Thomas Turner

…We dined today on some fried roach and some biscuit sopped. Paid the widow Virgoe in cash 8.9.0 and by a book debt 1.11.0… in full for the same sum borrowed of her by my wife the 8th of April. Paid Richard Prall and Edward Martin 7½d for slitting a batten for me. At home all day and very busy. In the evening finished reading Wake’s Catechism, which I think a very good book and proper for all families, there being good instructions in it and also something which is prodigious moving. It was written in a lively, brisk manner and not as if the author wrote more out of form than for the good of peoples’ souls. At the same time it is in a very plain, familiar style, suitable I think to the meanest capacities that can read. And so far as I can judge there is everything contained in it necessary to a man’s salvation.

Myself and wife at church in the morning… My wife and I both stayed communion; we gave 6d each. In the time we were in church Mr Tucker came to see us and brought my wife a present of two mackerel. He dined with us on a cold veal pie, gooseberry pie and custard, and stayed and drank some coffee with us, and went away about 6:20. In the evening and in the day read part of Sherlock on judgment. No service at our church this afternoon, Mr Porter preaching at Laughton.

…Paid Mr Francis Elless 12d in full for William Dallaway’s schooling. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a boiled mackerel. Thomas Cornwell at work for me in the morning. He breakfasted with us and made my wife a present of 5 trout, for which, with the roach he gave her Friday, I gave him 12d… In the evening read part of Sherlock on judgment. About 10 o’clock my brother Sam Slater came to see us and stayed all night.

…Thomas Cornwell at work for me about half the day. He and my brother Sam Slater dined with us on a piece of bacon and part of loin veal boiled, a light pudding, and greens and a boiled mackerel. As soon as we had dined my brother Samuel Slater went away. In the evening Thomas Davy at our house to whom I read part of Euclid’s Elements of Geometry.

At home all day. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some boiled trout. The widow Cornwell and Thomas Cornwell’s wife drank tea with us. In the day read part of The Peerage of England. In the evening read the first book of Milton’s Paradise Lost.

In the morning rode over to Framfield and breakfasted with my mother. I came home again about 11:10. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of 3 boiled trout… Sent by John Streeter 3/9 for my club arrears. In the evening read the second book of Milton’s Paradise Lost.

…Paid Mr Ben Shelley in cash 1.1.2, which sum he paid to Mr Will Ashmore the 17th instant in full on my account. Paid John Watford 11d for 1 gallon beans which he bought in Lewes for me today. At home all day. In the evening read the third book of Milton’s Paradise Lost, and in the day read part of The Peerage of England.

Paid Dame Dallaway 20d for mending my wife’s stays and making a bed gown. James Marchant cut out for me today 8 pairs linings; he dined with us on a piece of bacon boiled, a light pudding and some spinach, some baked roach, pear and gooseberry pie. Lent Joseph Durrant my horse to carry John to Framfield upon. In the evening Thomas Davy at our house, to whom I read the 4th book of Paradise Lost. At home all day and indifferently busy. A remarkable dry time, there having been no rain of any consequence this 3 weeks.

About 7 o’clock in the morning my wife and I set out for Framfield, she on my colt and I on foot. We got to my mother’s about 8:10. We breakfasted with my mother. My mother, wife, brother and all my mother’s family were at church in the morning, except my sister and nephew, who together with myself stayed at home to get dinner. We dined at my mother’s on a shoulder of mutton roasted, a plain bread pudding and gooseberry pie. Neither my wife nor self at church in the afternoon. We stayed and drank tea at my mother’s and stayed till near 7 o’clock. We came home about 8:30. N.B.: This day my mother informed me that she had lately been told that Master Darby owed so much money that it was expected he would soon be sent to jail (and by someone in Lewes). Oh, melancholy news, for I believe he owes me near £20.

In the morning as soon as I had breakfasted I set out for Lewes in order for to commit the management of the debt due from Master Darby to me into the hands of Mr Rideout, but when I came to Lewes Mr Rideout was not at home; and fearing a delay in the affair might prove of a dangerous consequence (I mean as to my getting of the debt), I therefore committed the same into the care of Mr Burtenshaw, attorney at law, who proposes to send for a writ this day and to arrest him on Saturday next. The debt I swore to be due to me is £17 though I am pretty confident it is more than £18.

Oh, what a confusion and tumult there is in my breast about this affair! To think what a terrible thing it is to arrest a person, for by this means he may be entirely torn to pieces, who might otherwise recover himself and pay everyone their own. But then on the other hand let me consider some of this debt has been standing above 4 years, and the greatest part of it above three years. I have tried very hard to get it these two years and cannot get one farthing. They have almost quite forsaken my shop, buying nothing of me that amounts to any value, but every time they want anything of value, they go to Lewes. And I have just reason to suspect they must be deep in debt at other places, for undoubtedly no people of £200 a year go gayer than Mrs Darby and her two daughters. So I greatly fear they, instead of getting out of debt, go farther in. And as I at this time am so oppressed for want of money that I know not which way to turn, it makes me more eager to get it. For I really and sincerely have no other motive in doing this but to secure my just due, and I think there is no probability of ever getting it but by doing this (and I really am afraid I shall never have it at all).

I called at Mr Bennett’s, Mr Thomas Scrase’s and Mr Madgwick’s. I ate some bread and cheese at Mr Scrase’s. My wife at home dined on some baked roach. Paid Mr Sam Newell 10/- in full. I came from Lewes by Bayley’s Lane where I called at Mr Crowhurst’s and bought some earthenware for myself and mother. I came home thank God very safe and sober about 7 o’clock. Spent today as under:

To the turnpike	0.0.2
Spent	0.0.3
Horse, hay, Oats and ostler	0.0.5½
Gave away to two children	0.0.1
	0.0.11½