Thomas Turner

…About 10:20 Thomas Fuller and I set out for Lewes where we arrived about 12:20. I paid the collector of the excise Joseph Durrant’s hop-duty, 0.7.6, and also Joseph Fuller’s, 1.17.4, both which sums I had received of them today for the same purpose…

I dined at Mr Friend’s on a hog’s cheek boiled, a chick roasted and some greens… I stayed at Mr Friend’s about 2 hours and came home very sober about 6:30. In the evening Thomas Cornwell made my wife a present of a pike 16 inches long from eye to fork, weighing about 2½ lbs; I gave him 6d. A very high wind all the afternoon, and in the evening as high as almost I ever knew it and extremely cold…

…We dined on some liver fried. In the afternoon Mrs Vine drank tea at our house. At home all day. Posted my day book. This day a prodigious high wind all day, and also all last night, together with a very hard frost. Read part of The Peerage of England.

…Paid Thomas Overing 4/6 in full on account for Mrs Weller for new leading of the windows etc. of this house. We dined on a pike baked in Durrant’s oven, a light pudding, some calves’ liver and lights boiled and minced. After dinner walked up to Mr John Vine’s with some things for the audit. Thomas Durrant at our house in the evening. In the day read part of the 1st volume of The Peerage of England. A great deal of snow fell in the forenoon, but melted chiefly as it fell. A very sharp frost in the morning and most prodigious cold all day.

This day I received a letter from Mr Sterry wherein he informs me that the temporary bridge, lately erected of wood for the benefit of passage while London Bridge was taken down in order to be repaired, took fire on Tuesday night last about 11 o’clock and was entirely consumed and burnt down, even to the water edge. It is supposed to be set on fire by some malicious and evil-disposed person. Now could it be thought that in a Christian land, and more especial, among a people that profess the protestant religion in its primitive purity, that there could be a wretch among us so wicked as to perpetrate so black and horrid a crime? But oh, what a convincing proof is this of the predominancy of vice and wickedness in this irreligious age when any crime is not so much deemed a vice in the perpetrator when the cause of it proceeds from something that was in appearance a nuisance to his private interest!

There being no service at our church in the morning on account of Mr Porter’s preaching at Laughton, I went to Little Horsted where I arrived about 8:50. I stayed and breakfasted at my uncle Hill’s and went with him to their church where we had a very good sermon preached (by their curate, the Rev Mr Fullthorpe) from the 25th and 26th verses of the 73rd Psalm “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my as portion forever.” I went and dined at my uncle Hill’s (in company with the Rev Mr Fullthorpe) on a piece of beef boiled and some greens and a shoulder of mutton roasted… I stayed till about 3:20 and came home very sober just as the people came from church. In the evening completed reading through the New Whole Duty of Man, and I think it a very good book, fitting to be read by all people, and a very proper book to be in all families… There was a very sharp frost in the morning, and I think the greatest I ever knew at this season of the year.

Paid Mr Thomas Awcock in cash £2 in part of rent due from Sam Elphick of Framfield to him. We dined off some calves’ liver and lights boiled and minced. In the evening my brother Moses came over and, it being wet weather, stayed all night. In the evening wrote my London letters. At home all day and very busy. In the day read part of the 1st volume of The Peerage of England. Oh, what an unspeakable pleasure it is to be busied in one’s trade and at a leisure hour to unbend one’s mind by reading!

In the morning as soon as we arose, my brother went away. Dame Dallaway at work a-mending a gown for my wife. She dined with us on a calf’s heart pudding, a light pudding and some turnip greens. In the forenoon went up to the house of the late Mr James Hutson, where there was a sale. I did not buy anything, but left 5/6 with Mr Burgess to buy a tea-kettle and a pair of pot-hangers for me. Very busy all day. Joseph Fuller Jr smoked a pipe with me in the evening, and after he was gone, I read part of Wake’s Catechism.

In the morning hilled up my beans and peas… Dame Dallaway at work for my wife all day… Mary Carpenter drank tea at our house. About 5:4O went up to Mr Vine’s, the audit being there. I received of Mr Vine 2.0.6 for bills as under:

The audit bill	1.12.6
To a bill of nails	0.9.1

I gave Mr Vine’s daughter 12d according to custom. I came home about 9:10, very sober. Very busy all day. Oh, how happy am I, now I am employed constantly in my business! In the evening read part of Wake’s Catechism.

Sent by John Streeter the post to Mr Thomas Awcock… 6.15.0 in full for one year’s rent due from Sam Elphick Jr (to Mr Awcock) at old Lady Day last past for his land in Framfield:

In cash the 17th instant	2.0.0
By land tax	1.8.0
Do. quit rent	0.2.8
Do. a bill of repairs	0.3.0
In cash today	3.1.4

Dame Dallaway at work at our house half the day. She dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a currant pond pudding. Very busy all day. In the day read part of the 2nd volume of The Peerage of England. Paid Dame Dallaway 20d for 2½ days’ work. At home all day. In the evening read part of Wake’s Catechism. N.B.: I have not received back by Streeter any receipt for the money I sent by him today.

…Now for some time past I have had a very busy time, which has rendered me happy in that respect, having, I hope, some prospect of the world’s once more smiling on me. But, oh! how is my pleasure palled by the scurrilous treatment I have this morning received from my wife, and to the best of my knowledge without any the least provocation. Oh, how unhappy is that life that is continually perplexed with domestic disquietudes and matrimonial discord!

How fleeting does all worldly happiness appear to me now. I, who was last night all serenity and calmness in my breast, am now almost depressed with trouble (trough to my unspeakable comfort I can say, not with passion.) What I can do I know not, for it is impossible for my trade to be carried on to advantage amidst such trouble. For I must act in all respects to the will of my wife, or otherwise have I such a clamor. I should never care how hard I worked, nor even how coarse soever my fare, could I live but happy with that person whom I have chosen for a partner during life. And what is still the bitterest misfortune of all is that I am desirous of leading such a life here upon earth that I may through the mercies and merits of our blessed Savior ever live a life of eternity in heaven, which such disturbances can no ways be consistent with. No, they quite discompose and distract my thoughts and almost drive me to despair. For almost those five years past, nay, even from the very day of marriage have I had such distracting tumults at very short intervals of time. Not that I would be thought to charge them all upon my wife, for doubtless, as I am mortal, I am also liable to human frailties and have often, too too often acted very indiscreet. I have oftentimes thought time and patience could put an end to all the discords subsisting between us as they have arisen chiefly from an unhappy temper, but now I despond of their ever ceasing till death, or at least till a separation, the thought of which strikes me to the heart and makes me almost fit for bedlam. Oh, what disturbances has my unhappy marriage made among my friends! I am become a stranger unto my brethren and an alien unto my mother’s children. “O God, thou knowest my foolishness and my sins are not hid from thee. Hide not thy face from thy servant, for I am in trouble. Hear me, 0 Lord, for thy loving kindness is good; turn unto me according to thy tender mercies.”

We dined on some potatoes and bread. Paid Goldsmith’s carter 6/- for 2 dozen of dairy brushes he bought of Mr John Wilbar in Lewes for me today. At home all day and busy. Read part of The Peerage of England.

Rec’d by John Streeter a receipt from Mr Thomas Awcock… Paid Joseph Fuller by his son Richard 20d in full for a neck veal of 5¾ lbs at 3½d per lb received by him today. We dined on a light pudding and turnip greens… At home all day and busy…