Thomas Turner

After breakfast walked over to Framfield in order to meet my brother Richard to read my mother’s will, but he did not come; so at present the content of her will is still a secret to me… Today as soon as I got to Framfield, I had a messenger come to me to send home a fine shroud, sheet etc. for the widow Jones. I borrowed 6d of my brother to give the person sent. In the afternoon my brother and I walked over to Uckfield and came back and drank tea at Framfield. Came home about 7:10. In the evening my wife went down to Mr Porter’s to carry the communion wine and supped there. Thomas Davy sat with us some time in the evening.

Balanced accounts with Mr Thomas Fuller, [including] my poor tax for this year, 0.14.0… John Watford Jr a-gardening half the day for me and dined with us on a piece of beef boiled, part of a neck of veal roasted in the oven and a batter pudding under it, turnip greens and a green salad. In the afternoon went down to Halland with a hat. In the evening read part of Steele’s Christian Hero.

Myself, wife and servant at church in the morning; the text in part of the 34th verse of the 24th chapter of St Luke’s Gospel: “The Lord is risen indeed.” Myself, wife and servant stayed the communion; my wife and I gave 6d each. While we were at church my brother Will came to see us, who dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. My wife and servant only at church in the afternoon (my brother not choosing to go)… My brother stayed and drank tea with us, as did also Thomas Davy. About 6:10 my brother went away, Thomas Davy and I going to bring him on the road as far as Bentley where I went to carry the black cloth for the funeral of Mrs Jones tomorrow, we came back about 6:10. Thomas Davy supped with us, to whom, and in the day, I read 3 of Tillotson’s sermons.

In the morning about 6:10 my brother Moses and Charles Diggens came over, Charles in order to take up a coat and waistcoat for John Browne, and Moses on other business. They together with John Browne breakfasted with us, but went away soon after…

About 3:20 I went down to Jones’s to the vestry when I made up the accounts between Thomas Fuller the present overseer and the parish, and there was due to the parish 1.9.0. We were very unanimous at our vestry; nothing but barony and good humor seemed to be in every one of the People there, who were Thomas and Joseph Fuller, Jeremiah French, Mr Porter, Joseph Burgess, William Piper, Edward Foord, John Cayley, John Browne, Edmund Elphick, John Watford, John Burridge and Joseph Durrant. The officers nominated for the year ensuing were: John Cayley, overseer, John Watford, electioner; Thomas Fuller, churchwarden, Joseph Fuller, electioner. Rec’d of Thomas Fuller 12/- which I am to pay to John Elless, it being for poor tax which he has paid in his prejudice for the years 1755 and 1756. I came home about 10:10.

Wrote my London letters. My wife in my absence paid John Streeter 2/7 for a bond which he bought for me today at Lewes. Rec’d of Thomas Fuller 2/- for making the poor book.

Mrs Vine and her daughter Bet drank tea at our house. At home all day and thank God busy. Posted part of my day book… Rec’d of Mr Porter by the payment of Mrs Porter 2.10.2 in full for 1 bushel cow-grass seed, a bag and carriage.

In the forenoon posted my day book and wrote out several bills. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the morning Charles Diggens came over to take up a coat for Mr Stone. He breakfasted with us. Mrs Fuller and her daughter Bett and Mrs Browne and Molly Hutson drank tea at our house. About 5:20 I walked up to the audit at Mr Vine’s. I gave him the following bills, all of which had a receipt upon then, but I received no money by reason he promised to send me it tomorrow.

To the audit bill	1.13.1
To a bill of nails	0.1.3
To 2 gallons brandy	0.13.0
	2.7.4

Came home about 6:20, Thomas Durrant and Mr Thornton at our house in the evening. Mr Thornton and I played at cribbage; I lost 1d. Very busy all day.

…In the evening Mr Thornton at our house; we played at cribbage. I lost 6d, a due [adieu] cribbage for one while! …At home all day and ill with a cold.

In the forenoon I walked over to Framfield where I met my brother Richard, and he according to our agreement opened my mother’s will and read it… She has given all her personal estate to be divided between my brothers Moses and Richard and my sister Sally. Her farm at Chiddingstone in the county of Kent she has given between myself, my brothers Moses and Richard and my sister Sally as tenants in common, and has charged my part with the payment of six pounds to my sister-in-law Elizabeth if she be living at the time of my mother’s death, but if she be not, I am to pay the same to a natural or base-born son of my said sister’s, named Philip. And she has made, constituted and appointed my brother Moses executor to her will…

After dinner I walked down to Mr Smith with my brother to ask him for his custom. We came back and drank tea at my brother’s, and I came home about 6:10… Sent Thomas Davy to Lewes for me today; he came back and supped with us. I gave him 12d for his journey. Oh, may the God of all mercy pour down his blessing upon my brothers and sister, as also upon myself, that we may live in peace and unity among ourselves and that we may have continual in our view the joyful hope of an eternity in heaven (though not by any works of our own, but only through the merit and mediation of Jesus Christ)!

…In the evening went down to Mrs Peckham’s in company with Thomas Durrant, when I received of her 14/4 in full. Spent 8d, but gave away my liquor. Came home about 9:10. Thank God, very busy all day. In the morning about 5 o’clock we had a very great stroke of thunder. Some think it was not but some thing of an explosion in the air, different from that of thunder… Mr Porter’s children at our house in the afternoon…

Rec’d of Mr John Vine in cash 2.7.0 in full for the three bills I delivered him the 16th instant. I according to custom sent Mrs Vine’s daughter one shilling. My wife and self at church in the morning where we had a sermon preached by the Rev Mr Thomas Hurdis, curate of Laughton (Mr Porter being gone to Laughton to administer the sacrament), from the latter part of Luke 19:44: “Because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.”

We dined on a leg of mutton roasted. In the afternoon our late servant Mary Martin came over, and she together with myself and wife and maid at church in the afternoon when Mr Hurdis preached us another sermon from Luke 6:41,42: “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.” In my opinion he is as fine a churchman as almost I ever heard.

Mary Martin and Thomas Davy drank tea at our house. In the evening read one of Tillotson’s sermons.