Thomas Turner

At home all day. Paid Joseph Fuller by his son Thomas 12d for a calf’s bell received him today… Rec’d of the widow Virgoe the 12d spent on her account on Tuesday last. Sent our servant over to Framfield in the afternoon. My brother came over in the afternoon and stayed about 2 hours. This day being down at Mrs Porter’s, Mr and Mrs Porter gave my wife and self an invitation to sup with them on Monday night next. In the evening read part of the New Whole Duty of Man. A very windy day.

In the morning myself, Philip and a servant at church; the text in Proverbs 18:21: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue”. From which words we had as good a sermon as I ever heard Mr Porter preach, it being against swearing. While we were at church, my brother Moses came over (in order to accompany me to Lewes to meet Mr Fletcher). I received of him from my mother the bill value £14, which I sent her, dated the 15th ult., No. 338, out of which I gave him 6/6, which left 13.13.6 and is in full for a parcel of Manchester goods etc., I also received of my mother by him in cash £21 on account.

My brother dined with us on calves’ lights etc. boiled and minced, and turnips. After we had dined, we set out on foot for Lewes where arrived about 5:10. We supped with Mr Thomas Scrase and lodged at the White Horse where we went to bed sober. This day Thomas Cornwell of this parish and Sarah Goodwin of Hellingly were publicly asked in the church in the morning.

In the morning arose about 5:30 and bought a parcel of Manchester goods and paid Mr Stephen Fletcher in cash 0.12.0, and by a bill on Messrs Margesson and Collison, payable to Mr Sam Ridings or order, dated today, 6 weeks’ date, No. 340, value £22, which makes together the sum of 22.12.0, and is in full on account of Mr Sam Ridings except the parcel bought today.

We breakfasted at the White Horse in company with Mr Fletcher and George Beard. We came home about 12:10… After dinner my brother went to Uckfield to hire 2 horses for us to ride to Seaford upon tomorrow, there being a sale of goods saved out of a vessel stranded on that coast. In the evening wrote my London letters, and about 8:20 my brother came back and brought 2 horses and stayed all night. Spent this journey 12d…

In the morning about 5 o’clock my brother and I set out on our intended journey. We arrived at Seaford about 8:20 where, after viewing the goods (which consisted of about 26 quarters of peas, 18 quarters grots, 5230 lbs of Smyrna raisins, and 20 bags of hops–all very much damaged with sea-water) in company with Mr George Beard, we then walked down to the sea-side. The sale began about 11:20 when the peas were sold from 15 to 22/- per quarter, and the grots nearly the same, the raisins from about 14 to 18/- per cwt. But they having lost much of their goodness, neither Mr Beard or myself bought any. The sale ended about 1 o’clock.

My brother and I dined at Mr Beard’s mother’s on a leg of mutton boiled, turnips and a plain pudding (my family at home dining on a calf’s heart pudding). We came home about 5:10. My brother went away immediately. My wife in my absence paid Mr Sam Beckett in cash 1.18.0, being the same sum which he paid to Mr William Ashmore in full on my account to the 1st instant. Spent today… 0.1.9½.

After I came home, my wife and I went down to Joseph Fuller’s, where we drank tea. We stayed and played at brag with the company hereafter mentioned. My wife and I won 18d. We stayed and supped there on two boiled chickens, a roasted shoulder of mutton, part of a cold ham, cold tongue, a cold veal pasty, tarts etc. in company with Mr and Mrs Porter, Mr Coates, Mr and Mrs French, Mr Calverley, Thomas Fuller and his wife, Dame Durrant, Master Fuller’s family and Mrs Atkins. After supper my wife being very ill, she went home, as would I very gladly, making several vigorous attempts, but was still opposed by Mr Porter; so at last I was obliged to sit myself down contentedly and make myself a beast for fashion’s sake, or else be stigmatized with the name of bad company.

