Thomas Turner

After breakfast Joseph Fuller called me in order to go to the sale at Bentley, and we accordingly went. As we went by Peckham’s at Terrible Down, there we met with Mr French and Mr Sam Gibbs, both as seeming happy as could be over a dram of gin. We stayed there and spent 4½d, though I drank nothing but a little mild beer. We then went to the sale where I bought a brass candlestick which cost me 8d.

We came home by Peckham’s, where we stayed and spent 1½d in company with Mr James Shoesmith. I came home and dined on the remains of what my family left; viz., some boiled plaice. Dame Dallaway, buying many things, went in and drank tea with us. In the evening read part of the 5th volume of Medical Essays and Observations, published at Edinburgh by a society of physicians.

Very busy all the morning. Paid Thomas Fuller 9/- for a stone of beef received today. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with a piece of boiled beef, an apple pudding and turnips. After dinner our servants went to Blackboys Fair and stayed all night. There was a public vestry held at Jones’s, to which I went, but not being very well I did not stay to conclude upon anything, but came home immediately. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening, and he and I played a few games of cribbage; I won 1d.

This day how are my most sanguine hopes of happiness frustrated! I mean in the happiness between myself and wife, which has now some time been continued between us, but, oh, this day become the contrary! The, unhappiness I which has, almost ever since we were married, been between us has raised such numberless animosities and disturbances–and among our friends–that I think it has almost brought me to ruin. What the cause of it is I cannot judge. I cannot judge so ill of my wife as to think she is only to blame, and I think I have tried all experiments to make our lives happy, but they all have hitherto failed of their end. I can see nothing that so much contributes to our unhappiness as an opposition that proceeds from a contrariness or at least spitefulness of temper, but an opposition that seems indicated by our very make and constitution…

This day received a letter from Mr George Hodges & Co., who keep the new state lottery office in Cornhill, that the ticket belonging to my wife… was drawn a blank on Monday last.

At home all day and busy. We dined on a piece of the scrag end of a neck of mutton boiled and the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the evening read one of Tillotson’s sermons. Busy a-writing in the afternoon.

At home all day and not very well. Sent my watch by the post to Mr Kemp to be better regulated…

My wife, self and maid at church in the morning (the 2 boys staying at home)… This day the holy sacrament being administered, my wife, self and maid all stayed… We gave 6d each, we paying for our servant. This day have my wife and I taken up a resolution in the presence of our almighty God and Saviour with His divine Grace and Holy Spirit, to forsake our sins and to become better Christians. Oh, may the God of all goodness and perfection pour into our hearts His Holy Spirit that we may live together in true unity, love and peace with each other, bearing with each other’s infirmities and weaknesses, and that we may also live in peace with all mankind.

We dined on beef pudding, carrots and some cold raisin suet pudding. My whole family at church in the afternoon… Thomas Davy at our house in the evening, to whom, and in the day, I read 6 of Tillotson’s sermons.

In the morning balanced accounts with Joseph Fuller and paid him 6.17.7 in full; viz.,

Myself Dr.
To a bill of meat from 16 April to 11th September	0.14.8½
To 3 tod 8 lbs wool, 20/-	3.5.0
To money paid by Mr George Tomlin to Messrs Margesson & Co. for my use	6.9.0
Due for the hire of a horse on the parish account at Easter last	0.12.0
	11.0.8½
Per Contra Cr
To a bill of goods	4.3.1½
In cash today	6.17.7
	11.0.8½

Our servant went over to Framfield, in the forenoon. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s diner with the addition of a beef pudding, a small pike and eel given us by Roger Vallow. My brother came over in the afternoon in order to go to Battle with me tomorrow. He stayed all night. Rec’d by him from my mother in cash £5 in order to pay for some nails on her account. In the evening wrote my London letters. In the afternoon posted my day book.

About 6 o’clock my brother and I set out for Battle Market where we arrived about 10:10…I went in order to see Mr Breeden, but he was not at the market. I bought of Mr John Hammond 50 lbs of powder, which cost me 3.10.0. We dined at the Bull’s Head on rump of beef boiled, a loin of veal roasted, a roast goose and a currant pudding and an apple-pie… We came home very sober about 7:10. My brother stayed all night.

I think Battle to be a pleasant situated town, and there seems to be a considerable market for stock, etc. on the 2nd Tuesday in every month. The abbey, which belongs to the family of the Websters (and which was built just after the conquest in memory of that battle fought near that place between the Conqueror and Harold the then King of England, in which the latter, his 2 brothers, most of the English nobility and 97974 common men were slain), is the remains of a fine Gothic structure. There is also a deanery and a low-built church. There is also in the town a free school.

We spent as under:

By being decoyed in, by an acquaintance, to an ordinary, it cost for dinner only and about 2 glasses of wine	0.3.0
Our horses and ostler	0.0.11
Spent	0.0.2
	0.4.1
the half of which for my share is	0.2.0½

Paid for stuffing my saddle 6d….

My brother stayed and breakfasted with us and then went home. In the forenoon Mr Jeremiah French and Mr Joseph Fuller came and informed me that Robert Durrant was in the custody of the parish officers of Waldron on account that Elizabeth Day, belonging to Waldron, but a certificate person to this parish, being big with child, has sworn it upon Robert Durrant. They accordingly desired Mr Burgess and I would go and give the officers security on account of this parish in behalf of the man, and we both accordingly went. When we came there the man was so ill that he could not go before a Justice, and they seemed not willing to take anything less than an indemnifying bond; so I came back again to consult the people of this parish (leaving Mr Burgess there). It was agreed I should go and ask Mr Courthope the most they could oblige us to pay per week, which I accordingly did. But when I came to Uckfield, Mr Courthope was not at home; so I could have no advice from him.

After that, staying at Uckfield and getting some mutton chaps (having had no dinner), I went to Waldron again where, to my great surprise, I found Mr French, Mr Piper and Thomas Fuller come to treat with the officers. They then offered to take our bond for 15d per week for the maintenance of the child and 40/- for her, lying-in, but Mr French was obstinate and would not permit us to give above 12d per week and insisted for it to be left for Mr George Courthope to decide. Mr Burgess and I accordingly gave Mr Nicholas Attwood our note of hand to forfeit £20 if we do not meet him or some other of their parish officers on Monday next at Uckfield in order to have Mr Courthope’s determination, and if he will not determinate it, then to deliver them up the body of Robert Durrant again. I came home, but wet enough, about 10:15, and very sober. Spent this day on the parish account 23½d; viz.,

At Waldron	0.0.6
At Uckfield, my chaps and bread	0.0.6
½ pint wine	0.0.6
Turnpike and oats	0.0.4½
Ostler	0.0.1

Paid for 10 whiting 6d. My family at home today in my absence dined on some cold meat pie and some fried whiting…

At home all day; nothing to do. We dined on a piece of boiled beef, a light pudding buttered, turnips and some fried whiting… In the evening read two of Tillotson’s sermons, and in part the day part of The Complaint, which I think to be an extreme good book, the author having treated each subject with a seriousness of style suitable to the occasion of it.

Paid John Durrant 12d for cutting a rowel in my colt. Thomas and Fortunatus Slater, two first cousins of my wife called on us today and stayed about an hour or two…