Thomas Turner

Paid Mr Sam Beckett…to a letter put in the penny post 0.0.1… This day sent Mr Coates’s bill by the 2 boys… We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a light pudding and turnips. At home all day and very busy. In the evening my wife read to me part of Horneck’s Great Law of Consideration.

In the morning myself, two boys and servant at church. Myself and servant stayed the communion. I gave 6d. The text in I Corinthians 10:31: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” This being Christmas Day the widow Marchant, Hannah Marchant and James Marchant dined with us on a buttock of beef boiled, a plum suet pudding and pearl barley pudding, turnips, potatoes and bouillis pie. myself, two boys and servant at church again in the afternoon; the text in Galatians 4:4,5: “But when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” The widow, James and Hannah Marchant drank tea with us. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening, to whom I read two nights of The Complaint, one of which was the Christian triumph against the fear of death, which must be allowed by all Christians a noble subject, it being the redemption of mankind by Jesus Christ. I think the author has treated it in a very moving and pathetic manner.

In the morning sent Mr Robert Plumer (by the post) one bill…23.10.6 of which is in full on my account, and the remainder, 17.4.6, is in full on my mother’s account, which sum I received from my mother by my brother the 12th instant. About 11:20 my brother William came to see me, who dined with us (the two boys dining at Joseph Fuller’s) on the remains of yesterday’s dinner…

About 3:20 I was sent for down to John Jones’s, there being a public vestry for the choosing surveyors of the highways for the year ensuing. The present surveyors, William Piper and Joseph Durrant, wanted me to draw up an account for them to carry to the sitting, which I did; viz.,

By sundry disbursements	3.4.0
By cash received of several defaulters and others	3.4.0

Now they had disbursed in reality but 2.18.0; so there remains in the surveyors’ hands 6/-, with which they are to secure the arch of Scallow Bridge and put up some posts etc. I then wrote the nomination of the surveyors for the ensuing year, which were Richard Hope and John Vine Jr. The electioners were Jeremiah French and Joseph Burgess. I came home about 6:10. Master Bull at Whitesmith stayed about an hour or two with me in the first of the evening. And when the vestry broke up, Will Piper, Thomas Fuller and Mr Hutson called at our house in their way home, according to their annual custom; that is, of Mr Piper and Thomas Fuller. They stayed till 12:20 and, I may say, still continued encroaching for liquor till they two were as drunk as they could walk. Oh, that mankind should give way so much to this pernicious vice which incapacitates his reason so that he may more justly be ranked amongst the brute creation.

My brother stayed all night. I received by the post from Mr Plumer a receipt for the bill I sent him today, which he says is in full of mine and my mother’s account.

Gave the following boys (as box-money):

The post	0.1.0
Thomas Turner	0.0.6
Sam Tooth	0.0.3
Thomas Smith	0.0.3
	0.2.0

and Dame Trill on the parish account.2/-. Paid Mr Will Piper 4/- tor my highway tax. Very busy (thank God) all day. Gave some boys who came a-singing 3d.

Rec’d of Mr John Vine Jr in cash 5.5.0 on account. Paid Mr Heaver the miller at Isfield in cash 0.10.6 for 1½ bushels oatmeal received by him today. My brother dined with us on the remains of Sunday’s dinner and stayed with me until near 4 o’clock. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening, to whom I read one of the nights of The Complaint. Gave the following as box-money:

To James Trill	0.0.6
To Stephen Starnes	0.0.6
	0.1.0

At home all day

At home all day. We dined on the remains of Sunday’s dinner with the addition of a light pudding and turnips. Joseph Fuller, Thomas Davy and James Awcock drank tea with us… Thomas Davy and I played at cribbage in the evening; I won of him 3d. This evening Mrs Porter was safely delivered of a fine boy. Gave the followings as box money:

To James Fuller	0.1.0
To Robert Hook	0.0.3
	0.1.3

At home all day. Joseph Fuller and his wife drank tea with us. We were very busy all day. In the day read part of the 4th volume Medical Essays. Rec’d of Francis Turner Jr 2/3 on account. In the evening read part of Horneck’s Great Law of Consideration. Gave the following as box-money:

To Richard Fuller	0.0.6
To some boys who came a-singing	0.0.4
	0.0.10

At home all day. Henry Jenner the hatter’s son at Hailsham dined with us on the remains of Sunday’s dinner (the two boys dining at Master Hook’s). I paid him 12d for dressing and lining my hat. In the day read part of Love’s Surveyor. In the evening Thomas Durrant came in to cut my wife’s hair, and he and Thomas Davy stayed and smoked a pipe with me. After Thomas Durrant went away, I read part of Young’s Night Thoughts to Thomas Davy. This day my wife gave our servant Mary Martin warning to provide herself with another service at new Lady Day next.

In the morning our servant went to see her friends. In the forenoon my brother Moses and my cousin Moses and John Bennett came to see us. They dined with us on the remains of Sunday’s dinner with the addition of [light] pudding, potatoes, rice pie and pear pie. Rec’d from my mother by my brother in cash 13.16.8, which is in full for the bill I sent her the 13^th instant, value 14.7.0 for 23 lbs shoe hemp and 0.13.2; 7lbs gunpowder, 0.10.6, which together makes the said sum of 15.18.8. My brother and cousins stayed all night. At home all day and very busy. A very sharp frost.

As soon as we arose, my brother went away home. Myself and cousin Bennetts and my nephews at church in the morning where we had an excellent sermon preached by the Rev Mr Shenton, curate of Laughton (Mr Porter at [???] the sacrament at Laughton, from the following…. “And the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, with the Lord of hosts.”

We dined on a piece of beef boiled, a raisin suet pudding, turnips and potatoes. Only Philip at church this afternoon. In the [time] the people were at church this afternoon my two cousins went [up], intending to tarry at my mother’s all night. [I gave?] my cousin John Bennett 12d in order for him to buy for me at Edmund [Ba]nker’s circulating library [at Tunbridge Wells] Burden’s Account of the Hurricane in Sussex in 1729. In the evening read part of Horneck’s Great Law of Consideration. Our servant came home in the evening and sat up all night with Mrs Porter. This has been a most remarkable Frosty day.

In the morning I sent John Streeter [by the post to Mr Sam Durrant in Lewes in cash £46 in order for him to send me a bill for the said sum.] We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some apple fritters. Sent over to my mother by Mr French’s servant boy for her to lend me £10, which she sent by him… I received by the post from Mr Sam Durrant (in lieu of the [???] I sent today) one bill on Sir Joseph [H]ankey and partners, payable to me or order, dated the 31^st ult., 21 days’ date, No.1620, value £46. This day lent Mr Jeremiah French in cash £12, for which he gave me his note of hand, payable to me or bearer on demand. Rec’d of Mr Joseph Burgess the 2/- I paid Dame Brill for him the 26^th ult.

In the evening wrote my London letters. Master Overing of Chiddingly being at work a-[??] my windows, he dined with us. Joseph [Fu]ller [and Thomas?] Davy at our house in the evening and stayed and smoke a pipe with me. At home all day and busy. A very remarkable cold sharp frosty day, and in the evening and the night there fell a great quantity of rain.