Author: Thomas Turner

At home all day. Master Watford Sr at work for me all day a-cleaning out the sink etc. Dame Prall a-washing ½ the day for us. We dined on a piece of beef and pork boiled and turnip greens… This day read in the Gazette of the 20^th instant that the King of Prussia had on the 6^th instant gained complete victory over the whole combined forces of Austria (near Prague), taking their whole camp and 25 pieces of cannon and 6 or 7000 prisoners. In the evening Thomas Davy at our house, to whom I read one of Tillotson’s sermons.

…Dame Prall a-washing for us all day. Paid Joseph Fuller by Richard 3d for a pair of calf’s feet received today. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s diner with the addition of the calf’s feet boiled. At home all day. Papered up 154 parcels of tobacco. In the evening read one of Tillotson’s sermons. Paid Dame Prall for washing 9d. Remarkable cold day.

Lent Mr Jeremiah French in cash 4 guineas and a moidore… At home all day. Papered up 60 parcels of tobacco. Gave Mrs Porter in silver 35/- and in halfpence 1/-, for which she is to send me gold. Paid for 1 gallon flour (to Dame Hook) 16d…

We dined on a piece of beef boiled, a plain suet pudding and potatoes. At home all day; at work in my garden, nothing to do in the shop; a prodigious melancholy time; what to do I know not. In the evening read one of Tillotson’s sermons.

At home all day. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some cider toast. Rec’d of Will Jenner 0.14.0 in full for poor tax. Rec’d of Ed Smith the 2.2.0 I gave him the 24th because he had not paid my money in town for me. Thomas Cornwell made me a present of a dish of roach, for which I save him 6d. At work in my garden all the morning. In the afternoon posted my day book and wrote out some bills. In the evening read one of Tillotson’s sermons.

In the morning walked to Francis Smith’s to inquire for a parcel which I imagined was come by him, but I found it was not. Came home and breakfasted and then walked over to my mother’s, thinking it might be come in a parcel of hers, but found my conjecture to be wrong. I stayed at my mother’s all day and posted her day book and also wrote out several bills for her… I received of my mother 1.5.0 in full for keeping Philip to the 17th instant. I stayed at my mother’s and drank tea and came home in company with Robert Diggens about 7:50. My wife paid Jenner the hatter in my absence in cash 1.18.0 in full…

(being Whitsunday) My wife, self and maid at church in the morning, and all stayed the communion. We gave 18d; that is, 6d each. There was a brief read for a church in the county of Salop to which I gave l½d… We dined on the remains of Thursday’s dinner with the addition of a cold gamecock pie. Myself, wife and maid at church in the afternoon. Not out all day. Read three of Tillotson’s sermons.

Received of John Hesman 0.16.1 in full and outset 18d which was due to him on the parish account, and which I did charge to the Easter account. Took physic today. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a hasty pudding. After dinner I walked down to the Nursery in order to gather some poor tax of Francis Turner, but got none. Charles Diggens came over and took up Mr Porter’s boy’s livery. My cousin Thomas Ovendean came along with him. They stayed and drank 2 bottles of cider and went away about 4:50. Thomas Davy at our house. He and I played at cribbage; I won of him 4d.

At home all day. Just before dinner my brother Will came in, who dined with us on n piece of bacon, plum suet pudding and potatoes. Thomas Davy and my brother drank tea with us. My brother stayed till near 8 o’clock. Thomas Davy and I in the afternoon and evening played, I conject, above 50 games of cribbage and then left off just as we began, having neither won nor lost. A very melancholy time; nothing to do; provisions extremely dear. [Following heavily crossed out] My friends, myself and wife always in contest and… my life is become rather burdensome… But, oh! what would the… [remainder completely illegible].

At work in the morning in my garden. Just before dinner my brother Sam Slater came in, who dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some mutton chops fried. He stayed with us till about 4:40. Dame Weller and Mrs Clinch drank tea at our house… This day died the widow Pilfold, aged 85 years. In the evening read Martin’s philosophy in his magazines. At home all day…