There we continued drinking like horses (as the vulgar phrase is) and singing till many of us were very drunk, and then we went to dancing and pulling off wigs, caps and hats. There we continued in this frantic manner (behaving more like mad people than they that profess the name of Christians) till 9 o’clock when I deserted them and was twice pursued, but at last got clear off with first being well-rolled in the dirt. I came home far from being sober, though I must charge all this upon our reverend clergyman, whose behaviour I am sorry to see. I shall always think it is contrary as well to the Christian religion as my own conscience. They then continued their perambulation from house till 12 o’clock when they got home and with imprudence and impudence declared themselves neither sick nor sorry. Now whether this is consistent to the wise saying of Solomon, let anyone judge: “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” Gave Molly Fuller 12d.

Abed all day. My family dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a bullock’s kidney. Paid for a kidney 1½d. In the evening myself and wife went up to Joseph Fuller’s, but did not stay.

…We dined on a piece of beef stewed, a light pudding and greens. In the afternoon our servant went, over to Framfield, by whom I sent home Philip to my mother again. At home all day. Very uneasy for yesterday morning’s frolic, though I am still of the same mind that it was contrary to my mind and that it was quite by force.

In the morning I walked over to Framfield and breakfasted at my mother’s. I stayed and cut out for her 9 round frocks and dined there on some salt fish, apple pudding, cold beef etc… My wife paid 4d for 2 lbs tripe in my absence. I received of my mother 5/6 in full for Philip’s board, due yesterday. I came home about 1:50.

About 3:50 my wife went down to Mr Porter’s [according to a previous] invitation given us yesterday by Mr Porter; about 7:20 I went down. We played at brag the 1st part of the evening; my wife and self won 4/4½. We stayed and supped at Mr Porter’s on a shoulder of mutton roasted, a cold veal pasty, some fried veal, a cold ham, tarts etc. in company with Mr Gibbs and his wife, Mr Piper and his wife, Thomas Fuller and his wife and Mrs Virgoe.

After supper the old sport went on, such as: dancing, pulling off of hats, wigs, caps, shoes etc., with a variety of such-like frantic tricks, but no swearing or ill words, by which reason Mr Porter calls it innocent mirth. I in opinion differ therefrom, for I think it abounds too much with libertinism to be called innocent. Poor Mr Piper had a very great fall, but received little hurt. We stayed and breakfasted at Mr Porter’s and came home about 8:30, and I think not sober. My wife and I gave their servants 2/6.

Paid Joseph Fuller 3/7½ in full for 1 leg of veal, 12½ lbs received today. Paid Ben Shelley 2/- in full for 1 salt fish he bought in London for me. At home all day, very piteous… Read part of the London Magazine for February. Merry nights produce heavy days. Oh, what is more sharp than the bitter and tormenting stings of a conscience which is conscious to itself having acted wrong, not only against the rules of decorum (which getting drunk certainly is), but also against the most holy laws of God. Oh! how little do we, and especially myself, deserve the name of Christians! For it is too too plain, if I judge it right, that it must consist in nought but the name when our actions differ so far from it. Oh, the very thought of it is intolerable–to think that through fear of anger and being stigmatized with the name of being singular and a poor conceited particular wretch, one must be guilty of enough to forever plunge ourselves into that lake which ever burneth, and into that fire which shall never be quenched. For without holiness no men shall see the Lord.

In the morning my brother Will came to see me. My servant and nephew only at church in the morning. Just before dinner Mr Thomas Scrase of Lewes came and who also stayed and dined with us on a knuckle of veal and bacon, a beef pudding and a hard pudding and turnips. My wife, maid and nephew at church in the afternoon. Mr Scrase cut off my brother’s hair. They both stayed and drank tea and then both went away. A day quite misspent and lost, though I believe worse employed than in doing nothing by reason I was not at church.

At home all day. My brother came over in the forenoon, but did not stay. In the morning my wife went down to Halland. This is the first time she has walked so far since August last. In the evening wrote my London letters. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Rec’d of John Watford the note of hand which Mr Burgess and I gave him the 12th November last for £20 on the parish account. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening. John Burgess of Hartfield called on us, but did not stay.