Author: Thomas Turner

…About 12:10 I went to the house of the late Thomas Peckham, who was this day to be buried. We carried him to the parish church of Framfield where he was buried about 3:30, aged 51 years. I went in to my mother’s and stayed about an hour and came home about 5:50.

My wife and self at church in the morning… We had a brief read for the parish church of Norbury, or Northbury, in the County of Stafford, whose charge of repairing will amount to the sum of £1130 and upwards, to which brief I gave one penny. We dined on a clod-piece of pork roasted, apple-sauce and a currant batter pudding. Myself and servant at church in the afternoon; the text the same as in the morning [2 Timothy 3:15]. In the time we were at church in the afternoon, my brother Moses and sister Sally came to see us, who both drank tea at our house. My brother went home in the evening, but my sister stayed all night. A sharp frosty day.

…Rec’d of Mr Thomas Diplock at Framfield in cash 21.5.8, for which sum I gave him a bill on Messrs Margesson and Collison…, which bill, together with sundry receipts for tax, repairs etc. I sealed up in a letter for his landlord Mr Matthew Blake and which I am to send by the carrier on Tuesday next. We dined on the remains of Tuesday’s dinner with the addition of some sausages and eggs…

In the morning went up to Mr Piper’s and Mr Vine‘s. Came home and dined on the remains of Tuesday’s dinner with the addition of some fried sausages.

At home all day, not very well…

…We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the evening Thomas Durrant at our house, who supped with us on some bread and cheese and apple-pie.

…About 12:50 my wife walked down to Whyly to dinner, myself and servant at home dining on a piece of beef boiled and turnips and potatoes… About 6:50 Joseph Durrant and I walked down to Whyly, where I supped on some boiled chicken, cold turkey minced, a shoulder of mutton roasted, a cold chine, a cold ham, tarts etc., in company with Mr Porter and his wife, Joseph Durrant and his wife, Mrs Coates and Mrs Atkins, Mrs Virgoe and Mrs Vine, Thomas Fuller and his wife, Mr Will Piper and his brother and Mrs Gibbs.

We played at brag in the evening; my wife and I lost 3/7 and gave the maid 6d each. We came home about 1:40 in good order, though I am quite sick of this trade, for it must certainly be useless or hurtful to a tradesman. Neither do I think it consistent with religion, and I should much rather be left out of the number and should think it a greater honor to be absent than present at any of their entertainments.

About 4:30 my wife went down to pay Mr Elless and James Marchant a visit, where she drank tea, and about 7:40 I went down. Mr Elless, James Marchant, my wife and self played at whist; my wife and I won 4d. We came home about 11:30.

My wife and self at church in the morning… Thomas Davy dined with us on a sparerib roasted and applesauce. After dinner Thomas Davy and I walked to Laughton Church where we heard a sermon preached by the Rev Mr Fletcher, curate of Laughton; the text in John 3:19: “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

I called on Joseph Fitness, who owed me some money, but I could not get it. We came home about 4:10. Thomas Davy spent the evening at our house…

…We dined on a plain suet pudding, turnips and potatoes. At home all day and thank God indifferently busy. N.B.: I received no answer from Mrs Roase whether she received my bill [sent this morning] or not. Thomas Davy chatted a little while with us in the evening.