Author: Thomas Turner

Paid Mr John French 8/3 in full on account of the widow Vallow to this day. Paid Mr John Jenner, hatter at Hailsham (by his son Stephen), in cash 2.11.6 in full for the balance of my account. I dined on a beef pudding and potatoes and parsnips. After dinner in company with Sam Jenner took a walk to Lewes. I called upon Mr Burtenshaw and Mr Robert Chester, of whom I took up my note of hand which I gave him the 24^th Oct., 1764 for to deliver to him a clock I then received of him, which I have since delivered to Mr William Peters at Waldron, the person to whom Mr Chester sold the clock.

I called on Mr Plumer and received of him in cash 1.4.6 in full… Left with Mr John Madgwick 10/- in order for him to pay Mr Richard Read in full on my brother Richard’s account. Came home about 10:10. Spent today 9d. A very pleasant day, the frost seemingly a-going off. Paid Mr Madgwick 1/8 for 2 nails velvet bought of him today.

Oh, how do I lament and mourn inwardly my present irregularity of life! And which way to prevent it I know not. I have I dare say no friend in the world that I could confide in with the firm assurance of fidelity. And upon the whole I may with the most strictest truth say I know not what it has been to have one minute’s true pleasure since I lost my wife. For when I am in possession of my reason, I am always reflecting upon the pleasure I then enjoyed in a calm, sedate and regular course of life. Everything was serene, and home of all places was the most delightful and pleasant, particularly so if no one but my wife and self together. But now, alas! I am all tempest and storm within.
 

Sent Mr Richard Stone, surgeon and apothecary at Blackboys in Framfield, by his servant Christopher Vine in cash 9.19.0, and one shilling I kept back for exchange makes together the sum of £10.0.0 and is in full for [a] bill I received by the said servant today…

I dined on a piece of pork boiled, an apple pudding and some potatoes. At home all day and thank God very busy. A very severe cold day, the frost very sharp.

Sent Mr Will Margesson enclosed in a letter by Ben Shelley delivered to his servant the bill value £19 received from Mr Stone the 31st ult. Dame Roase and Mr Starnes, coming in the morning to buy some things in the shop, breakfasted with me. Dame Akehurst, a-washing for me all day, dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some parsnips and potatoes.

Last night and this morning a very considerable quantity of snow fell. At home all day and very busy. A very cold day. My brother and I played a few games of cribbage in the evening; I won 6d of him.

Dame Akehurst, a-washing, for me the whole day, dined with me on a piece of beef boiled, an apple pudding and potatoes. At home all day and thank God very busy… In the evening wrote my London letters. Sam Jenner sat with me part of the evening. A very smart frosty day. Dame Akehurst took part of my servant’s bed. In the evening read part of Homer’s Iliad…

Myself at church in the morning… I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a plain batter pudding and potatoes. After dinner myself and Thomas Davy walked over to Framfield to see my sister, whom I found much better. We stayed and drank tea with my brother and sister and came home about 6:30. My brother and servant at church in the afternoon.

Rec’d of my sister today 17d for the veal sent her yesterday and two ounces of sago. Dame Akehurst, being to wash for me tomorrow, took part of my servant’s bed. A very fine day; a smart frost in the evening, as there was also a frost last night.

…Sam Jenner stayed and breakfasted with me and then went to Framfield with [some] veal for my sister… My old acquaintance and friend Mr Richardson came to see me in the forenoon and dined with me on some mutton chops broiled and the remains of yesterday’s dinner. He stayed and spent the whole afternoon with me and then went away about 5:20. We walked down to Halland where we stayed with Mrs Walls some time before dinner. Very busy today.

I dined on a bullock’s tongue boiled, a batter pudding; and potatoes. Mrs Carman bought a great many things in the shop and drank tea with me in the afternoon. At home all day and very busy. In the evening Sam Jenner and I played a few games of cribbage; I won 2d. He stayed and took part of my bed.

…I dined on a hot beef pie and the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Sent Mr Richard Stone, surgeon and apothecary at Blackboys, by his servant Christopher Vine in cash 18.18.6, and 1/6 I kept back for exchange makes £19, which is in full for [a] bill received from him today…

At home all day and pretty busy. In the evening Joseph Fuller Jr sat with me some time. How unpleasant and truly melancholy is my present situation from what that was in my dear Peggy’s time!

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some applesauce. At home all day. Dame Henly and her youngest daughter drank tea with me.
 

Sent Mr John Crouch…£10. I dined on part of a sparerib salted and boiled and some greens. After dinner walked up to the house of Edward Foord, where I served the funeral of his wife and distributed the following gloves:

Women’s Black Ribbon-Bound
1. Sarah Winton	5. John Hart’s wife
2. Catharine Winton	6. Widow Dan
3. Will Winton’s wife	7. Dame Evenden
4. Nicholas Winton’s wife	8. Dorothy Dallaway
Men’s 2d Chamois or Black Ribbon-Bound
1. Edward Foord Jr	5. Will Winton
2. Will Foord	6. Nicholas Winton
3. Thomas Foord	7. John Hart
4. Ditto, his son

Total: 7 pairs men’s, 8 pairs women’s.

We came to church about 4:30 and buried the corpse. She we aged 49 years.

In the evening my servant went out to dancing and took the liberty to stay all night. In the evening Sam Jenner and Joseph Fuller sat with me some time.