Thomas Turner

In the morning my wife, self and 2 boys walked over to Framfield where we arrived about 7:40. We breakfasted at my mother’s. My sister, the 2 boys and my mother’s servant at church in the morning. In churchtime my cousin Anne Ovendean and their servant came to my mother’s and we all dined at my mother’s on a small fillet of veal roasted, a cold veal pasty, a plain batter pudding and currant pie. Only my mother’s servant at church in the afternoon. We stayed and drank tea at my mother’s and came home about 8:40, where we found Thomas Davy, to whom I read one of Tillotson’s sermons. This day I took physic. Our servant at home today dined on beans and pork.

…At home all day. In the evening my brother came over to have 2 more blisters laid on behind ears, which I accordingly laid on. In the afternoon drew out part of a genealogical table for Thomas Davy.

Took physic today. Paid Mr Beckett 16/- for 1 piece of figured lawn bought of him today. Dame Prall a-washing for us all day. We dined on piece of pork and peas and a butter pudding cake for my brother. In reading Josephus’s Jewish Antiquities I find his opinion was (or at least it was a prevailing notion in his time) that the earth was the center of the planetary system. Mr Francis. Elless drank tea with us. At home all day and read part of Josephus’s Jewish Antiquities. My wife very ill. Halland gardener made me a present of 2 melons.

Dame Prall a-washing for us today… This day we had a tempest of thunder, lightning, wind and rain, which began about 12:30 and continued until about 1:20 and then went off till about 6:10 when it came up again and continued till about 10 o’clock. I believe I may say it thundered with some short intervals between from about. 8:45 in the morning until 9:45 at night. Paid Dame Prall 12d for 2 days’ washing. Read part of Josephus’s Jewish Antiquities.

Paid Robert Durrant 7/6 in full for riding my colt. Thomas Davy being taken very ill this morning, my brother rode my colt to Doctor Stone’s for him to come to him; and when he was in the Street, he came and paid my wife a visit. My brother came back and dined with us on some beans and pork. In the afternoon my brother went home again on foot. Paid Will Wenham in money and goods 12d in full for bringing of goods from Lewes for me. Mrs Virgoe drank tea with us in the afternoon, and she and I balanced accounts…

[gap in MS.]

…John Watford Jr and I wrote the note of hand accordingly payable to him or bearer on demand with interest at £4 percent per annum, and I witnessed the said note. We dined on some pork and peas… John Watford at work for me part of the afternoon. My wife very ill. This day received my roan mare from Hartfield and turned her out to grass at Mr Hutson’s. Mr Thorn, Messrs Margrave and Standing’s rider, called on me, to whom I gave an order.

At home all day and busy… Paid of Mr Thomas Jones 2.0.7½ in full for 2 tod 1 1b wool. Paid Mr Goad 2.2.0 for 2 tod of wool received today. Paid Mr Sam Gibbs £3 for 3 tod of wool, all of which wool I received today. Dame Driver at Framfield drank tea with us. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening, to whom I read Mahometanism from Martin’s Bibliotheca Technologica, or, Library of Arts and Sciences.

After breakfast my brother came over and borrowed my colt to ride to Lewes upon. There was no service at our church this morning, Mr Porter not being at home (being in London). We dined on some pork and beans with some cherry pie. Myself, 2 boys and maid at church in the afternoon (my wife not being at church, she being very ill). We had a sermon preached by the Rev Mr Shenton, curate of Laughton, from Psalms 90:12: “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” And in my own private opinion I think it to be an extreme good sermon, and I think that the clergyman read as well as I ever heard a man… Mr Francis Elless at our house in the evening, to whom I read, and in the day, 5 of Tillotson’s sermons. My brother came back from Lewes and lodged at our house all night.

…After breakfast my brother rode over to Framfield for me for 7d sugar. Mr Coates and Mr French called on me in the forenoon and stayed and drank a bottle or 2 of beer with me. Mr Atkinson, Messrs Goff, Kendall and Rushton’s rider, called on me. We dined on some pork and beans… My brother and Dame Watford drank tea with us. After teatime my brother walked home… Posted my day book today.

Took physic today… Gave Mr Beckett in cash 14.4.0 for him to pay in London for me. About 9:45 my sister Sally and my cousin Anne Ovendean came see us and dined with us… After we had drunk tea, my sister and cousin walked down to Halland where I received of Mr Coates 2.16.0 in full to the 30th day of June last. Gave Mr Beckett’s carter 10d for bringing down my mare and paying the turnpike. My sister and cousin stayed all night… In the evening read part of Josephus’s Jewish Antiquities.