Author: Thomas Turner

After dinnertime (for I need not say “after dinner” on account I ate none) I went to the funeral of Mr Adams’s daughter. We came to church about 3:30. There was a sermon for her, the text I Corinthians 15:19: “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”

After churchtime very busy. Master Piper came and invited us up to see him in the evening. We accordingly went about 6:15 and found there John Vine Jr and wife, Thomas Fuller, son and daughter. We supped there on a rib seep [?] spitted twice, a piece of boiled (tainted) beef, a good piece of bacon, and a good butter pudding, but all in very bad order and odd decorum, which would all have been very excusable had it not been attended with such a mean and stingy spirit in the old man. For that few bottles of beer etc. we got came (as the old saying is) like drops of blood from his heart, and we may justly attribute them more to Thomas Fuller’s boldness in asking for liquor than to the poor old man’s good nature in offering it. We stayed till 1:25. My wife and I won 3/6 and gave them 12d; so this brings back some part of Monday night’s expenses. Gave William Divol in cash 3.18.0 in order for his father to pay in Lewes tomorrow for me; to wit, to Tooth 2.14.0 in full except for what he brings tomorrow, and to Mr Plumer 1.4.0 in full except for what he brings tomorrow.

After breakfast my brother went home, he lying at our house all night. After dinner my wife went up to Mr John Vine Sr’s. I went up also to talk with him about the new schoolhouse but came to no agreement. We both came home about 7:25.

My brother Moses called on me in the morning, and over persuaded me to go to Lewes with him, which I did on a horse I borrowed of Mr French. I paid, Mr Faulkner Bristow 1/- in full to this day, and for 6 lbs of Battle powder and 1 doz of dairy brushes, 12/-, which I bought of him today. Paid Mrs Sarah Mott 16/- in full for 1 year’s interest on £20 due in November last. Bought of Mr Roase 18 cwt of Cheshire and Warwickshire cheese. Called on Mr Hook, Mr Scrase, Dr Snelling, Mr Plumer and Mr Lambert. I came home again in liquor, but got home very well; though to do myself justice, I believe I was not extremely good humored when I got home, and I do think I am prodigiously silly and apish when I am in liquor, having always, for a great while after, a sting of conscience for the same. I will, however, renew my former resolution and use my utmost endeavor to keep to it; that is, not to get drunk again if I can avoid it. Spent for my horse and self 2/-. Drew on Messrs Margesson and Collison… £10 to Mr John Crouch. Thomas Davy taught school for me.

This day paid Mrs Virgoe the 2.17.0 I borrowed of her the 20th instant. Paid for 6 bean nets 12d. The wife of Richard Heath was buried today. Sent my maid over to Framfield for a shroud for Mr Adams’s daughter. Martha Mepham dined here.

My wife went down to Mr Porter’s about 4 o’clock. I went down to her about 7 and found William Piper, his wife and brother there, as also Thomas Fuller, Mr and Mrs Hutson and Dame Durrant. We supped there and stayed until 5 o’clock in the morning, and I may I think justly say there was not one sober man in the company. I am sure I was not, for, finding myself in liquor I came home 1 hour or more before the rest. This is the first time I have been in liquor since Whitsun Tuesday, and I am sorry for this, though I know of no reason except, being in liquor, my wife and I lost at brag between us near or quite 5/-. We also gave the servants 2/6…

My father Slater went away after dinner. Lent him a book of plays. In it was The Revenge, Journey to London, Careless Husband, Way of the World, Love for Love, and The Busy Body. Paid for a bean net 2d. At home all day. In the evening finished reading Tournefort’s Voyage into the Levant.

While we were at breakfast, my father Slater came in. He stayed and breakfasted with us and also dined with us. After dinner he went to Laughton to bury Mrs Shoesmith, who was brought from Hartfield to Laughton yesterday by men. I tied up 8 hatbands for him. I paid Mr Thomas Porter 2.13.6 in full for the note of hand I gave him the 12th instant and took up the note (of Mrs Porter) accordingly. Gave a tramp 1½d… I find in Tournefort’s Voyage [a supposed account of Homer’s birth]… In the evening my father Slater came back from the funeral. He stayed at our house all night. Gave Francis Turner 6d for looking after my father’s horse and Mr Bowman’s horse on the 21st instant.

…Paid Thomas Freeman (by the postmaster) 0.6.3, which is in full to this day and 9d more than I owe him, it being for 1 pair of creepers which I received and paid for on the 13th day of Dec. last, and the remainder (to wit 4/6) is in full for 6 pairs of women’s cloth pattens I received today by the postman. I paid John Cayley 3.9.6 in full to this day; to wit, for butter etc. as below:

For 39 lbs butter, 6d         0.19.6

Do. 92 do. 6½d               2.9.10

Do. for 1 new hoop            0.0.2½

3.9.6½

This butter I sent to Mr John Wilson in Southover, and I received in return from Mr Wilson:

4O lbs shop thread            1.1.8

And by the bill I drew on Mr Wilson to Mr Collison on the 16th instant                 2.8.10½

                                  3.10.6½

which makes in full

for the above butter              3.9.6½

and for 1 new crock                O.1.0

3.10.6½

At home all day. John Cayley smoked a pipe with me. In the evening read part of Tournefort’s Voyage into the Levant.