Author: Thomas Turner

Rec’d of Mrs Sarah Mary Marchant 3.12.6 in full for the funeral expenses of her father’s funeral…

At home all day and took physic. We dined on part of a breast of mutton roasted in the oven and a pudding under it with some asparagus, which was given me by Halland gardener. At work in my garden all day. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening, to whom I read 2 of Tillotson’s sermons.

After breakfast the boys and myself walked over to Framfield, it being the Fair day at Framfield. I dined at my mother’s in company with their family and Mr Stout the officer of excise at Uckfield on a leg of lamb roasted, green salad and gooseberry pie. After dinner Mr Stout and I smoked 2 pipes of tobacco at my mother’s.

Stayed and drank tea at my mother’s and came home about 9:40, leaving the 2 boys at Framfield. Spent at the fair 6d. I also saw there the largest hog I think that I ever saw. His height was about 4 feet. He was 9 feet 4 inches from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail. His ears were 12 inches by 9. He was about 3½ years old. In my absence my wife received of Mr Richard Stone and Mr Joseph Fuller 5.10.6 in full for the funeral of Master Goldsmith. My wife and maid today dined on some bread and cheese…

Took physic today. In the forenoon my mother’s servant and the boys came over, the 2 boys staying… At work in my garden most part of the day. This day received a letter from Simonds of Ecklesham with the certificate granted him and Ann his wife and Ann their daughter the 6th day of November to the parish of Chart Sutton in the county of Kent, and in which letter he begs us to grant him a certificate to the said parish of Ecklesham instead of that to the parish of Chart Sutton aforesaid. At home all day. In the evening read part of the London Magazine for May.

In the morning our servant went to see her friends. Thomas Davy breakfasted with us. Myself and nephew at church in the morning where we had a sermon preached by the curate of Chailey (Mr Porter being a-visiting there and did not come home) from part of Acts 10:38: “Who went about doing good”, from which words we had a good sermon but delivered in my opinion in a very indifferent manner.

We dined on the best part of shoulder of veal stuffed and roasted, a piece of pork boiled, a currant batter pudding and green salad. No churching here this afternoon. After we had drunk tea, my wife and self and 2 boys took a walk and called at Thomas Fuller’s and Master Piper’s, but made no stop at either. In the evening and in the day read 2 of Tillotson’s sermons and part of Horneck on Consideration.

In the morning I arose and went up to Thomas Fuller’s in order to borrow a horse to go to Heathfield Fair upon. But not finding any of them, I came back and did not go. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the evening I walked down in the park to see Mr Elless and Thomas Durrant run, which they did, and Mr Francis Elless was beat.

This day I subjected my good nature or ignorance to be imposed on by policy of villainy; viz., some time since I looked upon a horse of Mr Vine’s of Heathfield with an intent to purchase him; the price he had some time ago been offered at was 9.9.0. Now I, knowing nothing of a horse myself, entreated the favor of Joseph Fuller as a friend to give me his opinion, which he did–that he did not know but the horse might suit me, but he thought it too much money, being more, he said, than he should choose to give. But, however, he having business near the house today, he promised me to call and treat with Mr Vine for me about the horse. Now what we agreed on this morning before he went out was that if the horse appeared to him as if he would do, he was to buy him for me at the lowest he could, and for so doing I was to give him a treat.

Now! my worthy friend accordingly went, and instead of buying the horse for me, rap’d [?] with Mr Vine in some manner and got the horse for himself and when he came home sent for me down and offered me the horse at £11 and no otherwise. And by reason I seemed to think it ill usage to have the horse bought out of my hands in that manner when I had entrusted him to buy him for me as a friend, he only laughed at me and counted it as a piece of wit and a sharp look-out for a man to serve himself when he can and his neighbor next. But if this usage is consistent to honesty, religion or anything else that should be acted by Christians, I am utterly at a loss to know that is right and wrong. But this I think of it: that if Joseph Fuller could with as much impunity, defraud a man in any way whatsoever, I shall make it my opinion he would do it. For I think robbing a man on the highway is not a baser action in proportion to the consideration than this. But still I do not envy him his talent of having wit and a sharp lookout without honesty. Today Dame Cornwell made us a present of some eels.

