Author: Thomas Turner

In the morning went over to Framfield where I arrived about 9:45. After eating a mouthful or 2 of buttered toast and drinking a few dishes tea, and also looking over and tallying and taking an account of the gloves, hatbands, favors etc., I set out for the funeral of Alice Stevens, otherwise Smith, natural daughter of Ben Stevens (at whose house she died). I got to the funeral house about 11:50 where my brother Moses came to me soon after, in order to learn to serve a funeral and also to give me what assistance he could. The young woman’s age was 28 years, and I think I never saw any person lament the death of anyone more than Ben Stevens did for this poor girl, his daughter. After serving the funeral, as soon as it was possible we could, we set out for Buxted Church where she was to be buried, with a large company of people (she being carried on men’s shoulders). We arrived about 4:20 where we had an excellent sermon preached by the Rev Mr Lawson, Curate of Buxted, from Hebrews 9:27: “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” The young woman was laid in the ground about 5:50 after staying at the grave about 15 minutes, it being dug too small. When all was over, my brother, Charles Diggens and myself came to Framfield. I stayed at my mother’s and baited; then my brother came home with me and stayed and spent the evening with us, and stayed all night. We came home exactly at 8 o’clock. I received of my mother in cash 4/- and by old gold and silver 16/-, which, with the 4 pounds sent me the 30th December, makes together £5 which I have borrowed of her. My mother gave me 12d for my gloves given me at the funeral and for silk used in tying up the favors. I gave away hatbands, favors, gloves etc. at the funeral for my mother’s use as under:

Hatbands in all, 9; viz.,

Ben Stevens Sr	Sam Smith
Henry Stevens Sr	Arthur Knight
Will Stevens Sr	Ed Willet
Richard Stevens	Thomas Ware
John Newnham

Favors in all, 12; viz.,

1.	Mary Ware
2.	Jane Stevens
3.	Elizabeth Willet
4.	Mary Ware
5.	Francis Smith
6.	Sarah Colgate
7.	Henry Stevens Jr
8.	Ben Stevens Jr
9.	Ed Willet
10.	Richard Savage
11.	John Staply
12.	Richard Figg

2d chamois gloves, 1 pr.; viz., Benjamin Stevens Sr.

Women’s white lamb gloves in all, 24 prs:

1.	Mrs Willet
2.	Mary Ware
3.	Lucy Diggens
4.	Mary Ware [again?]
5.	Mrs Attree
6.	Mrs Ware
7.	Elizabeth Willet
8.	Sarah Willet
9.	Mrs Stevens
10.	Mrs Stevens
11.	Jane Stevens
12.	Elizabeth Stevens
13.	Mary Russell
14.	Sarah Colgate
15.	Mary Colgate
16.	Frances Smith
17.	Mrs Stevens
18	Dame Newman
19.	Elizabeth Ware
20.	Dame Stevens
21.	Dame Limpass
22.	Hannah Simonds
23.	Dame Belton
24.	Mary Devonish

Men’s white lamb gloves in all 35 prs:

1.	Thomas Attree
2.	Ed Willet Jr
3.	John Staply
4.	John Buckwell
5.	Ben Stevens Jr
6.	Richard Tealing
7.	John Stevens
8.	Thomas Starr
9.	John Cornwell
10.	Charles Diggens
11.	Robert Diggens
12.	Richard Savage
13.	John Smith
14.	Henry Stevens Jr
15.	John Cornwell
16.	Will Cornwell
17.	Will Novice
18.	Ben Stevens Jr
19.	Will Stevens Jr
20.	Richard Figg
21.	John Evans
22.	John Shelly
23.	Thomas Card
24.	Henry Stevens Sr
25.	Will Stevens Sr
26.	Richard Stevens
27.	John Newnham
28.	Sam Smith
29.	Arthur Knight
30.	Ed Willet Sr
31.	Thomas Ware
32.	The Rev Mr Lawson
33.	Will Devonish
34.	Thomas Turner
35.	Moses Turner

John Newnham’s 2 sons to have each a pair…

My brother stayed and breakfasted with us and then went home. I sent Francis Smith by his servant Joseph Page in cash 16.4.0… which he is to pay in London for me… Elizabeth and Molly Hutson drank tea with us and stayed and spent the evening with us, as did Mr Hutson, Thomas Fuller, Fran Weller and Thomas Davy. We played at cards; my wife and I lost 3/3. Mr Hutson, E. and M. Hutson, T. Davy and F. Weller supped with us on bread and cheese and apple-pie. Paid a man in goods and cash 2/1 for 13 quires of paper received today.

