Author: Thomas Turner

At home all day. In the forenoon Thomas Fuller Jr killed the hog for me, which Mr Elless and I bought of Mr French the 3rd instant, and breakfasted accordingly with us… Gave John Dan on the parish account 12d… John Watford and his father a-gardening for me all the afternoon. Joseph Fuller, his wife, and son’s wife, together with Bett Fuller and my brother Moses drank tea with us. (My brother did not stay). Mr Fuller and the above-mentioned, except my brother, stayed and spent the evening with us and played at cards; my wife and I lost 10½ d. They stayed and supped with us on bread and cheese etc. I have taken no more than £8 this week. A terrible time…

Just before churchtime my brother Will came in, and he and I stayed at home. My wife and maid at church. My brother and Thomas Davy dined with us on a hog’s cheek boiled, a plain batter pudding, turnips, parsnips and cabbage. My brother informed [me] that my uncle Hill had just received a letter from his son Charles on board the MONARCH, man-of-war in Portsmouth harbor. I and Thomas Davy agreed to take a walk to see the contents; so accordingly, while they were at church in the afternoon, he and I set out for Horsted, leaving my brother to keep house, my wife and maid being at church. We got to my uncle’s about 4:10, where we found my uncle at home and my brother Moses and Mr Abraham Whapham and the Isfield miller, the two latter of which went away about 6:10. My uncle showed me my cousin’s letter wherein he informed him of his health etc. and also that Admiral Byng was now confined under sentence of death on board their ship, that he was in high spirits for a man in his circumstances, and that he was about 5 feet 5 inches, somewhat corpulent and had received a reprieve for 15 days on the 5th instant. But it was his and the officers’ opinion that he would undoubtedly be shot. He also said it was computed he was worth £300,000. My brother and we came away about 7:20 and came together as far as Horsted Church, where we parted. Thomas Davy and I came home about 8:30. My brother Will stayed till our maid came from church. My wife drank tea at Mrs Virgoe’s.

At home all day. Joseph Fuller Jr and Mr French cut out our hog and weighed it. Mr Elless’s half weighed 8 stone 5 lbs and mine 8 stone 7 lbs. I paid Mr Jeremiah French in cash 3.11.3 for the above half hog and the hog received the 8th of January of him. Master Watford being a-hedging about ¾ of a day etc. for me, he dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Gave Dame Trill 2/- on the parish account… This day agreed with Dame Trill to allow her husband 6/- every calendar month and also to allow her 12d in every calendar month more towards the keeping of Ann Braizer. In the evening read part of Homer’s Odyssey. In the morning walked up to John Vine Jr’s with some bonnets for his wife.

In the morning after breakfast I walked over to Framfield where I dined at my mother’s on part of a cold sparerib and some cold beef and potatoes… I cut out for my mother 18 round frocks. I drank tea there and came home about 6 o’clock. I agreed to take Philip Turner of my mother at £5 a year to board and clothe him, that being the sum my father left by will to maintain him till he is l4 years of age. Dame Vinal here a-washing half the day. In the evening wrote to my cousin Charles Hill on board the MONARCH man-of-war at Portsmouth…

Dame Vinal a-washing for us all day. We dined on hog’s foot, ear, a heart pudding, pork, cabbage and turnips. After dinner I walked over to Framfield to get of my mother some white linsey. I stayed and drank tea there and came home about 5:45. In the day read part of Homer’s Odyssey. In the evening Thomas Davy at our house. He and I played at cribbage; I lost 6d…

…Papered up 192 papers of tobacco weighing 43 lbs… In the afternoon my brother Moses brought over Philip according to our agreement on Tuesday last. He stayed and drank tea with us. In the evening read a sermon preached at this church on the 1st of August, 1716 by the Rev Mr Richard Haworth on the wonders of providence in the defense of the reformation, and which in my opinion is an excellent discourse. Also read the 8th of Tillotson’s sermons, which I think a very fine one. The subject was of the happiness of a heavenly conversation.

…In the forenoon my brother came over and brought my brother John’s little boy, but did not stay. Master Watford a-gardening about three hours for me in the afternoon… This day Ann Durrant was brought me (being big with child) by an order from Luke Spence and George Courthope Esqrs dated today and delivered to me by one of the officers of Laughton Parish. In the evening read two of Tillotson’s sermons; viz., one on the deceitfulness and danger of sin, the other on the difficulty of being saved in the Church of Rome.

My wife, self and two boys at church in the morning… We dined on a sparerib roasted, applesauce and a plain batter pudding. In the afternoon myself, wife and two boys at church (our maid being gone to Framfield to church)… In the evening went up to Joseph Fuller’s and stayed about an hour. In the evening and in the day read four of Tillotson’s sermons; viz., of the inward peace and pleasure which attends religion, the nature and benefit of consideration, the folly and danger of irresolution and delaying, and of the distinguishing character of good and bad men.

After breakfast my brother came over for me to go to Framfield, and accordingly I walked over with him to Framfield where I found my uncle Ed Bennett. He was come to receive the principal interest of a bond due from my mother to Charles Tanner. She paid him as under and accordingly took in the bond:

4	36/-pieces	7.4.0
18	guineas	18.18.0
4	half-guineas	2.2.0
½	of a moidore	0.6.9
12	half-crowns	1.10.0
129	shillings	0.6.9
35	sixpences	0.17.6
	half pence	0.0.3
		37.7.6

The above mentioned sum of 37.7.6 is in full both for the principal and the interest of the bond viz.,

The present principal	35.0.0
To interest due today	2.7.6

I dined at my mother’s on a piece of boiled beef, butter pond pudding and greens… I came riding home after dinner. In the afternoon went to Mr John Vine’s, where I stayed some time in company with Mr Martin, in partnership with Mr Tapsfield. I came home and called on John Watford, and we went in the evening to Laughton in order to take up George Hyland again. When we came to his house, we thought we perceived a light and also heard somebody talk. We then went to the man whom we thought had been the headborough of that hundred, but he not being headborough we were disappointed. It being somewhat late, we came home, where I found Thomas Davy, who stayed about an hour.

I wrote my London letters. This day spent 2d on the parish account. On looking over the account I settled today for my mother I found I had made a mistake of 9/1O as under:

To the interest of £4O at 4 percent from the 21 Nov., 1755 to the 12 July, 1756	1.0.6
To the interest of £35 at 4 percent from the 12 July, 1756 to this day	0.17.2
To the principal	35.0.0

which is just 9/10 less than she paid.