Author: Thomas Turner

After breakfast I set out on horseback for Lewes, there I dined at Mr Richard Comber’s on some cold roast beef broiled and watercress. I called on Mr Madgwick, Mr Baley and Mr Bennett, but did not stay, though, coming in the evening to the Cats to take my horse to come home, I heard my friend Sam Jenner was in town, and it being dark and choosing company, I stayed for him I believe near 3 hours. We came together as far as our roads went about 11:30, but far from being sober.

Paid Mr George Verrall by his wife 4/9½ in full. Paid Mr John Madgwick 5/2½ in full. Paid Mr John Richards in cash 3.3.0 on account of himself and Mr Comber. Paid as under on account of my brother Richard:

John Hennard in full	0.7.10
Mr Stiles in full	0.16.0
Mr Harnden in full	1.12.9
Do. Mr Stiles on my brother’s promise, 1 pint of wine	0.1.0
	2.17.7

Spent today on myself, horse, ostler and turnpike 3/1½.

Oh, my unfortunate fate to have a head with such weak brains, for I am certain there is nothing I detest so much as drinking, but having no company at home agreeable, when I do get out my spirits are so elated that reason is quite dethroned.

My family at home dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of a heart pudding.

…After breakfast I rode to Framfield in order to carry over some bedding for my brother to cut out for me. I stayed but very little time and came home to dinner. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some bullock’s liver and kidney fried. At home all the evening and busy a-writing…

Paid John French the £14 borrowed of him the 2nd instant, and accordingly took up the note of hand I then gave him, and have burnt it. I also received of him in cash 7.19.0 in full for his Grace the Duke of Newcastle’s land tax for Halland House, woodlands and manor in this parish, due at St Michael last. Instead of paying Mr French the fourteen pounds before mentioned, I outset the half-year’s land tax due at St Michael last for Whyly farm, which was just £14.

James Bull dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the afternoon went up to Mr Coates’s, where I received of him in cash 30.15.0 in full to the 1st instant… In the evening delivered in Mr Simonds Blackman’s bill to their servant, amounting to 2.17.9.

At home all the day. In the evening very busy a-writing. Sam Jenner sat with me some time in the evening. A great deal of rain fell in the latter part of the evening. Paid Richard Hope 3/3 in full for a sparerib bought of him today, weighing 13 lbs at 3d per lb.
 

…I dined on a bullock’s heart and kidney pie, hot. In the afternoon wrote out several bills. In the evening, Joseph Fuller Jr having an inclination to give me and some more of his most intimate friends (or at least acquaintances) a little treat, and not having the opportunity to do it at his father’s, he brought some brandy etc. to my house and he, my brother, Thomas Durrant and myself spent the evening till near 11 o’clock, but I have not the pleasure to say I was quite sober.

Mr Richard Warriner, partner with his brother John Warriner, called on me and I paid him in cash 1.19.6 in full on account of his brother and self. I dined on part of a shin of beef stewed and potatoes. At home all day and not at all busy, nay even very little to do the shop. In evening wrote my London letters, after which Sam Jenner and I played a few games of cribbage, and I was the unfortunate gamester, losing 10d.

Myself and brother at church in the morning… I dined on a beef pudding, part of a shin of beef stewed and turnips. Myself, brother and servant at church in the afternoon… Sam Jenner drank tea with me, to whom and Joseph Fuller Jr and Thomas Durrant I read 5 of Tillotson’s sermons. At home all day except being at church.

Sent Mr Robert Plumer, grocer in the Cliffe near Lewes, the bill value 24.17.10 I received of John Russell the 5th instant, which bill I sent to Mr Plumer in a piece of paper not sealed, by Charles Vine, delivered to him by my own hands.

Charles Diggens, coming to make up clothes today at my shop, dined with me on a shin of beef stewed and the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Paid Ben Shelley by his brother John Shelley in cash 13.3.11 in full for the same Benjamin Shelley paid in London for me… Rec’d back in the evening by Charles Vine a receipt from Mr Plumer that the bills sent him today came safe to hand.

At home all day and very busy. Paid John Piper in cash the seven guineas he lent me the 5th instant and took up the note of hand I then gave him, and burnt it.

…I dined on a beef pudding and turnips. At home all day and very busy a-writing. In the day wrote out Mr Coates’s bills, and in the evening went to Mr Coates’s to carry them in. Accordingly delivered in four bills, one for bedding, one for the boy’s clothes, one for nails etc. used for repairing the gatehouse, and the other the running account for the house, the aggregate sum of which four bills was 26.17.7¾. I stayed some little time and came home about 7.40. Sam Jenner stayed with me some time in the evening.

In the forenoon my brother walked over to Framfield, but did not stay. Rec’d of John Sturt by his wife in cash 4.14.6; she breakfasted with me. I dined on a piece of pork boiled, an apple pudding and turnips. In the evening my brother and Joseph Fuller Jr, Thomas Durrant and myself walked down to Mrs Browne’s, where we spent the evening and played at brag together with Mrs Browne and her servant; I won 2/5. We supped there on some fried sausages, a piece of cold boiled beef, some bread and cheese and apple pie. Gave Mrs Browne’s maidservant 6d. Came home about 1:20 sober.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Rec’d of Mr Dan 18/- in full for a plow on Mr Vine’s account. Paid John Nutley in cash and goods 0.8.8 in full to this day; viz.,

Dec. 29th, 1764	1 pk. flour German	0.1.5
	2 pks. do. Durrant	0.2.10
Jan. 5, 1765	2     do. Babcock	0.2.10
	1 pk.  do. Widow German	0.1.5
	2 gals. Bran	0.0.2

In the evening my brother and I walked down to pay Sam Jenner a visit, where we spent the evening in company with Mr Bannister, Sam Jenner, Thomas Durrant and Thomas Davy. We stayed and supped with Sam Jenner on some bread and cheese and stayed and spent the evening there at brag; I won 3/7½. We came home about 3:30, very little the worse for what we had drunk. A very wet afternoon and evening, a great deal of rain falling.