Thomas Turner

…Mr Richard Warriner called on me. I paid him in cash 2.12.0 in full on account of Messrs Warriner and Hartley. He stayed and dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. My brother came over in the afternoon and drank tea with us, as did Mr Warriner… In the evening balanced accounts with Mr Piper… At home all day and busy. In the evening wrote my London letters, and in the evening read 5 of Tillotson’s sermons.

In the morning I rode to Lewes (in company with Joseph Durrant) to talk with Mr George Verral on some business of Mrs Virgoe’s, but Mr Verral not being at home, I could do no business on her account. I dined at Mr Madgwick’s on a roasted pig (my family at home dining on the remains of Sunday’s and yesterday’s dinners with the addition of some bloated herrings)… Master Durrant and I came home about 6:20, though I cannot say either of us thorough sober. I think this to have been as wet a day as could well be, for I think it has rained all day without any intermission.

At home all day. Drew off a barrel of perry. Dined on a roasted sparerib (given me by Thomas Darby) and a piece of a neck of veal boiled and applesauce. Dame Rothfield and Dame Merricks drank tea with us… Pretty busy all day. In the evening ground some pepper and read 2 of Tillotson’s sermons. This day has been spent with more pleasure than the preceeding one.

In the forenoon walked over to Framfield. I dined at my mother’s… I balanced accounts with my mother and received of her in cash 6.3.4½ which leaves the sum of £21 due to me on this balance in the book, besides one bond, bearing date the 14th Oct.,.1754, value £130 and one note of hand, dated the 25th Dec., 1756, value £60, and a parcel of Manchester goods with a bill delivered the 10th Oct., 1757, value 13.13.6¼… After my mother and I had balanced, I received of her in cash 1.5.0 in full for 1 quarter’s board etc. for Philip Turner, due today. N.B.: There is due to my mother £10 (exclusive of anything I have before mentioned) on account of her wool, which I am to pay to Messrs Margesson and Collison on her account.

After I came home, I went down to Mr Porter’s with some silver; I stayed and chatted there near two hours. I came home and read 3 of Tillotson’s sermons. I stayed and drank tea at my mother’s before I came from Framfield, and my brother came home along with me, but did not stay, going home again almost immediately.

In the morning walked up to Mr Piper’s and persuaded him to let Thomas Daw’s mortgage we made to him as mortgagee in the stead of Mr Burgess and myself… We dined on some broiled herrings, light pudding and boiled tripe, with some veal broth. Paid John Lewer in cash 1.12.9 in full for 65½ lbs of butter received by him today for Mr Thomas Scrase at Lewes… Posted my day book and wrote out several bills…

…We dined on some boiled tripe and broiled herrings. At home all day. Read part of the 1st volume of the Medical Essays, by a society of surgeons at Edinburgh… In the evening Thomas Davy at our house, to whom I read two of Tillotson’s sermons. A very remarkable wet day.

My whole family at church in the morning… We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a beef pudding and some turnips. My whole family at church again this afternoon; that is, my wife, self, maid and 2 boys… In the evening Thomas Davy at our house, to whom, and in the day, I read seven of Tillotson’s sermons.

In the morning wrote the following petition for Mrs Virgoe, which Mr Porter composed:

“Madam I humbly hope your goodness will excuse my boldness in presuming to trouble you with this. My late Husband Isaac Virgoe had the honour to serve you as a butcher but he dying about five years past left me a widow with two small Children in distressed circumstances. He left only the House we lived in to support us and that deeply Mortgag’d. John Fuller hire’d this House and Shop of me and you have been so kind as to continue your custom to him. But he has lately left my House and Shop and shut it up, by which means all custom is stop’d from it, A Brother of Mr Fullers has offered to hire this House of me if you will be so kind as to let him have part of your Custom, He is a very sober and diligent young man and will do his utmost to oblige you this is the favor I humbly beg of you which if you will please to grant I shall have the usual rent of my House to support me and my little ones and you will save us from the greatest distress, and this your great kindness to me shall ever be gratefully acknowledg’d by your Most dutiful Servant Mary Virgoe

To Mrs Medley”

At home all day. We dined on a piece of neck of beef stewed, a piece of pork boiled and a plain suet pudding and turnips. Rec’d of Mary Shoesmith 13d on account. Indifferently busy. My brother came over in the afternoon, but did not stay. In the evening wrote my London letters. The latter part of the evening Thomas Davy at our house, to whom I read of 4 of Tillotson’s sermons.

In the morning after I had breakfasted, I carried Mrs Virgoe to Lewes on my mare in order for her to present the petition I wrote for her yesterday to Mrs Medley. We arrived at Lewes about 11:30. Mrs Virgoe accordingly presented her petition, but could not have any direct answer thereto on account of Mrs Medley’s being just a-going out. I dined at the White Horse today on a boiled hog’s cheek, a piece of boiled beef, an apple pudding, greens and potatoes… Mrs Virgoe and I came home about 6:50, and both very sober… Thomas Davy at our house in the evening, to whom I read 3 of Tillotson’s sermons. Spent today as under (which I think may be justly charged to Mrs Virgoe, as I never charge her anything for myself or horse):

My dinner	0.0.6
Spent	0.0.5
Horse	0.0.5
Turnpike	0.0.2
Ostler	0.0.1
	0.1.7

After breakfast Mr Burgess and I once more went down to talk with Osborne’s servant; she promised that provided the man she was now big with child by did not come and give this parish proper security to their liking, she would certainly swear the same on Monday next.

We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a piece of cold beef baked in the oven yesterday and some cold rice pie. In the evening wrote out several bills and read 2 of Tillotson’s sermons. But very little to do all day.