Thomas Turner

In the morning about 2 o’clock Mr French called me to go and take up Parkes, upon which I arose. We called Thomas Fuller Jr and all set out together on our intended journey. We called and stayed at Martin’s at the Broyle Gate about one hour. The reason of our calling was to know where their headborough lived; who, he informed us, was one Nicholas Pocock, upon which we went forward on our expedition. We called up the headborough and then proceeded to the house of Mr Will Barnett (where Parkes lived) where we arrived about 5:40. The people of the house being just up, we went in and found the man sitting by the fire, whom we took without any resistance; we brought him back to Martin’s. After staying about 15 minutes, and the man declaring he was willing to marry the girl, Thomas Fuller and I went with him to Lewes to take out a license (Mr French going home on foot to get the bride for the celebration of the nuptials).

We got to Lewes about 7:15 and breakfasted at the White Horse and took out a license, I being bondsman for the poor creature. We came back just by 11 o’clock, immediately repaired to church and Mr Porter married them in Mr French’s, the clerk’s and my presence, I being what is commonly called “father”. Mr French and I both signed the register book as witnesses to the said marriage. Then the man, John Durrant and myself set out on foot for Uckfield for the man to swear his, parish (Thomas Prall going on horseback to get the order signed). When we came to Uckfield, the man swore himself upon the parish of Hellingly. Finding Mr Bridger to be at Mr Courthope’s, we sent T. Prall home to carry the woman to Hellingly, we proposing to come after on foot. We accordingly took out an order and got it signed by Mr Courthope and Mr Bridger, we then making the best of our way home, though when we got there we did not stay above 10 minutes. We set forward for Hellingly (Thomas Prall and the bride being gone before). When we came to Horsebridge, we found the nearest parish officer lived at the Dicker, upon which we went on till we came to the churchwarden’s house, whose name was John Acton, and to whom I delivered them both, about 8 o’clock, with a true copy of our order, in the presence of Thomas Prall and John Durrant. I came home about 9:05, and I think made a good day’s work of it.

In my absence my brothers John and Moses came to see me, and they dined with my wife on the remains of yesterday’s dinner and some boiled whiting (myself dining, or rather supping, on a scrag end of a neck of mutton boiled, when I came home). They both stayed and drank tea with my wife, as did Dame Henly and husband. My wife received of Will Henly in cash 1.1.2 and paid 4d for 10 whiting she bought today. I spent on the parish account today as under:

At Martin’s	0.2.10½
Turnpike	0.0.6
At Lewes for eating, horses etc.	0.3.3
The license	1.6.0
Paid Mr Porter	0.10.6
Do. the clerk	0.2.6
Spent at Uckfield	0.2.1
Ring	0.1.1
Spent at Horsebridge	0.0.8½
The order and signing	0.5.0
Paid John Durrant	0.1.6
Paid Thomas Prall	0.2.0
Liquor etc. at my house	0.1.6
	2.19.6

My brothers went home about 6:20. My wife very busy at home all day. My wife paid for 1 lb mutton 3d. My wife gave some women with a pass 12d.

My brother Moses came over in the morning and breakfasted with us, but did not stay. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with a piece of a neck of mutton boiled. At home all the fore part of the day. In the evening went up to the audit and received of Mr Vine and Mr Patrick (on account of the executors of the Rt Hon Henry Pelham Esq) in cash 2.8.0; viz.,

To a bill of nails	0.16.6
To the audit bill	1.11.6

Gave Mr Vine’s servant 12d and came home about 8:30. Paid today 15d for 64 herring. In the forenoon very busy. My wife very ill. In the morning wrote a list of inhabitants of this parish for John Watford to carry in to the court today for the steward to choose a headborough out of.

Very busy all the day. We dined on piece of beef boiled, a light pudding, turnips and cauliflower. In the evening one Elizabeth Blackman came to us with an order from the justices of the town and port of Seaford, but as she came of herself and was not brought by any parish officer, neither was her examination upon oath, we did not receive her (on account we were not obliged to it). Mr Burgess and I went and informed Mr French and Mr Coates of what we had done, who acquiesced in what we had done. Robert Hook, Thomas Davy and myself in the evening went and asked Osborne’s servant to swear her parish tomorrow, which she agreed to. We then went to ask Anne Jeffrey the same, but she protested she would not. Thomas Davy and I played at cribbage in the evening, but I neither won nor lost.

In the morning Thomas Prall and I went down to Osborne’s and took their servant and carried her to Uckfield when she swore herself upon our parish, but could not be persuaded to swear her great belly. I took out a summons for Anne Jeffrey. I came home about 3 o’clock. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a light pudding and some fried herrings. Rec’d of Will Henly 4/6 in full. Paid Mr Samuel Beckett in cash 5.14.0; viz.,

To cash paid to William Ashmore in full	0.14.0
To money on the last quarter’s carriage acc’t	5.0.0

My brother came over in the afternoon to borrow the mare. He stayed and drank tea with us. I received of him in cash 3.1.4, which, with the cash I received the 10^th and 12th instant from my mother by him, makes the sum of 9.13.4. I have paid on her account as under:

To Crowley	4.6.4
To a bill of spice etc.	3.15.0
	8.1.4

…My wife very ill all day.

