Thomas Turner

Mr ——-, the curate of Laughton, came to the shop in the forenoon, and he, having bought some things of me (and I wish he had paid for them), dined with me and also  stayed in the afternoon till he got in liquor. And with being so complaisant as to keep him company, I was quite drunk.

How do I detest myself for being so foolish! As my brains are so weak they will bear nothing that is strong, sure I am highly culpable for ever attempting to drink anything stronger than small beer or water, and more especially as it gives my conscience so much uneasiness afterwards. Though I have ofttimes thought I would conquer or at least command myself in this particular and have hitherto failed of success, let me once more exert my own strength and implore for aid at the throne of grace to assist my weak endeavors.

Paid Mr Benjamin Shelley in cash 3.8.8 in full for the same sum he paid this week in London for me…

…I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Paid Mr Thomas Carman in cash £20, which with the £100 paid him the 22nd ult. and the £16 the 31st ult. makes together the sum of £136 and is in full for bills received of him the 30th September, for which I then gave him my note of hand. (I have now taken it up and burnt it).

Mr Bannister, having lately taken from the smugglers a freight of brandy, entertained Mr Carman, Mr Joseph Fuller and myself with a bowl of punch in the evening at my house.

I dined on a piece of beef roasted and potatoes. At home all day and really very little to do. In the evening busy a-writing of letters etc.

…I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the afternoon walked up to Mrs Piper’s and measured part of a field which they are a-going to divide… Very little to do all day. Very cold all day; the frost not so severe as it has been. In the evening a small quantity of snow fell, and the frost seemingly a-going off. Joseph Fuller Jr sat with me…

…At home all day and pretty busy… In the evening wrote my London letters… A very cold day; the wind pretty high, and it froze very sharp in the evening.

Thomas Durrant drank tea with me, and he and myself were witnesses to Sam Virgoe’s signing and sealing an election of his father-in-law [stepfather] Thomas Davy his guardian.
 

Myself and servant at church in the morning… I dined on a beef pudding and turnips. After dinner I, in company with Richard Fuller, walked to Little Horsted Church where we heard an excellent sermon preached by the Rev Mr Warnford, rector of that parish, from the Matthew 7:12: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”

We, being too soon for church, went into Mr Lewer’s and stayed some time, where I saw and spoke with my uncle Hill. After church we went to Framfield and called on my brother, with whom we stayed about an hour… A very severe cold day; the frost very hard, and between 5 and 7 o’clock in the evening a pretty deal of snow fell. And between 7 and 9 o’clock it rained for some considerable time excessive hard, after which it cleared up and froze again.

In the night there fell a shower of snow, but not enough to cover the ground. I dined on a hot beef pie. At home all day and very busy. A most remarkable cold day. The wind very high and the frost very severe.

In the forenoon finished posting my day book …At home all day and very little to do in the shop. A very cold day, there being a very severe frost. In the evening Thomas Durrant sat with me some time. I wish I could say, as Young observes; that is, we ought to think ourselves the happiest of all mankind. And I am thoroughly persuaded in reason that what state I am in is best for me.

…I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some beef bones stewed and the broth. At home all day and really very little to do. A very cold day; about sunsetting it began freezing very hard. In the afternoon and evening posted part of my day book and wrote out Mrs Atkins’s bill.

Joseph Fuller and Thomas Durrant sat with me some time in the evening. My confinement is so great that I am fearful it will impair my health, which by the goodness of the Supreme Being I have for a great while enjoyed in a perfect state.

Dame Akehurst, a-brewing for me today, dined with me on a chick pudding, a piece of pork and turnips. At home all day and very little to do. Paid Dame Akehurst 9d for her day’s work.