Author: Thomas Turner

Wednesday, February 11 1756

…My brother Moses dined with us. I paid Clymson the glover 6/6 for 13 pairs of men’s outseamed tan. At home all day. Rec’d of John Jones the 21/- I lent him the 9th of January last by Philadelphia Goldsmith… In the evening posted my day book and drew on Messrs Margesson and Collison to Mr Ralph Hale …5.14.0, [in] full for 2 pieces of blanketing which I owe Mr Hale for and… for 1 piece more which I have ordered him to send. Mrs Virgoe sat about an hour with us. I sent the above bill by the post.

Tuesday, February 10 1756

In the morning I wrote to Mr Russell of Godstone (for Mr James Hutson) to acquaint him that he has about 100 carp that will meet at 14 inches, and 100 that will meet at 16 inches…

My wife went down to Mrs Atkins’s about 5 o’clock. Oh, what have I here to say– the old story again repeated–more words again between me and my wife! Sure it is a most terrible and unhappy circumstance we cannot live agreeable together. Where the fault is I cannot be a competent judge, for as I am a party concerned, prejudice in my own favor may make me partial. But this I know, that my whole desire and aim is to make my wife, self and progeny happy. I am further assured that I ever had, and now have a boundless respect for her; therefore what can be the occasion of so many words I am at loss to say. I can only say this, she is a woman, but why, if she be, must we be forever unhappy? Oh! could I think of an expedient to prevent it and make us happy! For it is impossible for pen or painter to express or draw so unhappy a representation as it is to live in a continual scene of disquietude with one that is so infinitely dear to me. But oh, let me drop a subject that is too tender for me to touch any longer! But, why, let me recall the resolution of a man and proceed–a man, did I say? Oh, how the sound of that word makes me start! I know not scarce what I am! All that I know is I am happy in having that person, who of all the sex I ever had the greatest respect for–my wife. But again how unhappy to have that only one in whom all my earthly felicity was centered to be of such an unhappy temper as not only to make me, but herself also miserable. How delightful and serene was it once to look forward and to think, “Such a day will all my earthly trouble be at an end and be crowned with a following scene of happiness and pleasure by being made one with the charmer of my soul!” But from that day may I date the era of my trouble.

“For her I’ve lost, alas, what have I not, For her my duty to my friends forgot.”

But why do I accuse her? Maybe it is I am all in fault. It cannot be she; can the wife of my bosom be this person? No! She must be, she is all charms, and I am the ungrateful man.

Dame Vinal a-washing for us today. Paid her 9d for the half-day yesterday and today. Master Piper came in about 7 o’clock and stayed until about 9 o’clock; so on that account I could not go down to Mrs Atkins’s, it being too late at that time of night. My wife came home about 1 o’clock. She gave the maid 12d and won at cards 2d.

Monday, February 9 1756

Dame Vinal at our house a-washing half the day. She and Master Diplock of Sandhill dined with us. At home all day. Marked up Messrs Margesson and Collison’s parcel, which came in today. In the evening I was sent for over to Mrs Virgoe’s to settle accounts between her and her tenant John Fuller. He paid her… in full for 1½ years’ rent due to Mrs Virgoe at St Michael last. I wrote a receipt accordingly, which Mrs Virgoe signed:

In cash paid today                     20.16.3

By cash paid the 19th April last        12.10.0

By land tax to Lady Day, 1755           2.10.0

By Taylor the glazier’s bill            0.5.0

By two bills of Atkins the mason        0.18.8

By money paid to Mr Edward Verral       0.10.1

                                       37.10.0

Came home about 9 o’clock. Read the newspaper. Paid Peter Belton by goods and money 3/- for 3 doz heath brooms.

Sunday, February 8 1756

My wife and I both at church in the morning; the text in Romans 4:3: “Abraham believed god, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” As I by experience find how much more conducive it is to my health, as well as pleasantness and serenity to my mind, to live in a low, moderate rate of diet, and as I know I shall never be able to comply therewith in so strict a manner as I should choose (by the instability and over easiness of my temper), I think it therefore right (as it’s a matter of so great importance to my health etc.) to draw up rules of proper regimen, which I do in manner and form following, and which, at all times when I am in health, I hope I shall always have the strictest regard to follow, as I think they are not inconsistent with either religion or morality:

First, be it either in the summer or winter, to rise as early as I possibly can; that is, always to allow myself between 7 and 8 hours’ sleep, or full 8, unless prevented on any particular or emergent occasion.

2ndly, to go to breakfast between the hours of .7 and 6 from Lady Day to St Michael, and from St Michael to Lady Day between the hours of 8 and 9.

