Thomas Turner

After breakfast Mr Joseph Burgess came and desired I would accompany him to Maresfield (the sitting being there today), which I accordingly agreed to. About 11:10 we set out on foot. We just called at my mother’s, but did not stay, in order to get my brother to come over to assist my wife in my absence, which he accordingly did. We dined at the Chequer in Maresfield (at the 2nd sitting) in company with my father Slater and near or quite 30 more, on the remains of a buttock of beef boiled, a quarter of lamb roasted, a loin of veal and calf’s head…

Mr Burgess verified his book and got his summons, and we came away about 4:10 (he paying my expenses). We came home in company with Mr Pentecost and William Durrant of Chiddingly. We called at my mother’s, where I stayed and drank tea in company with Mr George Beard. We came home about 6:10 and my brother went away immediately.

In the evening went down to Jones’s, where there was a public meeting. We came home about 11:05, and very sober. Our company was Mr Coates, Thomas and Joseph Fuller, Mr French, Mr Joseph Burgess, John Watford, John Vine, Robert Hook, Will Piper, Thomas Carman, Richard Page, myself and Joseph Durrant. Our parish affairs in my opinion seem to move on in a better manner than formerly, there being now unanimity in almost all the vestries we have, when heretofore it was all noise and discord.

Rec’d today of my mother…15.12.6 in full…for 6 dozen hard soap, 1.6.0…to Messrs Crowley & Co. for a parcel of nails, 7.1.11… Rec’d of Mr Joseph Burgess in cash 22.4.4 in full; viz.,

Mr Burgess Dr.
To my bill on the parish account	11.2.9
To. do. as being churchwarden	7.10.10½
To my bill for money lent and paid for him to this day	4.12.0½
	23.5.8
Per Contra Cr.
To my poor tax for the year 1757	1.1.4
	22.4.4

After I had received the above, I paid Mr Burgess 2/- for money which he had expended and I had charged in my bill of goods on the parish.

In the morning wrote my London letters and sent Messrs Kendall and Rushton (enclosed in a letter by Messrs Beckett and Shelley) 1 bill… value 23.6.0, in full to the 2lst ult. Also sent Messrs Crowder & Co…1 bill…value 8.12.11, in full from the 6th April to the 7th December, both days inclusive. Also sent Mr John Crouch 1 bill… value £10. Paid Mr Sam Beckett 4/6 in full for 9 yds linen received some time since. Paid Will Sinden 0.8.2 in full to a bill of flour from 27 October to 7 March, both days inclusive, 2.1.4…

We dined on the remains of Friday and Saturday’s dinners. In the evening walked down to Robert Warren’s at Laughton to ask him for a debt, but did not get it, and Mr Elless rode along with me on my colt. In the evening Mr Elless and Joseph Fuller sat with us a while. Very busy all day. A great quantity of snow fell this day, but it did not lie long on the ground.

Rec’d of Ben Mott 2.0.6 in full. At home all day and very busy. We dined on a light pudding and turnip greens. In the evening Mary Heath came to our house in order to brew for us tomorrow. She supped with us and lodged at our house. In the evening read part of Collins’s Peerage of England. A very cold sharp day, and a very hard frost last night. Oh, what can be a greater pleasure than to be employed in an honest calling all day, and in the evening to unbend and relax one’s thoughts by endeavoring to improve the mental and more noble part of man!

In the morning sent by the post (that is, John Streeter) to Mr George Richardson in cash £10; viz.,

12	36/- pieces	21.12.0
1	27/- piece	1.7.0
16	guineas	16.16.0
5	Shillings	0.5.0

in order for him to set for me of Mr Sam Durrant one bill of the same value and to endorse it with my name and also to enclose it in a letter to Messrs Margesson and Collison. This letter I sent to Mr Richardson, along with the cash, open and unsealed.

Mary Heath a-brewing for us all day. We dined on a piece of beef boiled, an apple and a plain batter pudding and turnip greens. Rec’d back by the post a note from Mr George Richardson that he would take care of my money. Just as we were a-going to drink tea, my father and Fanny Slater came in, who drank tea with us, in company with Dame and Sarah Mott.

In the first part of the evening, down at Mr Porter’s. My father Slater spent the evening at our house. Paid Mary Heath 9d for brewing. Very busy all day. Some very Sharp storms of snow and hail. N.B.: The reason of my going down to Mr Porter’s was that Mr Porter sent for me to inform me that he had just received a letter from a gentleman at Brede, whom he wrote to some time since for a certificate for John Browne, wherein he was informed that the parish would not grant him a certificate till they had first seen him, on account that he was at Brede but the 25th ult., when he spoke nothing of it to any of the officers of the said parish.

