Thomas Turner

In the morning my friend Mr Hill and I balanced accounts, and the balance due to me now remaining is £30, for which he gave me his note of hand…with interest for the same after the rate of five pounds percent per annum from the 1st day of April last.

After breakfast Mr Hill set out for home. At home all day and pretty busy. In the evening went into Joseph Durrant’s, where I stayed till about 12 o’clock and spent the evening in company with their own family and Mr Thornton, formerly an of officer of excise in this round and their boarder, but now an officer of excise at Spoondon in the county of Derby.

I cannot but say my stay was too long, for the liquor was too powerful for my brain, so that I was somewhat in liquor, though not very much, but however too much, and in reality more than is consistent with the Christian religion, and what I greatly lament as a great weakness in myself.

I dined on a beef pudding and turnips. At home all day and pretty busy. In the evening my very much respected friend: and cousin Mr Hill came to see me and stayed with me all night.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Pretty busy all day. At home all day. In the evening down to Mr Porter’s, where I stayed and supped; came home about 10:20, sober. Paid Mr Porter 8/- in full for 1 year’s rent for tithes due St Michael last.

Rec’d of Joseph Fuller 1 lb of beef. My brother came over to stand the shop for me in the afternoon and dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some beefsteaks broiled.

In the afternoon I went up to the dwelling-house of the late Mr Will Piper, where Mr Porter and I settled the affairs relating to our trust, and upon making the balance of our account, there remains in my hands the sum of 5.5.4. I received my bill for goods delivered for the use of the family. We drank tea there and came home about 7:20. My brother went away immediately.

Rec’d of the widow of Richard Watkins in cash 1.16.0 in full for 1 year’s interest due on a copyhold mortgage the 1st day of June last to myself and the other executors and devisees of Mr Will Piper deceased. Mr Long dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day. Wrote out Mrs Piper’s bill. T. Durrant took part of my bed.

Paid Mr Thomas Carman in cash £16 on account. My sister dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner and stayed and drank tea with me and then went home… In the evening wrote my London letters. At home all day and very little to do.

…After churchtime my sister and I walked up to Joseph Fuller’s, where we drank tea. We came home about 7:10. In the evening read one of Tillotson’s sermons.

[Vol. 91 of Thomas Turner’s diary is missing.]

In the morning I paid Mr Faulkner Bristow in cash 2.1.4 in full. Breakfasted with Mr John Madgwick. Came home about 12:20. Spent upon myself, horse, ostler and turnpike 3/11. My brother dined with me on a piece of beef boiled, an apple pudding and carrots.

In the afternoon rode a to Laughton with some goods and stayed and chatted too long with the clergyman who is lately come there, for I cannot with truth say I came home sober. My brother in my absence received of Mrs Bridgman today 1.6.8½ in full. My servant’s father, coming to see her, lodged at my house.

Rec’d from the parish of Ticehurst a certificate for James Marchant, Elizabeth his wife and Hannah their child, allowing them their [i.e., Ticehurst’s] inhabitants legally settled in their said parish. The certificate was properly signed by John Clifton and Robert Fuller, churchwardens, Richard Austine and Gabriel Jarvis, overseers, and allowed by J. Nicholl and Stephen Fuller, two of his Majesty’s justices of the peace in and for the county of Sussex.
 

…In the evening my brother came over to stand the shop for me, I being a-going to Lewes. Accordingly about 6:10 I set out for Lewes where I arrived about 7:50. I paid Mr John Lambert in cash 3.6.9 in full on my account. Also paid Mrs Mary Roase one bill on Mr William Margesson… value 20.6.0, which bill when paid is in full on my account to this day.

I spent the evening at the Cats [i.e., Dorset Arms] in company with my brother, whom I went almost on purpose to see. I also lodged at the Cats all night.