Author: Thomas Turner

My wife and I both at church in the morning; the text was in the 15th Psalm, 9th verse: “The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.” Mr Porter made an excellent sermon on the goodness of the Supreme Being. When we came home, we found Mr Thomas Scrase and Mr John Tucker at our house, being come in churchtime. They dined with us. Mr Scrase brought me a new wig. I did not pay him for it. They stayed until 7 o’clock. About that time Master Diggens came in and stayed till about 7:35. My wife and I neither at church in the afternoon.

At home all day. Paid Mrs Virgoe the 1 shilling I borrowed of her the 7th instant. Paid Master Piper 17¼d for a pig, weight 5¾ lbs, which I sent to Framfield by Sam Elphick… In the evening went down to Mr Porter’s to acquaint him that I have received advice of the 30.13.0 being paid to Messrs Margesson and Collison for my use as he informed me on the 30th December. Mrs Virgoe sat with us about 1 hour in the evening.

At home all day… Lent John Jones by Philadelphia Goldsmith in cash 1 guinea. In the afternoon Mrs Day, Miss Suky, Mrs Fuller, Bett and Molly drank tea with us. In the evening Joseph Fuller came, and he and I balanced accounts… In the evening we all played at brag; my wife and I lost 14d. They all went away about 10 o’clock… I lent Mrs Day the 1st volume of The Guardian. Rec’d of Will Sinden ½ bushel wheat.

Finished writing out Mr Porter’s bill and wrote out several more. About 2:40 my wife went down to Whyly. I also went there about 5:30. We stayed and supped there and came home about 1 o’clock. Mr and Mrs French, Mr Calverley and myself and wife and John French played at brag till supper; my wife and I both won 2/1. We gave the maid 6d a piece, that is both of us, 12d in all. I balanced accounts with Mr Sam Virgoe Sr and paid him 10/4¼ in full to this day (the rent of my schoolhouse excepted, which will be 1 year’s rent at new Lady Lay next, value 2.10.0).

Due to Mr Virgoe for 25 lbs of wool at 7d rec’d this summer                     0.14.7

Do. for 1¼ yrs’ rent for the chamber over the butcher’s shop, due at St. Michael last, but he took only one year’s, and is in full for the one year’s, and is in full for the whole                                       0.10.0

1.4.7

My bill on Mr Virgoe to this day             0.14.2¾

0.10.4¼

This sum I paid him as before mentioned in presence of Mr Calverley. Afterwards I balanced accounts with Mr Jeremiah French and paid him in cash 0.18.0, which is in full to this day except 3/- for horse-keeping, 4 lbs hops and 1 gallon of peas I owed Mr French as under:

For 217 fleeces of wool weighing 13 tod 23 lbs at 16/- per tod, rec’d in September, 1753 10.19.6

Ditto 6 loads of wood rec’d in the year 1753 3.0.0

Ditto by a balance of some cash paid to Messrs Margesson and Collison for me in the year 1754 6.10.9

Ditto by poor tax for the year 1754              0.10.0

Rec’d by the carriage of goods from Lewes in December, 1754,              0.15.0

Ditto by cash paid to Francis Smith by Messrs Swainstone and Hedges for my use the 13th August, 1755                            1.10.8

Ditto 119 fleeces of wool weighing 7 tod 14 lbs at 7d per lb, rec’d the 21 August, 1755                                            6.18.10

Ditto a fat hog weighing 26 stone 7¼ at 2/-, rec’d the 3rd January, 1756                 2.14.0

32.18.9

My bill on Mr French to this day — including the Parish bill for 1754 and Mr Chatfield’s bill for nails used at Chiddingly, which I gave him a receipt for on the 9th September, 1755 but dated it the 28th July, 1755             32.0.11¾

0.17.9¼

In the morning walked over to Framfield. Moses and Sally at Horsted. Went yesterday to dinner, came home today about 12:15. I cut out 16 round frocks for my mother. I got there about 9 o’clock and came home about 5:30. I found Mr Jeremiah French and his wife and son and Mrs Vine Jr and her son at our house. Mrs French and son and Mrs Vine and son drank tea with my wife. They all went away about 7 o’clock. After they were gone I went down to Mr Porter’s and paid Mrs Porter the 12d I left to pay the 3rd instant. Stayed till about 9 o’clock. Paid for eggs today 12d. Borrowed of Mrs Virgoe 12d. A fine day.

At home all day and busy. Sold Thomas Davy a coat, waistcoat etc. He and Master Marchant drank tea with us. Thomas Davy and I played at cribbage until 8:30; neither of us won or lost… A remarkably wet day.

At home all day. In the morning Mr French, Joseph and Thomas Fuller weighed and cut out my hog. He weighed 26 stone 7¼ lbs at 2/- per stone, but I did not pay for him… An entertainment at Mr Porter’s today.

My wife and I both at church this morning, the text in James 4:11: “Speak not evil one of another, brethren.” We were also both at church in this afternoon, the text in Ephesians 4:32: “And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” After churchtime my wife and I went down to Joseph Fuller’s, where we met Mrs Day and Miss Suky. We drank tea there and stayed until 8:20. A remarkably wet day.

In the morning I went down to Mr French’s; brought home my hog, and Joseph Fuller Jr killed him for me. Paid for 10 dozen quills 10d. Mr Barnard, Mr Pooley’s rider, called on me. I paid him in cash 0.7.0 and there remains due to Mr William Pooley 22.0.0. I paid Frank Smith… in full for money paid in London for me as under:

1755 24 Dec. to Messrs Tooke and Bond in full 2.0.0

1755 24 Dec. to William Ashmorer for 2 gallons rum, which I got for Mrs Day 0.16.0

1756 1 Jan. to Messrs Margesson and Collison      20.0.0

For 1 pair of shoes for S. T.                    0. 3.9

Ditto for bacon got for Thomas Ling 0.4.9

23.4.6

Went down to John Jones’s with Mr Barnard; stayed about 10 minutes. Mr Barnard not having halfpence enough, to save changing I lent him 1d and agreed to give Grace Grover 3d for him. Charles Diggens spent the evening with us until near 7 o’clock. Afterwards I went down to Mr Porter’s and carried them in silver 2.16.0 and received of Mrs Porter one guinea and one 36/- piece, which makes together 2.17.0; so that I am indebted to Mrs Porter 12d. Rec’d of William Burrage 6/11½ in full for his son Richard’s schooling etc. After supper read 10 numbers in The Freeholder.

Samuel Slater went home in the forenoon. I was at home all the morning. In the evening all Mr Porter’s servants came to see us, and they and Thomas Davy stayed and played at cards with us; my wife and I lost 7½d. I went down to Mr French’s about 4:20 concerning a fat hog I am to have of him tomorrow. Rec’d of William Sinden 1 gallon of oats. Paid Master Piper 6d for 1 peck of oats received yesterday. Gave Samuel Slater 1 salt fish, value 11d.