Author: Thomas Turner

After breakfast Joseph Fuller and I walked up to the dwelling house of the late Thomas Fuller where we took an inventory, or rather a list, of his effects; the stock-in-trade, utensils, furniture in the house, husbandry tackle, stock etc., debts excepted, amounted to 152.19.7. And I dare say we valued it at £50 under the real worth, was it to-be sold. We dined there on a piece of beef boiled, a butter pudding cake and greens, my servants at home dining on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. As I came home I stopped and smoked a pipe with Joseph Fuller…

In the morning walked down to Halland with some goods where I received of Mr Coates 14/- in full of all demands due from the widow Smith of Laughton, deceased. I also received 24/- for the widow Browne on the same account and 2/6 for Josias Smith of Waldron on the same account. Charles Diggens coming to take up Mr Coates’s livery, he stayed and dined with me… In the afternoon posted Mrs Browne’s day book, who stayed and drank tea with me… Thank God pretty busy all day and at home all day except going down to Halland.

After breakfast I rode to Lewes where I did some business with Mr Madgwick and came home about 12:50. Spent only 3d for the turnpike and a by-gate… At home all the afternoon. In the evening my brother came over and stayed with me till near 10 o’clock. Rec’d of Joseph Fuller Jr 1 bill, value £20, drawn by Mrs Mary Ranger, payable to me or order two months after date, dated the 29th instant and drawn on Mr Gale Swinbolt at the East India House, of which bill I have paid Joseph Fuller £17… 4/- Mrs Ranger is to allow for discounting the bill; so there remains 2.16.0, which sum Joseph Fuller has paid to Mrs Ranger, and which sum I now stand debtor for to Joseph Fuller for. A very unpleasant day, we having many very severe storms of hail.

…After dinner Mr Porter and myself walked up to the dwelling house of the late Mr Will Piper where we settled the accounts of our trust, and I paid in the balance of cash in my hands, being 2.12.6. Upon balancing our accounts with respect to the trust deposed in us as devisees to Mr Will Piper, there remained a balance of cash in hand of 2/1, which I received and now am debtor for to the trust. We stayed and drank tea with Mrs Piper and came home about 5:30.

After I came home I walked down to Mr Coates’s, with whom I stayed and spent the evening. Came home about 9:30. In the evening we had a severe storm of snow; that is, a sudden fall of snow, which was a pretty large quantity, and also a frost in the evening.

…In the evening we had a very severe storm of hail and in the day a great deal of snow which melted as it fell and in the evening: several flashes of lightning with some claps of thunder. Sam Jenner being at my house in the evening and the weather being so bad, he lodged at my house all night. In the evening wrote my London letters. At home all day and but very little to do…

In the morning about 5:40 I set out for Hartfield where I arrived about 8:20. I breakfasted with my father Slater and also dined there on a beef pudding, a shoulder of mutton boiled, a piece of pork boiled, carrots and greens (my family at home dining on a piece of beef boiled and some turnip greens).

I came home about 6:50, though I cannot say thoroughly sober. Yet I think it almost impossible to be otherwise with the quantity of liquor I drank. But however so it was, and notwithstanding the many resolutions I have taken, and which I have hereto as often broken as made, I hope once more to assume so much fortitude and resolution as to conquer the weakness of my brains by an entire abstinence from any liquor, strong. …But however much in liquor I was, my reason was not so far lost but I could see a sufficient difference at my arrival at my own house between the present time and that of my wife’s life, but highly to the advantage of the letter. What I mean is: once I always found at home and everything serene and in order; now one or both servants out and everything; noise and confusion. Oh, it will not do, it cannot do! No, no, it never will… [26 words omitted].

…I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a piece of pork and some turnip greens. In the evening I walked to James Emery’s in company with Joseph Fuller in order to see and assist him in weighing a hog…

I dined on the remains of Wednesday’s dinner with the addition of a light pudding and some turnip greens. Rec’d of Ann Inkpin in cash £1 in full. At home all day and really not so busy as might be expected from the season of the year.

…Being busy at dinnertime I ate not any the whole day. Mrs Vine the younger and her servant drank tea with me, as did Master Foord’s servant. At home all day and really very little to do considering the season of the year. Joseph Fuller Jr, Thomas Durrant and Mr Long smoked a pipe with me in the evening.

Oh, how does the memory of that ever valuable creature my deceased wife come over my thoughts as it were a cloud, may I (not) with truth say daily! For who is that man among mankind that has once been in the possession of all this world can give to make him happy and then last it but must ever and again think of his former happiness–which is my case–and I hope with impunity… [46 words omitted]… Such scenes (should at least) teach us the uncertainty of all worldly happiness and at the same time instruct us to fix our happiness where only true happiness is to be found.

Sam Jenner and Thomas Cornwell a-gardening for me today, and both dined with me on a piece of beef roasted, a piece of pork boiled, a plain bread pudding and greens. Dame Henly and Sally Bridger (Mr Porter’s servant) drank tea with me… It being a very wet evening Sam Jenner stayed chatting with me till near 10 o’clock. In the evening read one of Yorick’s sermons. A melancholy time with me.