Thomas Turner

We dined on a buttered pudding cake and some spinach… Paid Thomas Burfield in goods 3/6 for 6 beehives. At home all day… In the forenoon read part of The Peerage of England. Paid Halland gardener 10d for 1 peck of gooseberries received by him today.

Sent by the post today to Mr John Wathen, hatter at the Three Conies in Cannon Street, one bill… value 6.5.0… in full of all demands to this day. Paid Joseph Fuller by his son Richard 15d for part of a neck of veal, weighing 5 lbs, at 3d per lb received by him today. Thomas Cornwell a-ditching for me today part of the day; he dined with us on a piece of veal boiled, a piece of bacon and spinach… In the afternoon at work in my garden.

In the morning about 5:40 my wife and I set out for Lewes on our roan mare, where we arrived about 7:20. We breakfasted at Mr Thomas Scrase’s and dined at Mrs Roase’s on a shoulder of veal stuffed, a pigeon pudding and green salad. We stayed and drank tea at Mrs Roase’s… We called on Mr Bennett and Mr Madgwick, but did not stop at either house. We also went to see the Castle Mount, which I think a most beautiful sight, it being so well adorned with a great variety of shrubs and flowers, and so exceeding high that you have a command of the prospect of all the circumjacent country round. We came home thank God very safe, sober, and well about 8:30. Spent today as under:

Myself gave Mrs Roase’s servant	0.0.6
My wife do.	0.0.6
Gave the man that showed us the Mount	0.0.6
Turnpike, horse, and ostler	0.0.6
	0.2.0

In the morning Mr French and Mr Piper came before I was up and called me in order to make the land tax books, for in reality they must be carried into the sitting today; so accordingly, I made them, though I do not remember that I was either thanked or offered to be paid for the paper. But as to Mr French’s part, he has so often conferred favors upon me that I lay under great obligation to him, but as for Mr Piper, I know of none he ever conferred on me though sometimes solicited thereto; so that I think I may without partially say he is a mean-spirited old wretch. However, let him go as he is, for he will, I doubt, always remain poor in the midst of riches.

We dined on some veal boiled and the broth and caper sauce. Paid 4½d for 10 small plaice bought today. Paid John Pentecost 7/6 for 12 lbs of wool bought today. Paid Thomas Cornwell by a book debt and money 5/- in full for gardening, ditching etc. Bet Fuller drank tea at our house. In the evening went down to a public vestry at Jones’s, where our company was Joseph and Thomas Fuller, Mr French, Joseph Durrant, Will Piper, Richard Page and myself. There was nothing of any moment agreed to but that Peter Adams would be released from a bond which he gave the parish as security for the child born of the body of Anne Cain, of which he is the putative father, upon condition that he shall pay to the churchwarden or overseer on Monday the 3rd of July next the sum of four pounds, and also at the same time to pay to them, or either of them, a sum sufficient after the rate of 18d a per week to defray the expenses of keeping the said child until it shall arrive at the full age of 7 years.

Came home about 9:45 when I found my wife very ill. I also received a letter from my father Slater that my sister-in-law Ann Slater was very dangerously ill and given over by the doctors. Spent at Jones’s 1½d.

In the morning sent Thomas Davy to Hartfield to know how my wife’s sister did. Also sent for Mr Stone to visit my wife. Molly Hook came today as a servant during our pleasure. We dined on some boiled plaice… In the evening Mr Stone paid my wife a visit and declared his opinion of her illness that it was a rheumatic disorder with the gravel in her kidneys. Thomas Davy came back in the evening and brought us news that my sister was very bad, and I suppose he had a great deal of my mother’s nonsense, which she is very full of, having a great volubility of tongue for invective, and especially if I am the subject though what the good woman wants with me I know not, unless it be that I have offended her by being too careful of her daughter, who, poor creature, has enjoyed but little pleasure of her life in the marriage state, being almost continually (to our great misfortune) afflicted with illness. But who is the person that should repine at what the sovereign Disposer of all events pleases to afflict us poor mortals with here below?

In the morning sent James Marchant to Framfield for my sister, who accordingly came along with him. Mr Stone paid my wife another visit today and let her blood… This day I was the spectator, and an idle spectator, only, but a gainful partaker of that which I think no man ever was; that is, of Master Piper’s generosity. For he this day made my wife a present of 2 fine carp. We dined on the carp boiled and a light pudding.

Paid Joseph Fuller by his son Thomas 2/- for one leg of lamb received today, weighing 6 lbs. At home all day. In the evening cut out 12 round frocks… Paid John Dan 4/- in full for working 6 days in the highroads for me.

In the morning Mr John Crowhurst brought in the earthenware bought the 22nd ult. Paid him 3.0.6 in full. Very busy all day. Paid Thomas Wickersham in cash 6d, which with a book debt of 0.14.7 is in full for carriage of coals and all demands. We dined on a leg of lamb boiled and spinach with light pudding. In the evening Master Darby and Charles Cooper came to my house, he having just arrested Master Darby agreed to take a bill of sale of Master Darby’s goods. They both lodged at our house all night. My wife very ill all day… A very melancholy time with me; my wife very ill, and I am prodigious uneasy about Master Darby’s affair for fear I should have been guilty of any harsh or inhuman usage. Oh, that I lived in solitude and had not the occasion to act in trade. But still I hope and think I have done nought but what is consistent with self-preservation and the laws of equity.

Paid Benjamin Shelley 0.12.6½ in full for money he, paid to redeem Mary Hubbard’s cloths which were pawned (which sum was paid on the parish account). Our late servant Mary Martin came to see us and dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some green salad. She stayed and drank tea with us and went home in the evening. At home all day and pretty busy. Dr Stone paid my wife another visit, she being very ill.

…Paid the son of Mr John Crowhurst in cash 0.19.0 for some more earthenware received by him today; viz., on my own account 16/- and on my mother’s account 3/-. My wife and sister a-visiting at Mrs Weller’s, and they together with myself drank tea there. Borrowed of James Marchant by way of change 5/-. At home all day; my wife continues very ill.

In the morning Robert Hook made my wife a present of some roach, as did also Thomas Cornwell. My sister and the girl at church in the morning, myself and wife staying at home. We dined on a piece of bacon, and part of a breast of veal roasted, a rice and pearl barley pudding and spinach. My brother Moses came over after dinner; he and Thomas Durrant drank tea with us, and they together with Thomas Davy and Thomas Cornwell drank some syllabub with us.

My brother and sister went away about 8 o’clock. No service at our church in the afternoon, Mr Porter preaching at Laughton. My wife continues ill though much better. Mr Stone paid her another visit today… Gave my brother and sister 5 of the 6 roach given my wife today. At home all day.