Author: Thomas Turner

Myself and brother at church in the morning… We had a brief read for rebuilding the parish church of Shakerstone in the county of Leicester, the expense of which amounted to £1274 and upwards, upon which I collected 2/6½ and 1½ I gave myself makes collected in the whole 2/8 on this brief. After churchtime I went into Mr Porter’s, where we filled up and signed the said copy.

My friend Tipper dined with me on a piece of boiled beef and greens and a plain rice pudding. After dinner I rode with my friend to bring him on his road to Lewes, but instead of going into the town I went to see my intended wife, with whom I drank tea and spent the evening, and indeed stayed great part of the night with her. I came about 4:40. Spent 2d for the turnpike.

…Paid John Shelley on account of his brother Benjamin Shelley in cash 7.9.1 in full as follows:

Shelley Dr.
To cash received of Mr William Haslem in full for 1 year’s window tax due from Mr Thomas Swaine of. Bishopstone deceased, for a house in East Hoathly at Lady Day last	0.14.0
To cash as before, paid today	7.1.9
	7.15.9
Per Contra Cr.
By cash paid the 24th to Mr Richard Foord in full on my account	6.17.4
By do. the 25th to Mr Will Haslam in full my account	0.18.5
	7.15.9

Rec’d of George Alcorne by his wife 3/- on account. Dame Alcorne dined with me on a veal pudding and greens. At home all day and thank God very busy. In the afternoon my friend Mr Tipper came to see me, who spent the evening and stayed all night at my house.

In the morning walked down to Halland, but did not stay. Rec’d of John Vine of Laughton 12d. After breakfast I set out for Mayfield where I went to attend at a club feast, of which I am a member. I got there about 10:30, and after refreshing myself with a glass of wine, we went in procession to church where we had a sermon preached by the Rev Mr Roger Chalice (one of our members), vicar of Mayfield, from Matthew 25:40; “…Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me,” from which words we had a very good sermon, the theological part being sound divinity and treated on in a very pretty manner, and the application to the discourse relating to the society was excellent, being concise and very much to the purpose.

I dined at the Star (where our stewards had provided a dinner suitable to the customs and company of the society) in company with about 48 members more of the society (the whole number being 71) on two buttocks of beef, 2 pieces of roast beef, 2 fillets of veal, pond currant and raisin suet puddings, greens, butter etc. I stayed and spent the afternoon there vastly agreeable and came home about 11:50 in company with Thomas Davy and Robert Hook, thank God very sober. Paid today as under:

To 1 year’s arrears due from James Awcock at Eastbourne (to John Streeter)	0.16.0
Do. the feast	0.1.0
Do. Thomas Prall’s feast expense	0.1.0
Do. My own	0.1.0
Do. John Vine’s	0.1.0
Do. my own club arrears	0.3.9

The money from Awcock and Prall is owing to me, and Vine gave me his to carry in the morning. Spent upon my horse 6d. My brother in my absence today very little to do. In the forenoon a great deal of rain fell.
 
 

In the forenoon walked down to Halland where I received of Mr Baley in cash 41.19.6 in full as under:

In full for 1 year’s poor tax for Halland House wood, lands, manor and part of the park due from the Duke of Newcastle at Easter last	13.19.6
In full for 1 year’s window tax for Halland House due at Lady Day last	16.16.0
In full for half a year’s land tax for Halland House, manor, woodlands and part of the park due from the Duke of Newcastle at St Michael last	7.19.0
In full for poor tax due for Mr Nesbitt’s woodlands at Easter	3.5.0

I dined on part of a root of a tongue boiled and a raisin suet pudding and greens. A good deal of rain in the day. Very little to do all day. I think I never knew trade or money so scarce before.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some turnips and Savoy greens. In the afternoon Mr Bannister and I walked down to the Nursery, I to see the Widow Trill and my friend Bannister for company. We stayed and drank tea with Mrs Browne and came home about 7:20.

Sam Jenner, meeting with us on the road, came home with us, and he and Joseph Fuller sat with us some time in the evening. A very pleasant evening and quite delightful, nothing wanting to make it so except the company of my dear Molly and an easy a mind.

In the morning about 5 o’clock we had several claps of thunder with some flashes of lightning…

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some Savoy greens. After dinner walked down to Halland to collect some poor tax, but did not succeed. Received of Thomas Lewer in cash 0.3.6. Very little to do. In the evening Joseph Fuller sat with me some time. Paid John Nutley 4/4½ in full.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day. In the evening wrote my London letters, Sam Jenner, Joseph Fuller and T. Durrant sat with me some time in the evening.

Myself and brother at church in the morning… I dined on a piece of beef boiled, a plain suet pudding and greens. After dinner my brother and Thomas Durrant and myself took a serious walk. Myself, brother and servant at church in. the afternoon…

After churchtime my brother and I walked home with Mr Carman and his daughters, where we stayed and drank tea and also supped on some rashers of bacon broiled, a part a cold roasted bullock’s heart, a cold bread pudding, part of a cold hog’s cheek and bread and cheese. We stayed till about 11:11 and then came home sober.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some salading. At home all day and not very busy. Sam Jenner sat with me some time in the evening.

N.B.: Mr Ben Shelley paid me in cash 4/9 yesterday, being the balanced received of Mr Clement Corduroy due to me.

Rec’d of Mr George Bannister in cash 4.4.0 in part of the land tax for which I gave him the receipt the 11th instant. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a hot beef pie. Paid Mr Ben Shelley in cash 1.19.3, which with the £100 sent him, at least delivered to him, the 16th instant makes together the sum of 101.19.3… At home all day and very sleepy.