Author: Thomas Turner

…In the evening made a will for my brother Will wherein he has given my brother John 20/- to be paid in 3 months after his decease, to Bett £5 if demanded in 2 years, but if not, to her son Philip, as also £20 more to him to be put out to interest by his executor and the interest money paid him yearly till he is 22, and then he is to have the whole. But if he dies before, it is to be divided between John, Moses, Richard and Sally. He has given Philip his best Bible, Common Prayer Book, New Whole Duty of Man and The Poor Men’s Help, or Young Man’s Guide. To me he has given all the rest and made me his executor, and I am to make the most I can of it and then pay his debts, funeral expenses etc. and then take £5 myself and any 6 books I like and then divide the residue between Moses, Richard and Sally.

Gave Mr Ben Shelley in cash 5.0.6 in order for him to pay in London for me… In the afternoon went and looked over Mrs Virgoe’s wood to advise her in cutting some of it. Mrs Virgoe drank tea at our house. In the evening read part of Addison’s Evidences of the Christian Religion.

At home all day… Joseph Fuller Jr smoked a pipe or 2 with me in the evening, he having bought a frock of me. In the evening wrote my London letters, and after that I had written them, I read part of Mead On the Influence of the Sun and the Moon on Human Bodies to Thomas Davy.

About 8:30 my wife and I set out for Framfield to see my mother, she having been ill, on a horse of Mr French’s. We breakfasted with my mother and also dined with her on a breast of veal roasted… We drank tea with my mother and came home about 5:50. Thomas Davy had the horse down to Mr French’s for me and came back and supped with us, to whom I read one of Tillotson’s sermons. My wife and I neither at church today. A very wet day.

…Thomas Davy sat with us chatting till 11:40. A rainy day, and at home all day, but not very busy.

…After dinner I went down to Whyly in order to call Mr French. After staying some time, we set out for Buxted Place, he being a-going there to collect some quit-rent of Mr Medley… When [???] to Buxted, Mr Medley was not at home. We went and spoke to Mr Turner and then went to Uckfield where we smoked a pipe with Mr Miller and came home by my mother’s, where we stayed a while. From thence we came to Whyly where I stayed about half an hour and came home about 8:10, somewhat the worse for drinking; that is, I was what is commonly called pert. A very hard frost and excessive cold.

Mary Heath a-washing for us all day; she dined with us on a piece of beef boiled and a rabbit boiled, potatoes and turnips… Paid Mary Heath 13½d for 1½ days’ washing. A very cold sharp frosty day. In the evening read part of Mead On the Sun and Moon.

…Mary Heath a-washing for us half the day… Mr Elless and James Marchant drank tea at our house, Mr Elless buying a coat of me. At home all day. Paid James Bull 2/- for 1 bushel potatoes.

In the morning walked over to Framfield. I breakfasted with my mother, and afterwards cut her out 13 round frocks. I dined at my mother’s… I balanced the account current between myself and mother and received of her in cash 4.11.11½ in full on that account, and there remains due to me from her on a bond £130, on a note £60, on bills for goods, one parcel 7.13.8, one do. 2.9.4 and one do. 1.16.9. I stayed and drank tea at my mother’s and came home about 4:30. A remarkable wet day. Mr Mason spent the evening with me.

A very wet forenoon… In the evening went down to Jones’s to a vestry where was Mr French, Thomas Fuller, Mr Piper, Mr Richard Page, John Cayley, Mr Burgess, John Watford and myself. We had nothing material on the carpet, and good humor consisted among us all. We broke up about 6:15. Mr Mason and Dame Watford drank tea at our house, and Mr Mason, Mr Elless and Thomas Davy spent the evening at our house. After Mr Mason and Mr Elless went away, I read the 1st and 2nd Night of The Complaint to Thomas Davy.