After breakfast Mr Joseph Burgess called on me to acquaint me that John Durrant declared he would not remove if he had not some wood sent before to the house, upon which he and I went and talked with him and promised him some faggots. We then went down to Will Sinden’s and got the key of the house of Will Bristow. From there we went to Mr Reeve’s, where Mr Burgess paid him in my presence 1.15.0, which I understood [was] in full. We then went to Richard Hope’s, where I left the key and bought a ¼ hundred faggots for them. We then called at Mr Piper’s, who we found was gone to remove them… In the afternoon my brother came over to our house, and he and Mrs Virgoe stayed and drank tea with us. I gave my brother in cash £16, which with the £13 left with my mother, makes £29, which they are to pay Mr John Smith. Thomas Davy sat a while with us in the evening. This day lent Mr Francis Elless The Black Prince and The Distressed Mother.
Author: Thomas Turner
Friday, March 25 1757
John Watford a-gardening for me part of the day, who dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, Dame Henly, her daughters Mary and Elizabeth, drank tea with us in the forenoon… This day borrowed of Mr Joseph Burgess in change 10/-. At home all day. In the evening read part of Josephus’s Antiquities of the Jews.
Saturday, March 26 1757
At home all day and very busy. John Watford worked for me all day. He dined with us on the remains of Thursday’s dinner with the addition of a piece of pork, apple pudding and turnips… Not very well, my throat being sore. In the evening read part of a book entitled The Prudent Jester, which I think is a poor silly empty piece of ribaldry.
Sunday, March 27 1757
My whole family at church in the morning… After churchtime there was a vestry to consult whether the parish should lend Richard Prall 2 guineas and also clothe his daughter up in order for her to go as an apprentice to a mantua-maker. But the people at the vestry came to no resolution. We dined on a piece of bacon boiled, a plum suet pudding, turnip greens and potatoes. In the afternoon our maid went to see Buxted Place. My wife and self and 2 boys at church in the afternoon… After churchtime my brother came over and also stayed and drank tea with us. Thomas Fuller Sr came in for me to write him a letter, which I did; and he stayed and smoked 2 pipes along with my brother. At home all day. Read 4 of Tillotson’s sermons and part of the New Whole Duty of Man.
Monday, March 28 1757
…In the afternoon went up to Joseph Fuller’s and balanced accounts with him and received of him 8/9½ in full… At home all day. In the evening read part of the canons of the church. This day borrowed of Mr French by way of change 1 guinea.
Tuesday, March 29 1757
In the morning John Hesman, John Watford and myself drew out my pipe of cider. They both breakfasted with us. Paid Mr French the guinea borrowed of him yesterday. Mr Will Rice came today and bought of me 2 coats and 2 waistcoats and stayed and dined with us…
In the afternoon Dame Martin came to our house and informed me that the man William Tull, whom Sarah Vinal has had a child by, was at their house today, upon which John Watford, Thomas and Joseph Fuller and myself went in pursuit of him; Thomas Fuller went round by Chiddingly and called at both the public houses there and then came to us at Edward Martin’s. We then went and took a view of who there was at both the ale houses at Whitesmith, but found no one that answered to our description of him. We then proceeded to Mr Will Funnell’s (where the man had formerly worked) who informed us that it was likely he might be at Mr Guy’s (a place where he had also worked) and accordingly we found him there in bed, whereupon, telling him our business, he very readily went along with us. In our road home we called at Mr Funnell’s and stayed about 1 hour. Then we proceeded on our journey home where we arrived about 11:15 and supped at our house. Thomas Fuller, John Watford and my own family sat up all night. About 2 o’clock the man made an attempt to get away, but was disappointed. We then called up Thomas Durrant, who sat up with us the remaining part of the night. N.B.: I spent 5d in pursuit of the man.
Wednesday, March 30 1757
In the morning about 4:30 I went down to Whyly and called up Mr French and informed him of what I had done. He and Sarah Vinal, the man etc. breakfasted with us. After breakfast, the man agreeing to marry Sarah, we then set off for Lewes in order to get a license; viz., the man, John Watford, Joseph Fuller Jr and myself and Mr French, who met us at Mr Sam Gibbs’s. We accordingly got the license at Mr Michell’s, Mr French being the bondsman for Tull. Also Mr French was sworn that the girl had lived in the parish for 4 weeks last past, and the man also that his parish was Newport in the Isle of Wight. We dined at the White Horse on shoulder of mutton roasted, a piece of pork boiled, greens, a butter pudding, cake and pickles. (My family at home dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a piece of pork boiled and turnips). I received of Mr Michell in cash 13.18.3 for poor tax for his Grace the Duke of Newcastle.
We came home about 5:45. Spent on the parish account today as under; viz.,
| At Martin’s as we went | 0.1.5 |
| Do. At Lewes | 0.5.6 |
| Do. At Martin’s | 0.0.8¼ |
| License | 1.4.0 |
| To a ring | 0.1.6 |
| 1.13.1¼ |
A thorough wet day. I called in Lewes at Mr Madgwick’s, Mr Rice’s and Mr Bennett’s.
Thursday, March 31 1757
In the morning, Sarah and Mary Vinal breakfasted with us, and after breakfast the man and Sarah were married (I being the father to give her away) in the presence of a great many people. Mr French and myself signed the register book. After staying at Jones’s some time, Mr French, Mr John Vine Jr and Thomas Fuller came home with me and dined at our house off a piece of beef boiled, a piece of pork, a currant pond butter pudding and turnips. After dinner we went to Lewes with the man, for him to swear his parish. Mr John Vine Jr, John Watford, Thomas Fuller and Thomas Davy walked along with the man and I rode upon Mr Vine’s mare. We went to Luke Spence Esq, before whom he swore himself of the parish of Thatcham in the county of Berks. I accordingly took out an order to remove him and Sarah his wife to the said parish, Mr Spence sent to Lewes for Mr Fagg, who came and signed the said order, (while the order was a-making out, I rode up town, sending the foot people home). I called at Mr Spence’s as I came back and took the said order and examination. I came home to Jones’s about 6:45, where I stayed till about 12 o’clock. I paid and spent on the parish account today as under:
| To Mr Porter’s fees | 0.10.6 |
| Do. the clerk’s | 0.2.6 |
| To Mr Spence and Fagg | 0.5.0 |
| Turnpike | 0.0.2 |
| Lewes | 0.0.8 |
| Martin’s | 0.2.3 |
| 1.1.1 |
Friday, April 1 1757
After breakfast I went down to Jones’s, where I stayed till near 12 o’clock, when we all went down to Mr French’s in order to set the people off to carry home the man and his wife. They set off about 1:20; viz., the man and his wife and child, Mr French, Joseph Fuller, Thomas Cornwell and John Durrant. I came home immediately and dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Very busy all the afternoon. Mrs Atkins drank tea with us. In the evening Thomas Davy at our house, of whom I received 1.5.7 in full. Gave Mr French in cash 5.5.0 to bear the expenses of the journey. In the evening read 2 papers of The Monitor lent me by Mrs Atkins.
Saturday, April 2 1757
At home all day. After breakfast carried up to Mr Vine’s some things for the audit… In the afternoon a great quantity of snow fell, but did not continue, it melting as it fell. Oh! how pleasant has this day been after what some of the last past have, they being spent in hurry and confusion, but this at home in my business and in reading. Oh! were I to choose my way of life, it should be a retired recluse life, making those about me happy if it were in my power.