Thomas Turner – Page 85

Wednesday, February 2 1757

In the morning our maid went over to Framfield. I also in the morning went up to Mr John Vine’s Jr… Received of Mr John Vine Sr 9/9 for a bill of nails used at Laughton Place. Halland two maids and the gardener drank tea with us. Looking over The Gentleman’s Magazine for September, 1744 I find the following [information about the King of Prussia, his troops and his religion, quoted at length.]…

Thomas Davy, who had this day been at Lewes, came into our house in the evening and informed us that about 40 people out of several neighboring parishes came there today in a kind of riotous manner in order to demand corn of a person who has lately bought up a large quantity. He very readily offered them any quantity they would have at 6/- a bushel, which prevented any farther disturbance, though they did not accept of his offer on account of there being Justices in town, to whom they made their complaint, and who very readily took their complaint into consideration and told them if they came again on Saturday next, they would redress their grievances and that they should have corn at a more moderate price. They also granted them several summons for people that have quantities of corn by them but have [refused] to sell it at a market price. Oh! what a cruel thing it is to endeavour to grind the face of the poor, which many great farmers do by keeping up their corn and not selling it [until] it fetches so large a price as it does at this time.

Thursday, February 3 1757

At home all day but not busy… In the evening Thomas Davy here and supped with us. He and I played at cribbage; I won 12d. If any person should by accident or curiosity peruse my several memorandums he may think it somewhat odd and profuse or extravagant in me to entertain one person so often, which would undoubtedly be so, were there no reason for it, but I think there is. First he is a very sober man and one who has read a great deal, by which I oftentimes learn something. And then he is a man that is always ready and willing to do anything for me or to go anywhere for me and will never take anything for so doing; so that it is not altogether for the sake of company, but for the benefit of improvement and out of gratitude.

This day Mr Francis Elless and I agreed to take a fat hog of Mr Jeremiah French between us. We are to have it the 10th or 11th instant, alive, and to give 2/2 a stone. It is to weigh about 10 stone.

Friday, February 4 1757

The King of Prussia’s dominions are [described at extraordinary length]… The above was taken from The Gentleman’s Magazine for September, 1744. At home all day but not busy… Rec’d of James Awcock 4/6 in full and paid him 3d for some parsnips. In the evening Thomas Davy here, to whom I read the 2nd of Tillotson’s sermons, I think this to have been as cold a day as I ever knew, and I believe the frost has not been totally out of the ground these 5 weeks.

Saturday, February 5 1757

At home all day. Gave John Dan 12d on the parish account… This day paid Mr Thomas Smith, carrier of Eastbourne, 1.6.7, being for money paid by him in London this week… In the evening I was sent for down to Mr Porter’s to know if I had any black cloth. I stayed there about 1 hour and ½ chatting about indifferent things. Came home and read the 3rd and 4th of Tillotson’s sermons. Took £10 this week. A very melancholy time. This day the frost began to go away after being in the ground about 5 weeks

Sunday, February 6 1757

Myself and maid both at church in the morning… There was a brief read for the parish church of Stoke in the county of Salop to which I gave nothing by reason I had neither silver nor halfpence in my pocket. Mr Francis Elless dined with us on a hog’s cheek boiled, turnips, parsnips, a plain butter pond pudding and pea broth. Myself and maid at church in the afternoon. My wife not at church all day, she being very ill and lame. The text in I Timothy, 2:1: “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men”, from which words we had in my opinion a very good sermon, showing how necessary the duty of public prayer is to our salvation, and, at the same time, that we should not neglect the advantage of prayer also in private, both of which duties were delivered to us in a very plain and moving manner.

After churchtime paid the poor as under:

To Dame Trill	0.5.0
To Ed Babcock	0.4.0
To Ann Wood	0.4.0
To the Widow Pilfold	0.6.0
To John Streeter for house rent etc. for do.	0.3.0
total	1.2.0

Today in reading of some of Tillotson’s sermons I find the following citation: He says it is an excellent rule that Phythagoras gave to his scholars, pitch upon the best course of life and custom will soon render it easy. In the evening and in the day read the 5th, 6th and 7th of Tillotson’s sermons.