In the morning Mr Sam Beckett the carrier made me a present of some mackerel… We dined on the remains of Sunday’s dinner with the addition of some fried eels. This day I was to give my answer in to Honest Joseph Fuller about having the horse, for provided I had him not today, I should not have him tomorrow under 11.11.0. So in the morning I had concluded to have the horse, but in the evening, instead of the horse, I bought a young colt of him at about 30 percent too much. It is a gelding, about 3 years old, 12 hands 3 inches high, never ridden, and for which I gave him. 5.6.0.

In the evening went to Croxted to see Mr Chatfield’s wool for my mother, but they were not at home. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening, to whom I read part of Locke on Education.

…Just before dinner my brother came in, who dined with us on some boiled mackerel, a kidney and some pork fried and green salad. My brother’s eyes being very bad, he wanted me to walk with him to Mr Snellings’ at Alfriston to have his farther advice. And accordingly by about 2 o’clock we set off. We called at Crowhurst’s at Bayley’s Lane and bought some earthenware; from thence through Wilmington to Alfriston, where we arrived about 5:10 and were not so unfortunate as to find him gone from home. We stayed and drank 1 glass of wine and then we went to the Star and had a mug of beer and a piece of bread.

We then came home through Berwick, Selmeston, Ripe, and so to Whitesmith where we went in and had a mug of beer. We came home about 9:10. We spent in our journey: 4½d apiece. My brother stayed all night at our house. This day Mr Chatfield called at my house and I agreed for his wool at 20/6 a tod for my mother.

Paid Joseph Miller 2d for half a pound of suet. Today in reading the London Magazine for May, I find the following description of the comet [Halley’s] that is shortly expected to appear; viz., that it has appeared 6 times already; viz., in the years: 1305, 1380, 1456, 1531, 1607 and 1682, and that it revolves about the sun at intervals of 75 and 76 years alternately, and since the last period; viz, in 1682, was 75 years, it is presumed the present period will contain 76 years, and therefore its next appearance will probably be in 1758. But the time of its appearing is uncertain, and it may happen the latter end of the present year 1757, or the beginning, middle or latter end of the next year. After 85 days it will obtain to its perihelion, or be nearest of all to the sun, and alter 130 days it will come to its descending node, at which time it will be very near the earth’s orbit; and should that happen the 12th of May, we should then be in a dangerous situation as the denser part of its blazing tail would envelop the earth. It seems to be of those that rise to the least height from the sun, its greatest distance being only 35 times greater than the distance of the earth from the sun, so that at the farthest it does not run out four times farther from us than Saturn.

We dined on a bullock’s kidney and some pork fried and a raisin suet pudding and green salad. In the evening my brother and I walked to Richard Jenner’s and looked upon his wool for my mother, and accordingly he gave us the promise of it when the prices were more known. From thence we went to Thomas Durrant’s and asked him for a small debt due to me, but could not get it. We called at Master Diplock’s and John Browne’s and came home about 8:45.

…William Starks at work for me all day a-scouring of a pond. Thomas Davy gave me his assistance part of the day and dined with us on a beef pudding, a piece of pork and greens. Just as we were at dinner, Mr Snelling came in, who dined with us. He stayed till about 4 o’clock. My mother’s servant came over in the morning and stayed and breakfasted with us. Paid William Starks by cash and goods 16d for today’s work…

Thomas Davy at our house in the evening, to whom I read 2 of Tillotson’s sermons. Mr Snelling ordered my brother to be entirely debarred from beer, brandy (or any kind of spirits), and meat, and to drink the following for his constant drink; viz., Take 1 ounce of cream of tartar, ½ lb of lump sugar, the peel of a lemon; pour a gallon of boiling water on them and let it stand all night, then strain it off and bottle it for use. He also ordered him the cold bath and blisters behind the ears to be perpetual, notwithstanding he has an issue both in the temple and arm.