day last (0.S.).

In the evening went over to Mrs French’s and paid her in cash 3.14.0 in full on my own account. After I came home Thomas Davy and I balanced accounts and I received of him in cash 4.16.0½ in full of all demands (as to my own private affair). We played a few games of cribbage; I won 5d.
 

Paid Mrs French in cash 3/7½ in full for a ¼ cord of wood delivered to Lucy Williams. Paid Mr Joseph Fuller Jr in cash 1.13.0½ in full for a bill due to his father on the parish account. Paid Mrs Elizabeth Browne by her brother John Hutson in cash 1.5.8 in full as under:

½ year’s rent due from the parish at St Michael last for Slarkes’ end of a house	0.17.6
To a bill on my landlord for repairs	0.8.2

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the afternoon went to Mr Joseph Burgess’s, where there was a public vestry held for to settle the yearly accounts of the overseers and choose new overseers etc. Mr Carman and myself made up our accounts with the inhabitants, and there was due to the parish the sum of 17.7.3¼. The new officers chosen: myself churchwarden, Simonds Blackman electioner; Thomas Garman overseer and Ed Foord electioner. Paid the widow French by Sam French 9.9.3 in full on the parish account. Rec’d the following poor tax in full to this day:

Edward Hope	2.8.9	Francis Turner	1.12.6
John Nutley	2.10.4½	Edward Foord	6.0.3
Do. for parish linen	1.8.0	Charles Vine	1.12.6
James Fuller	3.3.4½	Ann Page per son Richard	5.10.6
Do. for parish linen	2.10.0	John Cayley	2.5.6
Mr Thomas Walls	5.14.0	Mr French’s widow by son Sam	13.2.9
Mr Simonds Blackman	14.0.0
John Watford	2.3.3
Joseph Durrant	1.15.9	Richard Bristed	8.2.6
Thomas Pelham Esq by do.	0.16.3	George Stace	4.2.0

Paid Mr Burgess 10/- in full for money spent on the parish account. We stayed till near 3 o’clock. Spent 6d.
 

Delivered to Mr George Bannister a receipt for £8 in full for a year’s land tax for his salary which he is to receive for me today of the collector. After breakfast Mr Carman called on me-to walk with him to Sam Washer’s in order to take the house for his nephew. We dined there on some rashers of bacon broiled… We did not any business, but spent 6½d and came home about 5:20.

My brother out upon the wild order again today. Paid Mrs Burgess 2/11 in [cash] for what he spent.
 

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a piece of beef boiled and greens. In the afternoon Mr Carman called on me again, and we rode down to Sam Washer’s, where Mr Carman agreed to take all the effects by Mr Verrall’s appraisement and enter upon the premises tomorrow, signing a note to resign the same, he only to have the use of one room for a month…

From thence we, together with Mr Chester and Mr Hutchens, rode to Mr Peckham’s in order to obtain his consent for a continuation of the license, which he granted. We stayed and smoked a pipe or two and came home about 8:20. My brother in my absence received of Roase Page 12/5 (by the payment of Mrs Browne) in full. Mrs Browne drank tea at my house. Rec’d of butcher Fuller in cash 3.14.6 in full for poor tax.
 

Paid Ben Shelley (by his brother John) in cash 2.7.8, which with the £70 sent, or at least delivered, to him the 9th instant makes together the sum of 72.7.8 and is in full for the same sum paid in London for me as under:

By cash paid the 10th instant to Mr William Margesson	70.0.0
By do. the 3rd instant to Messrs Cluer Dicey & Co. in full on my account	0.12.0
By do. the 10th instant to Messrs Smith and Isherwood in full on my account	1.15.8

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Rec’d of Mr Porter the sum of 12.5.4½ in full for poor tax. Rec’d of Thomas Reeve by the payment of his daughter in cash 4.17.6 in full for poor tax… Rec’d of Mr George Bannister the sum of four guineas, which I lent him the 29th December last, and gave him the note of hand I received of him upon lending the money.

At home all day and thank God very busy. In the evening smoked a pipe or two at Mr Joseph Burgess’s, Joseph Fuller, T. Durrant and Sam Jenner treating me with a glass or two of punch. Paid John Nutley in cash 14/- in full for 2 bushels flour, I delivered to Will Sinden, the other to Starkes [Slarkes].