…My father and Nanny Slater stayed and breakfasted with us and then set out on their journey for Lewes… In the day Master Hook, myself and Joseph Fuller walked with John Browne over the late farm of Mr Hutson to buy the wood and faggots. Joseph Fuller and myself offered to give 8/- per cord and hundred of faggots for all the wood that was cut on the said farm (that is, where it stands). In the afternoon my brother Moses came over and stayed and drank tea with us.

Paid Mr Sam Beckett for money paid… in London… Mar. 29 to Frances George for dying a coat, 0.3.6… Borrowed of Mrs Virgoe, widow, by my wife in cash £10, but have given her no note for the same. We dined on the remains of Friday and yesterday’s dinners. At home all day and busy. Gave James Bull 2/2, he having a petition for to ask the charity of his friends and neighbors, he being lately fined £5 for only letting a person have part of 2 oz tea which he had just bought… Read part of The London Magazine for March. A very fine day, but a very sharp wind. Rec’d a letter from Mr John Crouch whereby he informed me he has made the balance of my account 53.14.0 to the last instant.

Myself and nephew at church in the morning, my wife staying at home on account of her taking physic… We had a brief read for fire; the sufferers were John Hilton and ten others of the township of Nokk in the County of Salop, whose losses together amounted to the sum of £1439 and upwards. I collected on the said brief 21½d, and 1d I was to put in for Mr Burgess and 2d for Mr Elless together with 2½d I gave myself makes collected in the whole on the said brief 2/3. After churchtime I went into Mr Porter’s, when we both signed the brief. I received of Mr Porter 12d in order to carry some gingerbread etc. with me tomorrow to distribute among the boys when we walk the bounds of this parish against Chiddingly.

We dined on some boiled veal and the broth of it. After dinner I called Thomas and Joseph Fuller, also Thomas Fuller Sr, and we all walked together to Waldron Church (there being no service at our church this afternoon by reason Mr Porter preached at Laughton). …We, being too soon, went into the public house and spent 1½d each. Came home in company with Joseph Durrant and Thomas Fuller Sr. We called at John Cayley’s and drank 1 bottle beer. Came home about 5:10. In the day read part of the New Whole Duty of Man, and in the evening Thomas Davy at our house, to whom I read part of Sherlock on judgment.

About 8:20 Mr Porter, Mr French, Thomas Fuller, Mr Elless and myself, together with near 30 boys, set out in order to walk the bounds of this parish against that of Chiddingly. We went down to Whitesmith where, after staying some time, we were met according to appointment by the Rev Mr Herring, vicar of Chiddingly, Mr Thomas Funnel, Will Jenner and Mr Thomas Hicks the butcher.

We began our walk where our parish, Laughton and Chiddingly join. We proceeded on our walk until we came to what is called the Etchingly wood where each parish took a separate way, and neither of them had any further evidence than that of hearsay (there being no person in either parish that ever walked in it till about 4 years since); so of consequence it must remain upon dispute though the whole quantity of land which is disputed for does not appear to me to be above 10 or 12 acres (part of the Moat Farm, by Sinden’s mill). I think the arguments I heard of both parties make it plain that it must belong to this parish and that at this time (and I believe for 30 years past) it is not taxed to Chiddingly, nor to this parish till about 4 years ago. We came home about 12:20…

We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some eggs. Mrs Gibbs and her daughter drank tea at our house. Very busy all day. In the evening wrote my London letters. Thomas Davy sat with us a while… Trade I hope is at present somewhat brisker than it has been, but oh, money comes in but dull! I have now I think retrenched my expenses as much as it is possible for me to do; so with the blessing of the Almighty I hope I shall once again get the better of my misfortunes.

…Paid Mrs Rebecca Weller £8 in full for one year’s rent, due the 5th instant. Mr Will Francis, Messrs Barlow and Wigginton’s rider, called on me. I gave him one bill on Messrs Margesson and Collinson dated today, 30 days, No. 348, value £8. Indifferently busy all day. Lent Joseph Durrant my horse to ride to Heathfield upon. In the day read part of The London Magazine for March. In the evening read part of the New Whole Duty of Man.

At home all day. We dined on some veal boiled and butter and parsley. Busy all day a-laying my shop in order. This day John Browne came and informed me he intended Joseph Fuller and I should have the wood and faggots on the late Mr Hutson’s land at 8/- per hundred of faggots and 8/- each cord of wood in the place. In the day read part of The Universal Magazine for March. In the evening read part of the 1st volume of The Peerage of England.