Author: Thomas Turner

Myself and servant at church in the morning (my wife staying at home, not being very well)… We had a brief read for the rebuilding the parish church of Stoke Talmash in the county of Oxford, the expense of which will amount to the sum of £1096, exclusive of the old materials. I gave one penny to the said brief. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a sheep’s bell and potatoes and turnips. My wife, self and servant at church in the afternoon…

After churchtime my wife and self, with Thomas Davy, walked down into the land belonging to Halland to see some Turkey, or Oatland [?] Sheep, which are there a-keeping. They are very like our country’s sheep for size and make, but they have no horns, and their coats are hair instead of wool, and their color seems tending to a brown, or like anything which has been singed with the fire. There were some young lambs which were of a perfect liver-color. They are extremely poor [thin}, though they are fed with hay twice a day and oats once and are in grounds where there is good grazing. Their poorness I imagine proceeds from the different degrees of heat between our climate and that from which they are brought.

I believe it is as mild a time, considering the season of the year, as has been known in the memory of man, everything having the appearance and carrying with it the face of April rather than of February (the bloom of trees only excepted). The meadows now are as verdant as sometimes in May; the birds chirping their melodious harmony, and the footwalks dry and pleasant. In the evening Thomas Davy at our house, to whom I read part of Young’s Night Thoughts.

At home all day. We dined on [a] calf’s feet boiled and sheep’s head with potatoes and turnips. In the evening Joseph Fuller Jr smoked a pipe or two with me.

After dinner I walked over to Framfield, and from thence my brother and I walked to Uckfield in order to get a debt of Thomas Osborne, but he was not at home. We came back to my mother’s and drank tea, and from thence I came home about 6:10.

…Mary Heath a-washing for us all day… Sent by Thomas Davy 3/9 to the club at Mayfield, it being my club arrears due today, it being quarterly club night. Mrs Rippington drank tea at our house… In the evening read part of Martin’s Philosophy Britannica.

Rec’d of Mr Thomas Fuller in cash 2.7.6, which sum I am to send to Mr James Burfield of Steyning, it being in full for one year’s rent due from this parish to the said Mr Burfield at St Michael last for that part of a house which is inhabited by the wife of Will Burrage. Mary Heath a-washing for us half day…

In the morning about 6:10 my brother came and brought me a horse and stayed and breakfasted with me, and then we set out for Seaford in order to hire a house and shop for my brother. We arrived [at] Seaford about 11:20 where we met Mr George Beard of Chailey. We dined together at the Tree in Seaford on a shoulder of mutton roasted, a butter pudding cake and pickles… We could not hire a convenient house in the place; so we came home by Lewes where we parted with Mr Beard, and we got safe home about 7:30, sober. My brother did not stay, but went away immediately. Spent this day in all 3d, my brother paying my expenses as I went upon his business.

…In the evening went down to the vestry at Jones’s, where was Mr French, Joseph and Thomas Fuller, Mr Burgess, John Vine Jr, Joseph Durrant and Richard Page. There was no business of moment to transact, though oaths and imprecations seemed to resound from all sides of the room, and the sound of which seemed to be harsh and grating, so that I came home about 7:20. I believe [were…] the penalty paid (which is assigned by the legislature) by every person that swears, even supposing the persons to be only common laborers that constitute our vestries—there would need no tax to be levied to maintain our poor. For I think the fund arising from such forfeitures would be more than sufficient to defray all the expenses of the poor.

My wife and self at church in the morning… We dined on the remains of Thursday night’s supper with the addition of a plain rice pudding. After dinner Thomas Davy and I set out for Laughton Church, but finding there was no service, we came back. My wife and I at church in the afternoon… Thomas Davy at our house in the evening, to whom, and in the day, I read 3 of Tillotson’s sermons.

We dined on the remains of Thursday night’s supper with the addition of some potatoes. Paid Edward Merricks 6/- for 1 dozen of flax received by him today. Rec’d of John Streeter Sr in cash 1.17.6, which I am to send to Mr James Burfield of Steyning, his landlord, and is in full for one year’s rent due from John Streeter (for the part of a house in which he now lives) to the said Mr James Burfield at Lady Day last… Dame Driver at Framfield drank tea with us… In the evening read part of the last volume of Hervey’s Meditations…

We dined on the remains of Thursday night’s supper. At home all day. In the evening busy a-writing.