At home all. day and busy. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a light pudding and some turnips. In the afternoon I sawed some wood. Oh, how pleasant is it to be at home in business, rather than hurrying about in the manner I have this last week; so I think no life can be so pleasant as a retired country life with a small competency. In the evening read one of Tillotson’s sermons, and in the day part of Josephus’s Jewish Atiquities.

Only myself and the two boys at church in the morning, my wife being very ill; the text in the former part of Romans 12:2: “And be not conformed to this world.” From which words we had in my opinion a very fine sermon showing how circumspect we ought to walk in this corrupt and sinful age, not minding the imputation of singularity and affectation if we persevere in a course of godliness.

The widow Smith of Laughton dined with us on a piece of bacon boiled, a raisin suet pudding, turnips and two roast ducks. Myself, maid and Philip at church in the afternoon; the text Exodus 20:8: “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy”. From which words we had an excellent sermon showing the danger of breaking the sabbath and also exhorting everyone to spend that day to the glory of God. This afternoon the children of Mr Clinch and Stephen Weller were baptized.

At home all day except being at church. In the evening and in the day read four of Tillotson’s sermons. Mr Porter observed in his sermon this afternoon that if we were to search the annals of Tyburn [the usual place of execution in London], we should find the breaking the , sabbath to be a crime that has made way for more and greater which have at last ended at that unhappy place…

Paid Mrs Virgoe the £2 I borrowed of her today. Borrowed of John Watford in change today 10/6. Mary Heath a-washing half the day for us. She dined with us… James Marchant drank tea with us. My brother came over in the forenoon to bring the mare, but did not stay. Rec’d of Mr Joseph Burgess… the money I paid on the parish account… Paid John Watford the 10/6 borrowed of him today in way of change… Posted my day book and wrote out Mr Clinch’s bill. In the evening wrote my London letters. Indifferently busy in the shop. Read part of Young’s Night Thoughts…

Rec’d of Thomas Ling by his wife in cash on account 0.10.6; Dame Ling stayed and breakfasted with us… Balanced accounts with Mr Samuel Beckett and paid him 14/- in full to the 29th September inclusive; viz.,

Myself Dr.
To a bill of carriage from the 30th June to the 29th September, both days inclusive	8.3.11
Per Contra Cr.
28th October in cash	5.0.0
To 48 yds Irish at 12¼ and carriage	2.9.4½
In cash today	0.14.0
	8.3.4½

Mary Heath a-washing for us all day… My father Slater came to our house from Lewes about 4:40 and stayed all night. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening, and he and I played at cribbage; I lost 10d. Paid Mary Heath 13½d for 1½ days’s washing. At home all day. Read part of Josephus’s Jewish Antiquities.

Balanced accounts with my father Slater and paid him 3.1.0 in full; he stayed and breakfasted with us and went away about 11:30. Paid for 11 whiting today 4d. Paid Clymson the glover in cash 1.6.6 in full for goods I received. of him today; viz.,

28 pairs mens’ outseamed tan gloves	0.14.0
12 pairs boys’ do.	0.4.0
2 pairs do. inseamed	0.1.0
Horse leather	0.3.0
6 carpenters’ aprons	0.3.0
3 skins	0.1.6

We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some boiled whiting. Oh, how transient is all mundane bliss! I, who on Sunday night was all calm and serenity in my breast and seemed desirous of nothing so much as my eternal and immortal happiness, am now nought but storm and tempest occasioned by the unhappiness that subsists between myself and wife. Well might the wise man say, “It were better to dwell in a corner of the house-top than with a contentious woman in a wide house.” The thought of such disturbances almosts distracts and weakens my reason, and when I think there is no hope of their end, as undoubtedly there is not go long as we both live, it almost drives me to despair. Oh, how could I apply myself with the assistance of God’s grace to work out my salvation! But now by such tumults I am as it were rendered incapable to lift up so much as an eye or hand to that great Benefactor of mankind without whose blessings the endeavors of frail man is but foolishness.

At home all day… Indifferently busy. Sent Mrs Roase at Lewes 2 ducks and gave my father Slater to-carry home with him. In the evening read the play of Tamerlane, written by Rowe, which I think a very good play; the character of Tamerlane is such as I think should be the character of all mankind.

Rec’d of John Streeter a bill from Sam Durrant on Sir Joseph Hankey & Co. in lieu of the £20 I sent by him on Monday last for the said bill. Paid him 2/-, which he paid to Mr Will Kemp for mending my watch, and afterwards I lent him in cash 10/6. Rec’d of Mr Vine 1 hundred kiln-faggots. We dined on the remains of Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and yesterday’s dinners with the addition of a light pudding and some turnips. At home all day. Read part of Tillotson’s Rule of Faith. In the evening Thomas Davy at our house, to whom I read 3 of Tillotson’s sermons.