Monday, February 7 1757

…In the afternoon Molly and Bett Fuller drank tea with us and stayed and played at cards; my wife and I lost 4d. This day received of Francis Smith by his brother Josias the receipt from Mr John Crouch for the £10 sent him by Smith the 18th January last. This day paid James Marchant 6d for mending some old clothes…

Tuesday, February 8 1757

In the morning my brother Moses came over and breakfasted with us. I gave him in cash 7.7.6… for Mr John Smith of Hempstead. This day paid Mr Thomas Smith, carrier of Eastbourne, £2 in order for him to pay Mr Will Ashmore in full for 10 gallons of spirits I had last week. He accordingly gave me a receipt for the same on Ashmore’s bill. Dame Prall a-washing for us all day… Thomas Tester brought me the copy of a process which he had served on him by Thornton for Savage’s debt, also a summons from George Courthope Esq to appear before him either on Wednesday or Thursday next to show cause for not relieving him. In the evening gave the poor creature 6d. At home all day. Nothing to do. Mr Francis Elless drank tea with us. Mr French being at our house in the evening, he appointed me to go to Uckfield with Thomas Tester tomorrow…

Wednesday, February 9 1757

In the morning about 8:40 I went down to Whyly and called Mr French and Thomas Tester (who was there at work), and we proceeded on our journey to Uckfield. As we went, we called at my mother’s and stayed about 30 minutes. When we came to Mr. Courthope’s, he gave so much credit to Mr French’s fallacy that poor Tester was almost like to be hanged for saying of nothing. But, however, Mr Courthope allowed him a grist more and then told us we should not be hard on him. But, however Mr French declared he should have no more on the parish account. We went with Mr Thornton to the Maiden Head where I paid 18 1/2d for what we spent. Mr Thornton offered to make up Savage’s affair with Tester on condition that the parish should pay at Easter the debt to Savage and 10/6 towards the expences. But we could not prevail on Mr French to do it.

As we came home, we called again at my mother’s but did not stay. Mr French and both being pretty much in liquor, we quarrelled very much, and the subject of our dispute was whether I should obey the justice’s orders in giving Tester another grist or not. But, however, we went into Mr French’s and drank a bottle of beer. I came home very much in liquor. Oh! what an unfortunate wretch I am that I can drink but 2 glasses of liquor before I am drunk when it is a thing I am sure I despise and do try as much as possible to avoid. Oh! may the ever abundant mercies of the divine goodness pardon this my weakness and imperfection and pour into my heart the grace of his Holy Spirit to strengthen my weak and frail resolutions that I may never be guilty of this vice, but may always live in a constant state of virtue, temperance, justice, humility and charity. All this I humbly beg for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.

My family today dined on the remains of Sunday’s and yesterday’s dinner and myself on nothing. John Vine’s man at work for us all day.

Thursday, February 10 1757

…(A sad unpleasant day. Oh! the reflection on yesterday intolerable. Well I am determined never to drink anything strong).

Mr Elless spent the evening with us and read to us two of Torriano’s sermons. The above-mentioned Torriano is curate of Hooe and Minfield, has been in the linen drapery, and also has been clerk to some company, and is now a physician and divine.

Friday, February 11 1757

This being the day appointed by proclamation for a general fast and humiliation before Almighty God for obtaining pardon of our sins and for averting those heavy judgements which our manifold provocations have most justly deserved and imploring His blessing and assistance on the arms of his Majesty by sea and land, my wife, self and maid at church in the morning. The text in I Samuel 12:25:”Jut if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.”

My wife, self and maid at church in the afternoon, but we had only prayers. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a butter pudding cake and some turnips… I called a public vestry today to consult about Thomas Daw, as also to consult about allowing Dame Trill and her husband more per month. The result was as under; viz; Mr John Vine will try if Delves’s blacksmith shop etc. can be had for Thomas Daw. And they agreed I should give Dame Trill what I pleased. Thomas Davy spent the evening with us, to whom, and in the day, I read 3 of Tillotson’s sermons.