Thomas Turner

Paid Mr Benjamin Shelley in cash 6.11.9 in full… I dined on a sausage pudding and watercress. In the afternoon Mr Jacob Fender, servant and rider to Mr James Blake, called on me. I paid him one bill…value £30… At home all day, but not very busy.

After breakfast I rode over to Framfield where my brother and I settled our accounts, but did not make a particular balance. We also settled all accounts relating to Philip. I dined with my brother on part of a cold leg of mutton broiled and some cold pork, my family at home dining on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. I stayed and drank tea with my brother and then came away. Came home: about 5:20. Made my brother a present of about £12.

I dined on a cold mutton pie. At home all day and very little to do. I think I never knew trade so dull in my life.

My brother Moses came to my house in the morning and called on me, and we went together to Lewes in order to meet Mr Stephen Fletcher, servant to Mr Sam Ridings at Manchester. We breakfasted at the White Horse in company with Mr Fletcher and bought of him each a parcel of goods. We came home together as far as our roads led. I came home about 11:10, very sober. Spent upon myself, horse and ostler 4d.

Sam Jenner dined with me on a hot pork bone pie. At home all the afternoon; a prodigious wet afternoon and evening. Sam Jenner and I in the evening played 34 games of cribbage, but left off even.

Sent Mr John Foord at Seals near Mere in Wilts enclosed in a letter (in one to Mr Thomas Calverley, Southwark, for him to forward by the post) by Ben Shelley one bill on Mr Will Margesson dated today, 30 days’ date, No. 642, value 10.13.0, which bill when paid is in full on my account with Mr Foord.

At home all day and very little to do in the shop. Trade I think was never so dull as at this time. Sam Jenner, coming in to my house in the evening, took part of my bed, it being excessive wet all the evening. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with a few cheek bones stewed.

After breakfast Mr Porter and myself walked round the parish to collect a brief which he read the 24th ult. for the loss by the hailstorm which happened in Sussex, Aug. 19, 1763. We collected 1.6.1½, but not meeting all at home, we could not complete the collection.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the evening wrote my London letters. Mrs Carman made me a present of some short bones and a few sausages. At home all the afternoon and but very little to do.

Mr Robinson stayed and breakfasted with me and then went away. Myself and brother at church in the morning… Bett Carman dined with me on some boiled salt fish and egg sauce, parsnips and potatoes. Myself and brother at church in the afternoon… Sam Jenner drank tea with me, and in the evening I read him one of Yorick’s sermons.

My brother stayed and dined with me on a piece of pork boiled, an apple pudding and some potatoes. My brother went away after dinner. Rec’d of Joseph Fuller 1 leg of mutton and some mutton chops weighing together 10½ lbs at 3½d a pound.

In the evening Mr John Robinson, servant and rider to Mr Will Margesson, called on me, and I paid him in cash 51.17.0 on account of his master Mr William Margesson. Mr Robinson stayed and supped with me on some bread and cheese and also lodged at my house. At home all day and but very little to do in the shop.

…My brother William came to see me in the forenoon and dined with me on [a] bullock’s cheek boiled and some potatoes. My brother stayed with me all day and also stayed all night. Very busy all the day a-posting the parish accounts. At home all day.

Sam Jenner, at work for me all the forenoon dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some boiled potatoes. At home all day and but very little to do. Posted the parish accounts. In the day we had a great deal of snow fall, and had there been any frost for it to have lain on, it would have been an extreme deep snow, it continuing snowing almost the whole day.

Rec’d by the post today enclosed in a letter from Mr William Margesson the bill value 37.7.6 sent him the 19th instant, which has returned for non-payment.