Thomas Turner

Myself and wife at church in the morning… We dined on a leg of lamb boiled, a piece of bacon, a gooseberry pudding and some greens. My wife, self and servant at church in the afternoon… In the afternoon my brother Moses came over and stayed and drank coffee with us and then went home. In the evening and the day read two of Tillotson’s sermons and part of the 2nd volume of Hervey’s Meditations. Oh, what a most delightful time it is–the birds tuning their melodious throats and hymning their creator’s praise while perhaps man, ah! frail and degenerate man lies supinely stretched on a bed of luxury and ease, or else so immersed in the vain and empty pleasures of this world that he is utterly forgetful of the goodness of the Supreme Being that showers down his blessings upon him, and sheds plenteousness around his table. Also every tree and shrub bespeaks the wisdom and goodness of an all-wise creator.

…My brother Moses, James Marchant and myself walked to Uckfield Fair where I bought of Mr Percival Hart 12 chamois skins, for which I paid him 10/-. We went in to see a man perform several curious performances on the slack wire, and which I actually think were very curious. We paid one penny each. We came back to my brother’s and drank tea and came home about 7:50. In the evening went down to Mr Porter’s. Wrote my London letters after I came back.

…We dined on a plain suet pudding, a piece of bacon and greens. Paid Mrs Weller [£8] in full for 1 year’s rent due the 15^th ult…

At home all day. Busy a-writing. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a light pudding and some potatoes. Halland gardener made me a present of some asparagus, and he with Joseph Fuller Jr smoked a pipe with me in the evening.

In the forenoon my brother came over and dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some asparagus. At home all day but little or nothing to do.

Master Watford the elder a-mowing my orchard for me today. He dined with us on a piece of beef boiled, a light pudding and greens… Rec’d by Mr Shelley’s wagon a horse which my father Slater bought for me. At home all day and but very little to do. In the evening Joseph Fuller, James Marchant, Mr Elless and Thomas Durrant smoked a pipe with me.

In the morning about 5:20 my brother called and breakfasted with us. Then we rode to Bayley’s Lane where we looked out some earthenware, and we came back about 10:40… My brother went home directly. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a pair calf’s feet boiled.

Myself and servant at church in the morning… Mr Elless dined with us on a shoulder of veal roasted and a raisin suet pudding. Just as we had dined, Mr John Tucker came to see me, who dined with us on what we had left. My wife and servant only at church in the afternoon. Mr Tucker brought me a present of 6 pigeons. He stayed and drank coffee with us and then went home. In the evening and the day read 2 of Tillotson’s sermons and part of the 2nd volume of Hervey’s Meditations.

At home all day. We dined on a pigeon pudding… Took physic today.

We dined on a pigeon pudding. After dinner I rode over to Framfield. From thence I rode to Chailey to inform my brother Richard that myself and Moses intended to go up to Chiddingstone on Tuesday next. When I came to Mr George Beard’s, I found him absent, being in London, and his wife a-visiting; one child at home very ill, the other cross and sufficiently employing one servant to look after it; the other servant a-brewing; a mantua-woman there at work, and my brother as full as he could turn his hands in the shop. Oh, strange confusion! But however, I stayed and drank tea and came home about 8:15. I called at Isfield to bespeak some oatmeal.