Author: Thomas Turner

Thursday, January 22 1756

…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.

Wednesday, January 21 1756

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.

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]…

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.

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.