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In the morning went and asked Dallaway for the money due to me; who seemed to make light of it. I also told him that I was very apprehensive Savage would trouble him, which was the reason that made me so uneasy. I also went and informed Joseph Fuller of my proceedings yesterday, who approved of them, and also Mr Coates, who also approved of them and gave me liberty of removing John Durrant and his wife into the part of the house where Richard Heath and his wife did live, I went from Halland to Mr Thomas Peckham’s, where I did at last receive my bill, viz., 0.16.11 in full of all demands, but 2d I spent and 3d I must abate or spend; so I chose the former and am determined not to trust them again.

I am well assured that I have lost money by this bill. I came home and dined on a heart pudding and cabbage. In the afternoon Mr and Mrs French and my brother (who came over for the mare) drank tea with us… In the evening Master Dallaway and his wife came and talked with me again about their debt and seemed to talk to me in a very imperious and insulting manner, which I find is all I get by my good nature in trusting people so long. Then if I but ask them for it, I am insulted in this manner. In the evening read 3 of Tillotson’s sermons.

After breakfast I rode over to Framfield and from Framfield my brother and I went to Uckfield to make up Tester’s affair with Mr Thornton, but he was not at home. My brother and I stayed about an hour at Halland’s in expectation of his coming home, but, as we found he did not, we went back and dined at my mother’s…

I cut out 6 round frocks for my mother. I also saw Savage and talked to him about Tester’s affair, who told me he had left his orders with Mr Charles Thornton to make it up; so he had nothing more to say in it. After drinking of tea at my mother’s, my brother and I rode over to Uckfield where I met with Mr Thornton, to whom I offered to give any security that either I or the parish could make, payable at Easter next to Savage for Tester’s debt due to them, and also to pay him his fee, which is 13/4. But he could not take it, for he said the only way that Savage would make it up must be to pay all the money down and also all charges, which I told him I would never agree to; so, if he did not hear any more from me between this and Tuesday next, he should proceed in the prosecution.

My brother and I drank part of a bottle of beer at Mr Thornton’s, and then he went over to Halland’s and drank part of 3 half-pints of wine with us. I came back by Framfield, but did not get off my horse. Called at Mr French’s to tell him how I made out; stayed and smoked a pipe. After I came home, I went down to Jones’s with Master Hook to consult with him about distraining Dallaway. Spent there 2d. Spent at Uckfield 16d on the parish account and 2d on my own. Rec’d of my mother 8/- for 2 gallons of brandy. I must, I believe, drink nothing but water, for I find a glass or 2 of liquor makes me drunk, for today I could not get home sober; but I will once more try if I cannot live without being guilty of this vice.

Paid Will Funnell 0.10.8 in money and goods for bricks, tiles and mortar used at Trill’s house for the use of the parish. Gave a man with a pass 2/-…. My brother came over in the afternoon and brought me the mare in order for me to go Framfield upon tomorrow morning. He stayed and drank tea with us. I paid Mr French the 18d borrowed of him last night. At home all day. In the evening read the 71st of Tillotson’s sermons.

As I was this day a-considering of the particulars that passed at the vestry yesterday, I think nothing sinks so deep in my heart as Dame Burrage’s affair, to see a poor woman supplicating our charity with 6 poor helpless children (all small) deserted by a husband (who was well-known to be a more than common industrious man and also one who did not spend his money, but readily and with cheerfulness shared it in his family) and who has been eloped from his family about 10 days. Sure the thought of it must pierce any heart that is not entirely shut up and has bid adieu to all humanity, and so must it more, if we only reflect and consider something great must be the reason to force a man from his beloved family, which undoubtedly has been this poor man’s cause. Many of the richest and leading men of our parish (though I think not the wisest) have long since been endeavoring to pull down the price of this and some more poor men’s wages (though not a man of ’em can say he ever asked more for a day’s work than he earned) by bringing in many poor into the parish from other parishes, some with certificates and some without, until the parish is full of poor, and those wise gentlemen’s scheme almost come to take effect. Here was at this time everything remarkably dear; viz., malt 3/9 and 4/- a bushel; Warwickshire cheese 4¼d a pound; beef and mutton 3d and 3½d a pound; and wheat 5/- a bushel, and nothing but daily expectation of working for small wages (nay, even for less than his due). Now let any of those cunning men, or even any other person, only lay his hand upon his breast and put it to his conscience, and at the same time let his tongue utter the dictates of his heart; then must the following sentence be pronounced: Oh, cruel and inhuman usage, oppression, fraud and grinding the face of the poor are our guilt! Oh, may the annals of future times never record so much barbarity!

[On a separate piece of paper inserted at this point Turner adds:]

NB: I do not any ways commend Burrage for leaving his family, for I think it a very unjust and imprudent thing in him, and more particularly so, as he the night before he went away received of Mr Jeremiah French £3, which he carried away with him. The only thing I endeavor to point out is the motive which has occasioned him to abscond.

