Author: Thomas Turner

Master Jenner, hatter at Hailsham, dined with me on a cold beef pie and cucumbers. At home all day, but not very busy. Master Holman, coming just at breakfast time, breakfasted with me. Very unpleasant and irksome to myself today; the punch taken in too great a quantity last night occasions my head to ache violently today. A very fine pleasant day.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a piece of beef stewed and some broth. At home all day and not busy. This day Mr Porter’s house, now a-building, was reared, and in the evening there was an entertainment at Mr John Vine’s, an occasion to which I went and came home about 11:20, but not quite sober.

…I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some French beans. At home all day and very little to do. My servant continues very ill.

In the evening Sam Jenner sat with me some time. A very showery day. In the evening read part of one of the volumes of the Tatler. Paid Mr Richard Bristed in cash and goods £4 in full for 48 fleeces of sheep’s wool received of him today, weighing 3 tod 24 lbs at 8d. He breakfasted with me.

Rec’d of Mrs Elizabeth Browne in cash 10.1.10¾ on account; also received of her in cash 31.6.0 in full for principal and interest due from her to my brother William Turner on bond.

I dined on a cold veal pie and French beans. In the afternoon Mrs Atkins and her two nieces Miss Jessop and Miss Verral drank tea with me and spent part of the afternoon. At home all day and pretty busy. A great deal of rain fell again this afternoon. In the evening read part of Burnet’s History of the Reformation.

In the morning I rose early with an intention to go to the Wells, but it being a very wet morning I could not proceed on my journey. My brother stayed with me all the forenoon and dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with some cucumbers, and then went away.

A very wet day, it raining excessively hard from about 2 o’clock in the morning till near — in the afternoon, and continued showery at times all the afternoon. At home all day and but very little to do. In the evening Sam Jenner, coming in and it being an exceedingly wet night, took part of my bed. Paid John Nutley in cash and goods 4/- in full for ½ bushel flour delivered to Babcock last week and l peck to German this week.

Paid Mr Richard Holman in cash 0.18.8 in full for 11 fleeces of sheep’s wool weighing 28 lbs bought of him today at 8d a pound. James Marchant’s wife, being at my house to give my servant a vomit, dined with me on half a calf’s head boiled and some French beans…

Dame Marchant drank tea with me. At home all day and pretty busy. In the evening my brother came over in order to stand the shop for me tomorrow, and took part of my bed. In the evening wrote my London letters.

My servant very ill. I breakfasted with Thomas Durrant. Myself at church in the morning… I dined at Master Durrant’s on a piece of pork boiled, some cabbage, a shoulder of mutton roasted, French beans and an apple pudding. Mr Snelling called on me in the afternoon and stayed some time. Myself at church in the afternoon…

After churchtime Thomas Durrant and myself walked down to Sam Jenner’s, where we drank tea and stayed and smoked a pipe or two. Came home about 9:20. After that I walked into Dame Durrant’s, where I sat about half an hour. Mr James Fuller and Ann Newington, both of this parish, were asked in the forenoon for the first time.

Paid Joseph Fuller Jr 11½d for a pound of veal and half a calf’s head bought of him today. I dined on a veal pudding. Rec’d of Sam Gibbs by Will Goad 20 fleeces of sheep’s wool weighing 1 tod 10 lbs, for which I am to give 8d a pound. Also received of Master Goad 12 fleeces weighing 20½ lbs, for which I gave him 8d a pound, and paid him for the same 13/4.

Paid Will Martin, blacksmith at Laughton, 9/- in full for 2m of 6d nails bought of him today. Paid John Thomson in cash and goods 3/- on account of works done at Mr Vine’s. Paid Mr John Tamkin in cash and goods 7/6 for work done at Mr Vine’s.

At home all day and thank God very busy. My servant very ill today. In the evening Page’s team brought me a load of salt. Sam Jenner sat with me some time in the evening.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some cucumber. At home all day and pretty busy. In the evening read part of the London Magazine for July, in which I find a great many excellent pieces, more than I ever remember to have seen in any one magazine. Perhaps I may be partial in my opinion, and only think them excellent as they agree with my own sentiments, for we are apt to be partial in our judgment of men and books as they agree and are similar to our own thoughts. Few have so sound a judgment as to think and act impartial when their interests or sentiments are the topic.

In the forenoon Mr Meadows Neatby and Mr Sterry called on me. I balanced accounts with Mr Neatby and paid him in cash 0.1.6, as also 1 bill on Mr William Margesson …value 8.19.0 …Rec’d of Mr Porter 1 bill on Mr Mayer in Gray’s Inn Court, Holborn, drawn by Mr Isaac Baley, payable to Mr Abraham Baley…value £20, for which I gave Mr Porter my note to pay the same as soon as the said bill is paid. I balanced accounts with Mr Richard Sterry and gave him the above bill, as also 1.2.0 in cash, which is in full of all demands as to this day. Mr Neatby and Mr Sterry stayed and dined with me on a hind-quarter of lamb roasted and carrots, and as soon as a dinner was over they went away immediately.

Paid Mr Ben Shelley in cash 2.7.3 in full for the same sum he has paid in London for me [including a Breman’s 3-foot rule in full, 0.3.9, and four lemons, 0.0.4]… Rec’d of George Alcorne by the payment of his wife 7/- on account. At home all day and pretty busy.