Author: Thomas Turner

Mr Sterry stayed and breakfasted with us… This morning about 4:45 died Joseph Mepham after near, or quite, 6 months’ illness. So did Mrs Hutson, wife of James Hutson, about 1 o’clock at noon. We dined on a bullock’s cheek and turnips. At home all day and posted my day book.

I was bled in the morning… This day wrote to Mr Beard to inform him my wife and I intended to pay him a visit on the 12th instant. Read part of Hervey’s Theron and Aspasio. Mr Oliver Ormeroid, Messrs Hargrave and Standing’s rider, called on me and drank tea with us, but I neither gave him orders nor money. My brother was over in the evening, but did not stop. Mr Browne of Withyham called at the door, but did not stay.

My brother being at work at Marchant’s, he breakfasted with us… Paid Ann Wood 8/-, being for hers and Master Babcock’s monthly pay, due tomorrow. Mr Rushton called on me in the afternoon; I paid him in cash £6, and by bill… £4. At home all day. My brother at work at Marchant’s all day.

This morning I determined to set out for London on Wednesday morning next if I can get in any money, which I make question I shall not. However, I sent my maid with a letter to Mr Darby for his balance against the time. Myself, wife and nephew at church in the morning; the text in Proverbs 12:26: “The righteous is more excellent than his neighbor.” We dined on a duck pudding and French beans. My whole family at church in the afternoon, the text in Acts 17:31: “Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained.” After churchtime paid the poor; viz.,

To Dame Pilfold	0.6.0
To Streeter for doing for do.	0.3.0
To Trill	0.5.0
	0.14.0

Joseph Mepham buried today. At home all day. My brother came over in the evening to go to work at Marchant’s tomorrow. He and James Marchant supped at our house. I this day asked the two Mr Vines for the balance of their accounts against the time I appointed to set out for London, but find I shall not go for there is no money to be had.

We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a few rashers of pork and some carrots… Paid Dame Trill 3/- in full for keeping Ann Braizer, due today. This day Mrs Hutson was buried. My wife was at the funeral, but I was not; Mr Read of Lewes served the funeral. At home all day and busy.

…After breakfast walked down to Whyly with some goods. Mr William Francis, Messrs Barlow and Wigginton’s rider, called on us and dined with us on some lamb’s liver and rashers of pork fried and some cucumbers. I paid him…£24, which leaves due to balance £10. At home all day and busy. In the afternoon sent my maid to Framfield. Wrote a letter for Joseph Fuller to Tomlin with 1 pocket of hops.

Dame Prall a-washing for us all day. We dined on a lamb’s heart pudding, the lights and mint boiled and minced, the tongue and brains boiled and a piece of pork boiled and some carrots. Rec’d of Thomas Darby 10/-, which I loaned him the 24th July. At home all day… My wife ill with a sore throat. My brother brought my sea water in the evening from Lewes, but did not stay.

Paid John Lewer by cash and goods… 12/9 in full for a crock of butter received of him this day for Mr Hook, weighing 25½ lbs. Paid John Streeter 9d for a pair of pattens received by him this day from Thomas Freeman. Down at Whyly all the forenoon a-mending and putting up an old oast [R]air… Rec’d of John Jones the guinea loaned him the 27th of August. Dame Martin drank tea at our house.

In the morning paid John Cayley in cash… and goods… 6.4.0 in full for my note of hand, which I gave him the 20th of August, and which I have accordingly taken up. Did a little gardening in the forenoon… At home all day… Read part of a book written by the Rev Mr Perronet, Vicar of Shoreham in Kent, which was lent me by George Richardson, and so far as I am a judge, I think it a very good thing. Wrote out several bills.

…At home all day. Did a little work in my garden and laid up all my goods which came by the carrier. In the afternoon my brother came over to bring the mare for my wife and I to go to Chailey upon tomorrow, put did not stop…