At home all day. My brother and Mr Bowman dined with us. Mr Bowman stayed and smoked a pipe with me. Rec’d ½ bushel wheat of William Sinden. The Halland gardener cut my grape-vine and drank tea with us. Thomas Davy supped with us and he and I played at cribbage; I won 1d. I paid him 13d for my share of Martin’s Magazine; that is, 1d per piece over half price, on account of their being to be mine. Paid for milk ½d.
Author: Thomas Turner
Tuesday, January 20 1756
At home all day. Mr T. Earle and Mr S. Tupper called on me but did not get off their horses… Borrowed of Mrs Mary Virgoe in cash 2.17.0; to wit, 1 36-shilling-piece and 1 guinea. Sarah Taylor drank tea with us. In the evening read part of Tournefort’s Voyage into the Levant [about 150 words omitted]…
Monday, January 19 1756
At home all day… Lent Mr Jeremiah French in cash 4.4.0. In the evening posted my day book and wrote my London letters.
Sunday, January 18 1756
In the morning I borrowed Thomas Fuller’s horse and went over to Framfield. Got there about 11:30, dined there and stayed till about 5:20. Came home about 6:30. Mrs Virgoe stayed with us from 9 to 10:20. Not at church all day. After I came home, read part of the New Whole Duty of Man.
Saturday, January 17 1756
At home all day… After breakfast Mr Collison went to Framfield. Gave John Gibbs 1d for some touchwood he brought me today… In the evening Peter Adams and I balanced accounts… Rec’d by oatmeal at sundry times 3.18.9; remains due 5.5.0¼ for which I received his note of hand dated today, payable to me or order on demand. Thomas Davy and I played at cribbage in the evening; I won 6d. Sat up till near 1 o’clock.
Friday, Jannuary 16 1756
At home all the fore part of the day. Mr Edward Relfe and Mr John Aliot of Lewes called on me, both in liquor. They stayed and drank 2 bottles of beer with us. In the evening went down to Halland to balance accounts with Mr Coates, but he was not at home. He came home while I was there — in liquor — so I came away without balancing accounts. When I came home, I found Mr John Collison at our house. We balanced accounts, and there remains due to Messrs Margesson and Collison 17.16.0 in full (the £20 which I owe them for Mr Samuel Virgoe excepted)… Paid for 6 cabbage nets 4d. Gave Grace Grover 3d for Mr John Barnard, which I agreed to on the 3 Jan., 1756. Mr Collison supped with us and stayed all night at our house.
Thursday, January 15 1756
In the afternoon went down to Mr Samuel Gibbs to balance with him and stayed there about 3 hours, he not being at home. Nor did he come home before I came away. I came home about 7 o’clock. After I came home, Mrs Virgoe sat with us about 1 hour. Read part of Tournefort’s Voyage into the Levant.
Wednesday, January 14 1756
At home all day. Paid Mr Heaver, Isfield miller, 5/- for 1 bushel oatmeal. In the evening my wife and I put up 120 papers of tobacco. After supper read part of Tournefort’s Voyage into the Levant wherein I find the following remark: They breed (says he) the finest goats in the world in the Champaign of Angora. They are of a dazzling white, and their hair, which is fine as silk, naturally curled in locks of 8 or 9 inches long, is worked up into the finest stuffs, especially camlet. But they don’t suffer these fleeces to be exported because the country people get their living thereby. Their young are degenerate if carried far.
Tuesday, January 13 1756
At home all day. Paid for baking 1d. Paid James Fuller 3d for 6 lemons and 6 clamp brushes which he bought at Lewes for me; to wit, the lemons on the 27th Dec. and the brushes on the 10th Jan. Mrs Vine the younger and my brother Moses drank tea with us. Mr Peter Adams came to balance accounts with me but could not, he being in liquor, but appointed to come tomorrow night. Mrs Virgoe sat about 2 hours with us. In the evening I posted part of my day book. Tonight there was a dance, made, I conjecture, by the servants, there being all the young people of both sexes in the parish. Paid for milk 2d.
Monday, January 12 1756
…This day began teaching school again, being the first day since Christmas. In the evening went down to Mr Thomas Porter’s and settled accounts with him; see below. After I came home (finding Thomas Davy at my house) we went to cribbage; I won 3d. He supped with us and stayed till 12:40 — too late. I drank part of a bottle of cider at Mr Porter’s.
Rec’d of Mr Porter by his tenant Thomas Wright, paying (by Mr Porter’s order) to Messrs Margesson and Collison for my use on the 22nd Dec., 1755 30.13.0
Do. by 11 lbs butter 0.4.7
Do. by tithe for 1755 0.8.0
31.5.7
My bill on Mr Porter to the 31st Jan., 1756 27.15.9
By a mistake made to my prejudice on the 27th Sept., 1755 0.16.5
28.12.2 28.12.2
2.13.5
I gave Mr Porter my note of hand for 2.13.6 payable to him or order on the 23rd January next, dated today, which, when paid, will be in full for the balance of the account due to Mr Porter. Paid for butter 3d. Paid for 12 brooms 10d. Read The Merry Wives of Windsor wherein I think the genius of the author shows itself in a very conspicuous manner as to humor. But I cannot find in my heart to say I think there 1s one good moral character. Gave Francis Smith’s man 6d for his box.