Author: Thomas Turner

From the day last mentioned, I have been so embarrassed with a multiplicity of business that I was not able to continue my journal, being on the 19th day of June married at our church (to Mary Hicks, servant to Luke Spence Esq of South Malling) by the Reverend Mr Porter, and for about 14 days out was very ill with a certain ague, or rather an intermitting fever.

Then the ceremony of receiving visitors and again the returning of them has indeed, together with the business in my trade, taken up so much of my time that I was obliged to omit that which would have given the greatest pleasure imaginable –to have continued.

But however thank God I begin once more to be a little settled and am happy in my choice. I have, it’s true, not married a learned lady, nor is she a gay one, but I trust she is good natured, and one that will use her utmost endeavor to make me happy, which perhaps is as much as is in the power of a wife to do. As to her fortune, I shall one day have something considerable, and there seems to be rather a flowing stream. Well, here let us drop the subject and begin a new one.

My late servant Mary Martin came in the morning, and she, myself and servant at church in the morning, the text in the 10th verse, 17th chapter, St Luke’s Gospel: “So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.”

My late servant dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, and then went away. No service at our church in the afternoon, Mr Porter preaching at Framfield. I drank. tea with Mrs French. My brother went in the morning to Cuckfield where he bargained as a yearly servant and came home about 3:30, very sober. He then walked over to Chiddingly on business, but did not stay. My servant at Framfield Church in the afternoon. An excessive hot day.

[This is the last entry for the regular diary]

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with some green salad. At home all day and in the afternoon had my ague very severe.

In the morning my late servant Mary Martin came to see me and dined with me on a leg of mutton boiled and greens. Paid Joseph Fuller Jr 2/3 in full for a leg of mutton bought of him today, weighing 7 ¾ lbs at 3½d per lb. Paid John Shelley on account of his brother Ben Shelley in cash 4.6.7 in full for the same sum paid in London for me this week; viz.,

By cash paid the 12th instant to Mr Thomas White in full on my account.	1.5.8
By do. the same day to Mr Miles Stringer in full on my account	1.15.2
By do. the same day to Mr Robert Wale in full on my account	0.7.1
By do. the same day to Mr Jacob Keane in full on my account	0.18.8

Paid Mrs French in cash £18 in full for the same sum I borrowed of her the 10th instant. About 4:30 Thomas Durrant and I set out for Lewes where we spent the remainder of the day at Lewes, part of it with my intended wife. Paid Mr Thomas Gilbert in cash 3.19.11½ in full. Mr John Madgwick gave me cash in exchange for a bill, value £20, on Mr Will Margesson, dated today, 10 days’ date, drawn by myself, No. 656. Paid Mr Edward Relfe 12d in full. Spent today upon myself, horse, ostler and turnpike 15d. Came home about 1:40 very sober.

Paid Mr Joseph Fuller 5d for 2 lbs of veal bought of him today. Dame Akehurst, a-brewing for me today, dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a piece of veal boiled. In the evening or more rather in the afternoon I had a very smart return of my ague, or more properly fever, though I am in hopes went off lighter than before. At home all day and very busy.

Paid Joseph Fuller Jr 3½ d for 1 lb of mutton bought of him today. Dame Akehurst, a-washing for me all day, dined with me on a piece of mutton boiled and a veal pudding. Paid Mr John Wilbar by his nephew John Wilbar 7/3 in full of all demands. Paid Dame Akehurst 4/6 in full for 6 days’ work. At home all day and mighty piteous. Joseph Fuller sat with me some time. Excessive hot all day.

Sent Mr Will Margesson enclosed in a letter by Ben Shelley, delivered to himself, the bill value £30 I received of Mr Haley by Mr Vine yesterday.

Dame Akehurst, a-washing for me all day, dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the afternoon rode up to Hawkhurst Common, where one part of the parish was met to play a game of cricket with the other part. I stayed and played one innings but being taken very ill came home about 7:30. Had a violent fever in the evening. Paid my shilling as a gamester. Paid Joseph Fuller 7d for 2 lbs of veal bought of him today.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day. Borrowed of Mrs Elizabeth French in cash £18, for which I gave her my note of hand, payable on demand. Sent Mr Abraham Baley (by John Vine the elder) in cash £30 in exchange for the following bill received from him:

Sirs:                         Lewes, June 10th, 1765
 
Ten days after date pay Mr Thomas Turner or order Thirty Pounds value received and place it to account of
 
Your very humble servant.
 
Abraham Baley
 
To                  )
                    )
Messrs Hoare’s      )    £30
                    )
London              )

In the evening wrote my London letters. At home all day. Excessive hot dry weather. Master Baker drank coffee with me or at least treated me with a dish of coffee at my house.

Myself and brother at church in the morning; the text in the 30th verse of the 18th chapter of the prophecy of Ezekiel: “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.” We had a brief read for the relief of the Philippine colony in Turkish Moldavia for about £2500. I collected upon the brief 2/6, and 6d I gave myself makes together collected in the whole on this brief 3/-.

Bett Carman dined with me on some cold roast beef and green salad. Myself, brother and servant at church in the afternoon; the text in the 6th and 7th verses of the 5th chapter of the Book of Job: “Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground; Yet man is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward.”

Mrs Carman, Bett Carman and my late servant Mary Martin (who came to see me between churchtimes) drank tea with me. In the evening Thomas Davy, myself and Thomas Durrant took a walk to see Sam Jenner, who is very ill with an ague. Came home again very sober about 9:20.

I dined on some beef roasted in the oven and green salad. At home all day. In the afternoon pretty busy. In the evening Charles Diggens sat with me some time, he bringing over some cloths for Master Porter and Master Baker.