Thomas Turner

In the morning my brother came over to inform me that Mr Stone of Stonebridge was dead (and that he died. very suddenly). After staying at my house about a quarter of an hour, he went to Stonebridge to ask for the funeral, and I walked over to Framfield where I had not been long before [he came back], but without any success, for he could not get to serve the funeral. I dined at my mother’s in company with Mr William Bennett on some cold beef, French beans and a butter pudding cake… I came walking home. My brother and Mr Bennett came and brought me going on my road part of the way. At home all the remaining part of the day. In the evening read one Tillotson’s sermons. Now let me reflect on the sudden death of Mr Stone, who went to bed in seemly good health about 9 o’clock and was found dead about 11. Oh, what a sudden change is here! What a lesson of mortality to teach mankind always to be in a state prepared to meet death!…

[89 words omitted].

Rec’d of Joseph Fuller 1 sheep’s head and bell 6d. We dined on the sheep’s liver fried and some rashers of pork. In the afternoon my brother came over, but did not stay. At home all day. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening, to whom I read 2 of Tillotson’s Sermons. A very dull time; nothing to do. Dame Hook owes me 10/6 in the way of change; viz., I going there to get silver for a guinea, gave them the guinea, but they had no more in silver than 10/6, which I had and left them the guinea.

In the afternoon I set out with Mrs Virgoe on one of her brother’s horses to Mr John Burgess’s at Brook House in Rotherfield in order to ask his advice in regard to selling and letting her house at Lewes… We arrived about 12:25; we dined there on a: piece of pork and white cabbage, 2 stinking plaice boiled, and a cold lamb pie. (My family at home dined on a sheep’s lights boiled and minced, the head, tongue, brains and French beans).

We stayed and drank tea at Mr Burgess’s and, came home about 7 o’clock. Mr Burgess has a sister to keep his house, whose name is Jael, and I think the greatest oddity I ever saw. It’s her misfortune to be deformed by nature; i.e., squint-eyed, a great stammering in her speech, and very much on one side. But yet her greatest misfortune is that of her unhappy temper, for she even appears to be so miserable that we may justly say she is poor in the abundance of riches. In the evening read one of Tillotson’s sermons. In the morning Dr Snelling and his father called on me, but did not stay. I paid Dr Snelling 18d on account for my brother Moses.

…Mr Breeden of Pevensey called on me in his road from London and dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a sheep’s heart, pudding, some mutton chops and French beans. He stayed about an hour after dinner. My brother came over in the afternoon, but did not stay. I received of him the 18d I paid Dr Snelling yesterday. Mr Bulpit, Messrs Heywood and Blake’s rider, called on me, and my brother and he, together with myself, went down to Jones’s and stayed about half an hour. At home all day. In the evening read one of Tillotson’s sermons.

We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some beef boiled and carrots with an apple-pudding… Paid Mr Samuel Beckett… to 5 lbs gingerbread for my mother, 0.2.6… At home all day and busy. In the evening read one of Tillotson’s sermons.

…Mr Porter’s hop-pickers bought their pole-puller’s neckcloth tonight. At home all day and busy a-marking up a parcel from Messrs Barlow and Wigginton, and another from Messrs Margesson and Collinson. In the evening Thomas Davy at our house, to whom I read one of Tillotson’s sermons. I also received of him in cash 0.11.0 in full for half a lottery [ticket]; viz., No. 66611; the other half-ticket is our servant’s.

In the morning our maid went over to Framfield and Uckfield. Rec’d of Joseph Fuller 1 shoulder of mutton, 4¾ lbs at 3d, 14d. Myself and nephew at church in the morning when, Mr Porter being gone to Ripe, we had prayers read by the Rev Mr Paul Shenton, curate of Laughton, and a sermon preached by the Rev Mr Chalice, curate of Ripe, from the following text: Proverbs 4:23: “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Thomas Davy dined with us on a shoulder of mutton roasted, a suet plum pudding, onion sauce and carrots.

My whole family at church in the afternoon (that is, my wife, self and 2 boys). We had a sermon preached by the Rev Mr Chalice, curate of Ripe, from the following text: the latter part of the 13^th verse, 3^rd chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews: “Lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Thomas Davy at our house in the evening, to whom, and in the day I read of 4 of Tillotson’s sermons.

After breakfast Mr Burgess and I went down again to talk with Osborne’s servant about her being big with child, but she would give us no satisfactory answer. From there I went to Richard Page’s, and Whitesmith. Dame Prall a-washing for us half the day; dined with us, (as did James Marchant, who came to help me gather my pears, and John Beard of Lewes, who could call with a how-do-you-do for a dinner) on a piece of boiled beef, apple pudding and carrots and the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Very busy all the afternoon a-gathering of pears, gathering and shaking down near 20 bushels. James Marchant stayed and drank tea with us… Wrote a hop letter for Mr French, and another for Mr Joseph Fuller, also another for Richard Jenner.

Dame Prall a-washing for us all day, who. dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner… Paid Mr Blackwell the paper-maker at Hawkhurst 27/- in full for 6 reams of paper received by him today… Paid Dame Prall for washing 9d. At home all day. Wrote another hop letter to Mr Tomlin for Joseph Fuller, as also one for Joseph Durrant. Mrs Diggens called on us, but did not stay.

In the morning Mr Burgess and myself went down to Bean’s at Whitesmith with about 20 bushels of pears, of which I had made 50 gallons of perry, which at 1d a gallon amounts to 4/2, but having no silver, I could not pay Mr Bean. I also received of Mr Bull 3 plugs, 3d. My family dined on the remains of yesterday’s diner (myself not eating anything till after I came back).

Mr Burgess, in gratitude for favors he says I have conferred on him, gave me the carriage of the pears… Paid Mr Henry Weller 12d for cleaning my watch. My wife and I spent the evening at Mrs Weller’s in company with Mr Henry Weller and his wife, of Bourne, and James Marchant. We supped there; we played at cards, and my wife and myself, contrary to custom, won 3½d. Bought 5 whiting for 2½d.