…Paid Mr Heaver 6/- for 1 bushel of oatmeal received today… Paid John Lewer in goods and money 16/- in full for 32 lbs of butter received from him today. About 4:30 I went down to Jones’s, according to notice given on Sunday of a vestry. Our company was as under: Mr Coates, who did not stay long; Mr Piper, Joseph Durrant, Ed Hope, Richard Hope and John Watford went away about 7 o’clock, but the reason was because they found if they stayed they must spend their own money and not the parish’s. Mr Jeremiah French, Mr John Vine, Mr Adams, Joseph Fuller, Mr Hutson and myself stayed till 11:40. We spent upon the parish account 3/6, which I paid, and we afterwards spent our 7d apiece. We agreed upon the following particulars; viz., to allow Dame Burrage ½ bushel flour per week; to allow Edward Babcock ½ cord wood and ¼ hundred faggots; and also to allow John Dan the same quantity. Also it was agreed to pay Tester’s debt by a majority of 5 or 6 voices. I borrowed of Mr French 18d. Mr French and Peter Adams laid 5/- each; Mr Adams laid Mr French [could] go to the parish church of Hellingly and there hear a sermon (to be preached by the Rev Mr John Stone) [but] that when he [came] from church he [could not] repeat the text, which Mr French laid he [could], naming the chapter and verse of the text, and also each particular word contained in the text. At home all the forenoon a-writing.

At home all the forenoon. Paid Francis in cash 7.14.4, which, with a book debt of 1.10.7½… balances our account to the 1st day of this instant (the carriage of one cloth of wool to London excepted)… After Smith and I had balanced accounts, I found he had charged too much in my carriage bill by 6d, which he returned. He dined with us on part of the neck of mutton bought on Saturday, boiled, an apple pudding, turnips and some of the broth, After dinner I went over to Mr Francis Hicks’s at Chiddingly and weighed up his wool…for which [6.9.11] I gave him my note of hand payable to him or bearer on demand. Stayed and Smoked 2 pipes and came home about 5:20. Sent by Francis Smith 127 fleeces wool, weighing 9 tod 24 lbs, and which I gave him liberty to sell for me at 19/- per tod, and the cloth at 4/6. In my absence my wife paid Dame Trill 3/- in full for the keeping Ann Braizer, due today. In the evening carried down to Mrs Atkins a Warwickshire cheese and stayed about 40 minutes. Came home and wrote my London letters… Read part of the Apology for the Life of Bampfylde Moore Carew.

About 9 o’clock my wife, self and nephew set out upon a horse borrowed of Francis Smith to see Mr Hill of Little Horsted, where we arrived about 10:30 and found ourselves disappointed of going to church as we had proposed, my uncle already gone to church. We dined at my uncle’s, in company with my mother and brother (who came to Horsted Church and so came home with my uncle) on a leg of very ordinary: ewe mutton half boiled, very good turnips, but spoiled by almost swimming in butter, a fine large pig roasted, and the rind as tough as any cowhide (it seemed as if it had been basted with a mixture of flour, butter and ashes), and sauce which looked like what is vomited up by sucking children, a butter pond pudding, and that justly called, for there was almost but enough in it to have drowned the pig, had it been alive.

After dinner my uncle and my mother balanced their accounts and I wrote a promissory note which my uncle signed for the balance, which I think was 16.11.5¾, and made payable to my mother or bearer on demand. We stayed and drank tea and all came away together, my mother and brother parting with us at Highcross. We came home just at 7 o’clock and, considering the house I had been at, sober, though it may with justice be said I was the worse for drinking. We spent 14d as under:

myself to the boy	0.0.6
my wife to the maid	0.0.6
turnpike	0.0.2

…Borrowed of my brother Will the Apology for the Life of Bampfylde Moore Carew…

Paid Joseph Fuller 15d for a neck of mutton of 5 lbs. We dined on the scrag end of the neck of mutton stewed. Paid Clymson, a glover, 8/4 for goods he bought of me today; viz.,

8 pr. hedging gloves	0.6.0
2 pr. ditto cuffs	0.8.4

Gave Master Baker (the parish clerks) orders to give notice of a public vestry at Jones’s on Tuesday next. In reading Martin’s Magazine for September I find [random items concerning the history of Sussex, quoted extensively]… At home all day. Trade very dull. In the evening read one of Tillotson’s sermons.

…Thomas Davy spent the evening with me, and also supped with us. We played at cribbage until past 11 o’clock; I lost 2d. Mr Elless sat with us a little time in the first of the evening. This is the day on which I was married, and it is now 3 years since. Doubtless many have been the disputes which have happened between my wife and myself during the time, and many have been the afflictions which it has pleased God to lay upon us, and which we have justly deserved by the many animosities and dissensions which have been almost incessantly continued and fermented between us and our friends from almost the very day of our marriage, but I hope I may now say, with the holy Psalmist, “It is good for us that we have been afflicted,” for thanks be to God we now begin to live happy, and I am thoroughly persuaded if I know my own mind that if I were single again and at liberty to make another choice, I should do the same, I mean, make her my wife who is so now.

At home all day… After dinner sent my maid to Framfield. The 2 Master Watfords a-gathering of apples for me all the afternoon, and stayed to beat out some apples for me in the evening to make some cider with, as did also Thomas Durrant, who came in to cut my wife’s and nephew’s hair. Paid Mr James Hutson… 6/- in full for goods brought from Lewes for me, and… accounts between us to this day. In the afternoon Dame Smith of Laughton drank tea with us.

At home all day. My brother here in the morning, but did not stay… Mr John Jenner of Hailsham and his son dined with us on a bullock’s heart pudding and some heart fried… Rec’d of Elizabeth Paris in cash 3/6… for Will Burrage’s schooling. Mrs Piper and Mrs Fuller the chandler’s wife drank tea at our house. In the evening read one of Tillotson’s sermons.