Author: Thomas Turner

After breakfast I set out for Lewes in company with Mr George Bannister. I paid Mr Mercer the 10/- received of the overseers of Oving yesterday. I also paid Mr Thomas Gilbert 1.12.8 in full. Also paid Mr George Verral by his wife 4.4.0 on account. Also paid Mr Joseph Hartley in cash 3.4.0 in full on my brother Richard’s account.

I dined at Mr John Madgwick’s on a leg of pork boiled, a plain pudding and greens (my brother and servant at home dining on a piece of beef boiled, an apple pudding and potatoes). I came home about 7:30, not very sober. My brother went home in the evening. Spent today on myself, horse, ostler and turnpike 2/2.

Oh, my irresolute temper! So many times as I have fixed my resolution not to offend the laws of temperance, and yet continually to err against it! Joseph Fuller and Thomas Durrant sat with me some time in the evening.

Rec’d of Mr John and Mr William Guy, overseer and churchwarden of the parish of Oving, in cash 2.18.0 in full as under on account of the expense I was at for the family of Roger Vallow, their parishioners:

My own bill	1.9.6
Do. Mr Mercer’s	0.10.0
Do. Mr Stone’s	0.18.6

I then received of them 19/-, which I am to pay the widow at one shilling each week. The money received for Mr Stone’s and Mr Mercer’s bills I am to pay them, I having not yet paid it. Sam Jenner dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a plain suet pudding.

After dinner I went down to Mrs Atkins’s to attend Mrs Brook’s funeral, where I distributed the following gloves:

Men’s Looped Lamb:
1. The Rev Mr Porter
Men’s Ribbon-Bound:
1. Mr Thomas Hicks	7. John Vine
2. } two pairs men’s left at the house	8. Will Henly
3. }	9. Robert Hook
4. Joseph Durrant	10. James Marchant
5. John Watford Sr	11. John Streeter
6. John Watford Jr	12. Myself
Women’s Ribbon-Bound:
1. Mrs Hicks, the butcher’s wife	6. Dame Watford
2. } three pairs left at the house	7. Dame Marchant
3. }	8. Elizabeth Trill
4. }	9. Dame Fitness
5. Ellen Pierce	10. Ann Cain

Among the foregoing persons the following did not take any gloves; therefore I am indebted to them for a pair each: Joseph Durrant, John Watford Sr, John Watford Jr, Robert Hook, Ellen Pierce and myself. I furnished the funeral and attended the corpse to the interment and came home about 4:30.

In the evening Sam Jenner and I played a few games of cribbage: I won 3d. In the evening my brother came over in order to stand the shop for me tomorrow during my absence, and stayed and took part of my bed.

Sent Mrs Mary Roase at Lewes enclosed in a letter by Sam Jenner 1 bill on Mr Will Margesson, dated yesterday, 30 days’ date, No. 635, value £34, which bill when paid is in full on my account. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner…

Rec’d by Sam Jenner a letter from Mrs Mary Roase wherein she acknowledges the bill sent her today by him came safe to hand. Master Jenner took part of my bed. Rec’d a letter from Mr Crouch by Ben Shelley advising me the letters sent him the 20th enclosed in his came safe to hand and that he would forward them by the post. At home all day and pretty busy.

This day was publicly baptized at our church the infant daughter of James and Ann Fuller. The sponsors were Joseph Fuller Jr, Walter Dicker, Molly Carman and Miss Bett Earl of Ripe, and there was a very elegant dinner etc.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner… In the evening Sam Jenner came to my house and, being to go a journey for me tomorrow, took part of my bed, as did Dame Durrant’s servant, they having company at home. At home all day and pretty busy. A very cold day. Paid Thomas Prall 2/- in part for 4 bushels of apples bought of him.

Myself at church in the morning… Paid Thomas Tester in cash and goods 13/4 in full for stacking hop poles on account of Mr John Vine’s effects. Myself and servant at church in the afternoon…

After churchtime I went up to Joseph Fuller’s, where I drank tea in company with their own family and Bett and Molly Carman. Came home about 6:10 and then went into Joseph Durrant’s, where I stayed an hour. Thomas Durrant came home with me and took part of my bed, they having company at home.

This day between 12 and 1 o’clock died Mrs Brook, widow and sister to Mrs Atkins, aged 79 years. She has been ill a great while and continued her strength till nature was quite exhausted. I

dined on a leg of West Indies mutton roasted and potatoes.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Paid John Martin at Laughton 9/- in full for 2 m 6d nails bought of him today. Paid John Piper in cash £20 in full for the bill of the same value I received of him the 15th ult., and for which I then gave my note of hand which I have this day taken up.

At home all day and very busy. A very cold day. In the evening Sam Jenner sat with me some time and Dame Durrant’s servant took a part of my servant’s bed, they having company at home. In the evening read part of A Tour through England.

Mrs Carman and Bett, coming in in the forenoon to buy some things in the shop, took part of my dinner; viz., a piece of beef boiled and potatoes; and also stayed and drank tea a with me. Paid Mr Edward Blackwell at Hawkhurst by his son Will in cash 5.2.0 in full for 24 reams of common paper received by him today. He then paid me 7/- for 1 cwt 0 qr 23 lbs of hand a stuff bought of me today. Paid Mr Ben Shelley in cash 3.7.6 in full for the same sum paid for me this week…

At home all day and thank God very busy. In the evening wrote an answer to the letter received from Mr Baley the 22nd instant, Joseph Fuller Sr and Jr staying while I wrote it. Rec’d a letter from Mr William Margesson (by Benjamin Shelley) dated the 21st acquainting me and bill value £12 sent him the 13th instant as also the three notes value together £35 sent him the 20th instant came safe to hand. A very cold day.

Oh, how pleasant was the evening spent after a busy day in my dear Peggy’s time, but nowit’s all unpleasant, nothing to soothe the anxious mind, no pleasing companion, no sincere friend, nor agreeable acquaintance, or at least among the fair sex.

Sam Jenner and Thomas Durrant a-making cider for me, and they assisted in bringing it home. Sam Jenner dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a plain suet pudding and some potatoes. At home all day and very little to do in the shop. This day received a letter from Mr Baley relating to Mr Vine’s affairs. Mr Walls of Halland and Mr Stace the younger and Joseph Fuller Jr, coming into my house accidentally, stayed and spent the evening with me. In the evening read part of the 4th volume of the Universal Magazine.

At home all day and really very little to do in the shop. Sam Jenner dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the evening read part of a volume of the Universal Magazine.

Sent Mr Will Margesson…the bank bill value £15 which I exchanged for Mr Porter the 5th instant, as also the two notes from Hankey & Co. to Durrant, value £10 each, which I received of Joseph Fuller the 6th instant. Sent Mr Nicholas Wake at Winton… 6.11.0… Sent Mr Samuel Beaven at the Devizes 1 bill… value £6… Also sent in Mr Samuel Beaven’s letter to Mr Richard Waite at the Devizes 1 bill on Mr Will Margesson… value 4.7.6, which bill when paid is in full on my account with Mr Richard Waite. The letter enclosing the bill to Mr Wake, as also that to Mr Sam Beaven, enclosing his bill and Mr Waite’s, I sent enclosed in a letter to Mr John Crouch in order for him to forward by the post…

I dined on the remains of Sunday’s dinner. My landlord Mr Francis Weller called on me today, but did not stay. I lent Sam Jenner my horse today, who came back in the evening and stayed and took part of my bed… At home all day and very little to do in the shop.