Thomas Turner

At home all day. Paid Mr Thomas Carman in cash and goods 1.4.0 in full for 27 bushels sea coal. We dined on the remains of Sunday’s dinner. Mr John Burgess of Hartfield called on us again, but did not stay. Mrs French, Mrs Coates, Mr and Mrs Porter, Thomas Fuller and his wife, Mr Piper and his wife and Mr Calverley drank tea with us. They together with Mr Coates, Mr French and Joseph Fuller stayed and spent the evening with us and played at brag. My wife and I lost 3/6. They all stayed and supped with us on some salt fish, a dish of Scotch collops with force meat balls, a piece of cold roast beef, some potted beef, a cold baked rice pudding, bouillis, and gooseberry tarts, celery, watercresses, egg sauce, cold ham and parsnips. They all stayed, except Mrs Coates, until near 6 o’clock, and many of them not sober.

The old frantic sports went on as usual. But now I hope all revelling for this season is over, and may I never more be discomposed with too much drink or the noise of an obstreperous multitude, but may I once more calm my troubled mind and soothe my disturbed conscience with future goodness. Oh, may all the transitory fleeting foolish pleasures of this life be no more in my thoughts, but let me lay hold on that durable and permanent happiness that fadeth not away, but remaineth eternal in the heavens. Oh, may I have the unspeakable pleasure to hear that comfortable sentence pronounced of: “Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation…”

At home all day and better than I have once been after such a revel. We dined on the remains of last night’s supper. In the evening paid Joseph Fuller Jr in cash 51.14.0 and gave him my note of a hand for £2, payable to him or bearer on demand, which together makes the sum of 53.14.0 and is in full for the, same sum paid by Mr Ready (by order of Mr Joseph Fuller) to Messrs Margesson and Collison on my account the 13th instant. Joseph Fuller stayed and smoked a pipe with me. In the day read part of The Universal Magazine for February.

At home all day. Mary Heath a-washing for us half the day. She dined with us on the remains of Tuesday’s supper with the addition of a fillet of veal, roasted. In the morning read part of The Universal Magazine for February. In the afternoon and evening posted part of the parish accounts. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening. A very remarkable fine mild day, but about 10:10 in the evening we had several very long and loud claps of thunder and several flashes of lightning, and also some showers of rain.

Paid Joseph Fuller Jr the £2 for the note of hand I gave him the 15th instant, but he not having the note of hand with him, I did not take it up. Mary Heath a-washing for us all day. She dined with us on the remains of Tuesday’s supper and yesterday’s dinner. This day made up the parish accounts. Paid Mary Heath 13½d for washing. In the evening I went down to Jones’s, where we had a public vestry (notice thereof being previously given on Sunday last) in order to make a poor rate, which we accordingly did at the rate of 2/8 to the pound. The same was agreed to and attested by myself, Mr Joseph Burgess, Mr Thomas Carman, Mr William Piper, Mr Jeremiah French and Mr Joseph Fuller. We all broke up about 9:40, and all very sober. In my absence my wife received of Joseph Fuller the note of hand I gave him the 15th instant and for which I paid him the money today.

In the morning Messrs Heywood and Blake’s rider called on me, to whom I gave a bill… I also gave him an order… At home all day. We dined on the remains of Tuesday’s supper with the addition of some turnips and potatoes. A continual rainy day after 10 o’clock. In the evening Master Bull sat with us a while on account of the rain. In the evening also read part of the New Whole Duty of Man.

Myself, my wife and servant at church in the morning… We dined on a piece of beef boiled, a plain suet pudding and Savoy greens. My wife, self and servant at church in the afternoon… In the evening and in the day read part of the New Whole Duty of Man.

In the forenoon my brother came over; he stayed and dined with us on a light pudding and Savoy greens with the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Paid Anne Braizer for Dame Trill 2/- on account of Mr Burgess for the parish. Rec’d by my brother from my mother in cash 5.5.0 in part of money that I am to pay for nails with, sent for this week on her account. At home all day a-marking up goods that came down last week. In the evening wrote my London letters and read part of the 1st volume of the English Peerage. George Richardson called on us in the evening, but did not stay.

…Took physic today and at home all day. A great deal of rain and snow fell today, it being a continual wet day from 8 in the morning till 8 o’clock in the evening. In the evening read part of the New Whole Duty of Man. Very busy a-marking up of goods and putting my shop in order. In the day read part of The Peerage of England.

Borrowed of Mrs Virgoe by my servant in cash £12, but have not given her any note. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a hard pudding and some Savoy greens. My brother came over in the afternoon, but did not stay.

This day received a certificate from Henry Osborne, dated the 4th instant, whereby the churchwardens and overseers (Henry Shelley and Richard Rideout Esqrs, Will Russell and William Reynolds) of the Parish of St, Peter and St Mary Westout do allow him and Hannah his wife to be inhabitants legally settled in their said parish. The said certificate is attested by Edward and Henry Verral, and allowed by J. Bridger and L. Spence the 5th instant. At home all day. I think last night to have been as windy and rainy a night as almost I ever knew. This evening our servant went to Mrs Virgoe’s to spend the evening. In the evening read part of the New Whole Duty of Man.

…Posted part of my day book today and also wrote out part of the parish bill. Charles Diggens drank tea with us. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening, to whom I read part of Sherlock on judgment… A very melancholy time occasioned by the dearness of corn, though not proceeding from a real scarcity, but from the iniquitous practice of engrossers, forestalling etc. My trade is but very small, and what I shall do for an honest livelihood I cannot think. I am and hope ever shall be content to put up with two meals a day, and both of them I am also willing should be of pudding; that is, I am not desirous of eating meat above once or at the most twice a week. My common drink is only water, which I make my choice when I am not involved in company so that I can have it. As I am mortal, so have I my faults and failings common with other mortals. I believe by a too eager thirst after knowledge I have oftentimes to gratify that insatiable humor been at too great an expense in buying books and spent rather too much time in reading, for it seems to be the only diversion that I have any appetite for. Reading and study (might I be allowed the phrase) would in a manner be both meat and drink to me, were my circumstances but independent.