In the morning sent my servant to Bentley’s in order to get in their debt, but could not get it… In the afternoon about 3 o’clock my wife went to pay a visit to Mrs Burgess. Robert Diggens called at our house and stayed and smoked a pipe with us. About 7:10 I went up to Mr Burgess’s to my wife. We both stayed and spent the evening there and supped and played at cards; my wife and I won 6d, which I gave their servant. We stayed till 2:10. I got Thomas Davy to stay with our servant in my absence.

After breakfast went down to Whyly to acquaint Mr French with my intentions of allowing John Durrant only ½ bushel wheat a week and also to get him to go along with me to look at Mr Burgess’s roots, which I had thoughts of buying for the use of the parish. He did, and if we like to have them, Mr Burgess has given us the offer of them at 12/- in the place. We were in at Mr Burgess’s and Mr Hutson’s. I came home and dined on a flour pudding and potatoes. About 3:40 my wife went to pay a visit to Mrs Fuller, and I went up about 6:20. We drank tea there and stayed and played at cards; my wife and I won 3d. We came home about 12:10.

…In the afternoon went down to Whyly to inform Mr French farther about the roots. In the evening James Marchant and Thomas Davy came to see us and supped with us and also stayed and played at whist with my wife and self; we won of both 8d. They stayed till 2 o’clock.

In the morning Thomas Fuller Jr killed a hog for us, which I am to have of Mr French at 2/2 per stone. He stayed and breakfasted with us. We dined on the hog’s sweet-bread fried with the addition of some apple-pie and bread and cheese. In the evening Robert Hook got me to go down to Jones’s in order for me to draw up his account of surveyorship to carry to the sitting on Monday. But Mr French and I, seeing no reason and what he had already done was sufficient, I did not do it; though in being so good-natured as to go with him, it cost me 4d. Sure nothing is more despicable than to see what slaves many people make themselves to that most detestable poison called gin. At home all day except as above. Read part of Martin’s Magazine for October and November. Gave John Dan 12d on the parish account.

In the morning myself, nephew, and maid at church… We had a brief read for the parish church of Trees in the county of Salop for the sum of 1130 pounds and upwards, to which I gave 2d. We dined off the hog’s lights boiled and 2 of the feet, tail and turnips. Myself, nephew and maid at church in the afternoon (my wife not at church the whole day, being not very well)… After evening service Mr Burgess came into our house and stayed and smoked a pipe with us. I agreed to have his roots for the use of the parish and accordingly sent my maid in the evening to order Ed Hope to carry 2 loads of them to John Durrant. I am to give 3/- a load for carrying of them. In the evening Thomas Davy sat with us an hour or two, to whom, and in the day, I read 5 of Tillotson’s sermons.

In the morning Joseph Fuller cut out my hog, and we weighed him, Mr French being here; he weighed 23 stone ½ lbs, which, at 2/2 per stone, amounts to 2.9.10½. I did not pay for him. At home all day… In the evening went down to Mr Porter’s to acquaint him he had the sum of 30.13.0 paid by Mr Thomas Wright to Messrs Margesson and Collison on my account. This day [sent] by John Streeter the post boy in cash to Mr Robert Plumer the sum of £21. In the evening Thomas Davy at our house. We played at cribbage; I lost 1d. In the afternoon sent our servant to Framfield to bring home some lump sugar, who acquainted me my brother John was at Framfield. Lent Mr Jeremiah French 1 sparerib, weighing 8½ lbs.

After breakfast my brother Moses came over to our house for my brother’s little boy; so accordingly we went over to Framfield and carried the little boy… About 4:30 my brother Moses and I set out for Lewes where we arrived about 7 o’clock. We called in at my uncle Hill’s, but did not stay… We called on Mr Hook and supped. We spent the evening with Mr Tucker at the White Horse and lay there… My brother was at my mother’s, where and with whom I stayed about 2 hours.

In the morning we arose and breakfasted with Mr Hook… I called on Mr Thomas Scrase. I paid Mr Bristow 12/- in full and bought 3 lbs gunpowder, for which I also paid him. I called on Mr John Madgwick and also on Mr George Verral, where we dined on some cold beef and sausages… I also paid him 1.6.0 in full. I paid Mr Robert Plumer 12.9.6 in full on my mother’s account, and also 5.7.10 on my own account… I also balanced accounts with Mr Will Rice and received of him 2.17.8 in full to this day. I paid Mrs Sarah Mott 16/-in full for year’s interest due on a bond in November last. Paid at Dr Davy’s 18d for 1 box of pills for my wife. It being very bad weather, we stayed at the Cats all night, and I might as well say I was not sober, though in truth I drank nothing all day- – I am sure not more than 1 bottle of beer. I also stayed in part for having some hopes of receiving of Mr Cooper the balance of his account, which has been due – – some of it–2 years, and which he promised me last night he would certainly pay me.