Thomas Turner

In the morning my brother went again to Mr Stone’s, whose answer was that Mr William Baldwin (the person he drew on) had effects in his hands and that he would wait on me tomorrow.

Myself, servant and brother at church in the morning… After churchtime my brother and I walked over to Framfield to see my sister who is ill. We dined at my brother’s on a calf’s bell etc., my servant at home dining on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. We stayed at my brother’s and drank tea and then came some about 6:20. A great deal of snow fell in the afternoon, but did not lie on the ground. Sam Jenner and Joseph Fuller sat with me some time in the evening.

…My brother Moses came over in the forenoon, but did not stay. I received of him in cash £31, for which I am to give him a draft. This day received by the carrier enclosed in a letter from Mr Will Margesson the bill value £19 I sent him the 5th instant, as also the bill value £10 sent him the 12th instant, both drawn by Stone on Baldwin and both returned for non-payment. My brother sent to Mr Stone’s to talk with him about it, but he was not at home.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day and very little to do. A very cold day. In the evening my brother and I played a few games of cribbage; he won of me 6 games. This affair of Stone’s bill makes me very uneasy lest the whole of his bills should be returned, which amounts to 103.7.6.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Posted my day book today. At home all day and but very little to do. In the evening myself, Joseph Fuller Jr, my brother and Thomas Durrant went over to Mr Burgess’s, where we spent 6d each. Came home safe and sober about 9:10.

Dame Akehurst, a-brewing for me all day, dined with me on a piece of beef boiled, an apple pudding, parsnips and potatoes. At home all day and pretty busy. In the day Sam Jenner came in, and he being sadly out of order with last night took part of my bed. Paid Dame Akehurst 2/3 in full for today and 2 days’ due to her before for washing.

In the morning walked down to Halland to meet Mr Baley. Came home about 10:20.I dined on a hog’s flesh pudding and potatoes and parsnips. In the evening Joseph Fuller Jr and I walked down to pay Sam Jenner a visit and spent the evening there in company with Mr Will Jenner of Chiddingly, Will Willard and Mr Walter Dicker. We played at brag; I won 2/9½. We supped at Master Jenner’s on some bread and cheese. Came home about 1:10 safe and sober.

Dame Akehurst, coming to brew for me tomorrow, took part of my servant’s bed.

Sent Mr Will Margesson enclosed in a letter by Benjamin Shelley delivered to himself by my servant the bill value £10 I received of Mr Richard Stone the 6th instant on Mr William Baldwin. Also the bill value £66 I received of him the 8th instant on Messrs Cardin and Day. Sent Messrs Cruttenden and Burgess by Shelley as before mentioned one bill on Mr Will Margesson …value 5.12.6, which bill when paid is in full on my account with Messrs Cruttenden and Burgess. Exchanged [a] bill [of 8.7.6] for Mr Richard Stone, surgeon and apothecary at Blackboys…

I dined on a sausage batter pudding baked. At home all day and very little to do. In the evening Sam Jenner and I played a few games of cribbage; I won 2d. Paid Richard Heath 3/-, and 1/- he paid me on account, is for the money I received for him on Sunday. Paid Peter Adams the 4/- received for him on Sunday.

Sam Jenner stayed and dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a plain suet pudding. Paid John Nutley in cash, goods and a book debt 0.13.5½ in full as follows:

½ bushel flour Durrant 28th ult.	0.2.10
1 pack do. the same day Roase	0.1.5
The 28th ult. 1 gallon flour, Babcock	0.0.8½
The 7th inst. ½ bushel Babcock	0.3.0
8th ½ bushel flour Durrant	0.3.0
To pay for Dame Vallow	0.2.6

At home all day and not very busy. My brother Moses came over in the afternoon, and he and Mr Coates’s servant drank tea with me. In the evening wrote my London letters.

Oh my melancholy and disconsolate mind! The happiness I once enjoyed in my dear wife’s time is now, alas! no more.

Myself and brother at church in the morning… I dined on a beef pudding, potatoes and parsnips. Myself, brother and servant at church in the afternoon… After churchtime we distributed the £4 I paid Mr Porter yesterday as under:

Edward Babcock	0.1.6	John Durrant	0.4.0
Widow Dan	0.2.0	James Emery	0.1.0
Richard Heath	0.4.0	Sam Jenner	0.3.0
Richard Prall	0.3.0	John Streeter	0.2.0
Susan Swift	0.2.0	William Starks [Slarkes]	0.5.0
Francis Turner	0.3.0	Widow Trill	02.0
Sarah Thunder	0.3.0	Thomas Tester	0.5.0
Richard Vinal	0.3.0	Ann Wood	0.1.6
Will Eldridge	0.8.0	Thomas Ling	0.5.0
Thomas Roase	0.6.0	Widow Cain	0.2.0
Widow Cornell	0.2.0	Will Sinden	0.4.0
Thomas Dallaway	0.2.0	Peter Adams	0.4.0
Widow German	0.2.0

After this Mr Porter gave John Jones 2/- of money reserved of the Communion money. Richard Heath nor Peter Adams being at church, I kept their money, which was 4/- each. Samuel Jenner coming in the evening, and it being very wet weather, he took part of my bed.

…I dined on a sausage batter pudding baked (which is this: a little flour and milk beat up into a batter with an egg and some salt and a few sausages cut in pieces and put in it and then baked). Paid Mr Scale, a needle-maker of Chichester, 1.2.6 in full for the following goods bought of him today:

4 thousand of needles in quarters	0.12.0
12 hundred best do. in hundreds           at 4/- per m.	0.4.6
5 gross of shirt buttons	0.6.0

Paid the Rev Mr Porter in cash £4 in full for 1 year’s interest due on a bond for £100 which the parish have, that was left as a legacy to the minister and churchwarden of this parish for ever, the interest of which is to be yearly distributed among the poor in this parish at the discretion of the minister and churchwarden for the time being. At home all day and busy. The wife of James Marchant, coming in the afternoon to assist my servant iron, drank tea with me.

How do I lament in secret the loss of that valuable partner of my soul, my dearest wife!

Exchanged the following draft for Mr Richard Stone, surgeon and apothecary at Blackboys, for doing of which he gave me 6/6:

£66.0.0        Lewes          8th Feb., 1765
 
Gents: Fourteen days after date please to pay to Mr Richard Stone or order sixty-six pound for value received by your humble servant
 
To                            John Burtenshaw.
 
Messrs Cardin and Day
 
Merchants in Bucklersbury, London
 
Endorsed by the said Richard Stone.

I dined on a beef pudding and potatoes and parsnips. In the afternoon Molly and Bett Carman, Mrs Browne and Thomas Durrant paid me a visit and drank tea with me, and they together with Mr Bannister, Sam Jenner and Joseph Fuller Jr and Henry Godley spent the evening with me and played at cards, some at brag and others at whist. I won about 5d or 5½d. They all stayed and supped with me on some bread and cheese and apple pie (except Mr Bannister and Joseph Fuller). The rest stayed till about 2:10. Thomas Durrant, not being very well and it being very late and excessive cold, took part of my bed. At home all day and very busy.

Oh! the want of a true, sincere and virtuous friend to entrust the management of my household affairs with.