3rdly, my breakfast to be always tea or coffee and never to exceed 4 dishes. If neither of those, half a pint of water or water gruel; and for eatables bread and cheese, bread and butter, light biscuit, buttered toast, or dry bread, and one morning in every week, dry bread only.

4thly, nothing more before dinner, and always to dine between the hours of 12 and 1 o’clock if at home.

5thly, my dinner to be meat, pudding, or any other thing of the like nature, but always to have regard, if there is nothing but salt provision, to eat sparingly; and to eat plenty of any sort of garden stuff there is at table, together with plenty of bread and acids, if any, at table; and always to have the greatest regard to give white or fresh meats and pudding the preference before any sort of highly seasoned, salt, or very strong meat; and always one day in every week to eat no meat.

6thly, my drink at dinner to be always boiled water with a toast in it, or small beer, but water if I can have it, and never to drink anything stronger until after dinner.

7thly, if I drink tea at home or abroad to [let it] be small, green tea and not more than 4 dishes; and if I eat anything, not more than two ounces.

8thly, my supper never to be mat but weak broth, water gruel, milk pottage, bread and cheese, bread and butter, apple-pie or some other sort of fruit pie, or some such light diet; my drink, water or small deer, and one night at the least in every week to go to bed without any supper.

9thly, never to drink any sort of drams or spirituous liquors of what name or kind so ever.

10thly, if I am at home, in company, or abroad, if there is nothing but strong beer, never to drink more than 1 glasses, one to toast the king’s health, the 2nd to the royal family, the 3rd to all friends and the 4th to the pleasure of the company; if there is either wine or punch etc., never, upon any terms or persuasions whatever, to drink more than 8 glasses, nor each glass to hold or contain more than half a quarter of a pint, nor even so much if [it is] possibly to be avoided.

11thly, if I am constrained by extreme drought to drink between meals, that to be toast and water, small beer, or very small wine and water; to wit, ¼ pint of red or white wine to one pint of water.

12thly, never to drink any small or strong beer, winter or summer, without being warmed if possible; and lastly always to go to bed at or before ten o’clock when it can be done.

My wife and I both at church in the afternoon the text in Job. 7:20: “I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men?” We had, both forenoon and afternoon, excellent discourses wherein that necessary and excellent duty of repentance was strongly and pathetically recommended and enjoined to be done if we hope for salvation. After evening service my wife and I went up to Mr John Vine Jr’s and drank tea. I smoked one pipe and came home about 6:45. I was obliged to send Roger Vallow to Lewes for the 2 ½ yds serge denim I sent for by James Fuller yesterday, for which I am to give him 12d.

Friday, February 6 1756

This was a day for a public fast and humiliation to implore the blessing of the Almighty on our fleets and armies and to beseech Him, of His infinite and unbounded goodness to spare our nation from the dreadful calamity of an earthquake which hath been lately in many places of the world. Lisbon and many other places in Africa have been entirely ruined and brought as it were to desolation, and some slight shocks have also been felt in this our happy nation, likewise in some of our northern colonies in America. My wife and I were both at church in the morning where we had an excellent sermon on the occasion (by the Rev Mr Thomas Porter,) from the 3rd verse, 18th Psalm: “And the overflowing of ungodliness made me afraid.” [sic]). He endeavored in a very earnest and pressing manner to show what reason we have to repent of our vicious course and to turn to the Lord, or else, as he says, how can we expect the favor of the Almighty to be more extensive upon this our isle than upon the Portuguese nation and other places which have suffered under this dreadful calamity. We likewise endeavored to prove that it is impossible for a king to govern a nation and keep his subjects in a steady course of virtue without the assistance of every individual. At church in the afternoon; there were only prayers. Lent Master Darby in cash (to wit, in silver) 2.2.0.

Wednesday, February 4 1756

John Watford at work for me again; he set beans and peas. At home all day. Rec’d of William Sinden ½ bushel wheat. Gave 2d to John Bannister for going to Framfield for me. Wrote out the form of prayer for the fast on Friday next. In the evening Thomas Fuller Sr and Mrs Virgoe stayed chatting till past 10. Thomas Fuller being a little in Liquor, he stayed and drank 2 q[uarts?] vi and 20[?].

Tuesday, February 3 1756

At home all day… Had John Watford a-gardening all day for me, who I think is a mighty honest, good sort of a man, only a little inclined to be covetous, a very necessary qualification; and then he is so harmless and innocent with his “o’s” and “good lacks” that really he is very entertaining, for he has no art to set it off. In the evening my wife and I did up about 70 papers of tobacco.