Thomas Turner

At home all day, and not very busy. We dined on a neat’s tongue boiled, part of a rabbit boiled, a piece of beef, turnips, a raisin suet pudding and potatoes. A very sharp frosty day.

Mr John Breeden of Pevensey called on me and in part dined with me… I gave him a note for him to take of Mr William Margesson about £20, he being a-going for London… In the forenoon walked down to Halland; otherwise at home all day. Paid Mr Jeremiah French (by his son John) in goods and cash 2/5¾ in full for 1 pig received by him today weighing 8¾ lbs at 3½d per pound.

My wife, self and servant at church in the morning, the text in Matthew 25:21: “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou has been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord,” from which words we had an extreme good sermon.

After churchtime I rode over to Little Horsted to see my uncle Hill, where I dined in company with my uncle, cousin Charles and Molly, and the Rev Mr Fullthorpe, on a leg of mutton boiled, a shoulder roasted, a currant pond pudding and turnips (my family at home dining on the remains of Friday’s dinner). I came home about 6:20, thank God very sober. Rec’d of my cousin Charles 13/4 in full. Gave their servant 6d. In the evening read 2 of Tillotson’s sermons.

John Durrant Jr bleeded my wife in the morning, for performing of which I gave him 6d… My brother came over in the afternoon, drank tea with us, but did not stay. Lent Mr Alexander Whitfield in cash 2/-. At home all day… In the evening wrote my London letters.

…At home all day, but not very busy. In the evening busy a-looking over some accounts for Mrs Virgoe, as also wrote a letter for her to Mr John Burgess.

Paid Richard Braizer by his daughter Lucy in cash, and goods 6/- on account of John Cayley. We dined on the remains of Monday’s dinner. At home all day and pretty busy. Thomas Davy, Thomas Durrant and Mr Thornton sat with us some time in the evening. Sal Vine drank tea at our house. Remarkably cold today.

…In the evening Mr John Breeden called on me in his journey from London and lodged with us.

After breakfast Mr John Breeden went away. I received of him a note of hand payable to me or order on demand for 10.1.3, which is the balance of the account between us, due to me; viz.,

Mr John Breeden Dr.
To cash paid him the 4th or 5th instant by Mr Will Margesson, pursuant to my order given him the 1st instant	20.0.0
To ½ bushel oatmeal	0.2.9
To 2 lbs pepper dust	0.0.6
To 202 heath brooms	0.13.0
To ½ piece of narrow cloth from my brother	0.13.0
	21.9.3
Per contra Cr.
To 1½ hundred pepper	9.15.0
To carriage of do.	0.1.6
To assisting me in appraising my late mother’s effects, which is on my brother’s account	1.11.6
To the note of hand received today	10.1.3
	21.9.3

that on this account I have paid 18/6 for my brother; viz.,

My brother Dr.
To money paid Mr Breeden as before	1.11.6
To the ½ piece cloth sent him by my brother, as before	0.13.0

We dined on a piece of beef boiled, a raisin suet pudding, turnips and potatoes. Rec’d of Mr Alexander Whitfield 9/11½ in full on my account. As also received of him 2.19.0 on account of Samuel Shoesmith, it being for things bought of his late brother’s, James Shoesmith’s; vis.,

To all the furniture of the school, late occupied by James Shoesmith, except one cupboard	2.2.0
To all the wood, late Mr Shoesmith’s	0.17.0

Paid Mr Thornton 3/3 for 4 rabbits and ¼ 1b of antimony which he bought for me. At home all day. Joseph Fuller and Mr Thornton smoked a pipe or 2 with me. This day had an invitation from Mr Coates to come and smoke a pipe with him tomorrow night. Mr Whitfield drank tea at our house.

…Paid Mr Edward Heaver, miller at Isfield, in cash 4/6 in full for ½ a bushel oatmeal and 3 bushels of pollard received by him today. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of a light pudding and turnips. My brother came over in the afternoon, but did not stay. Rec’d of him 2/7½; viz.,

To exchange of a hive	0.0.3
To 1 satin cap	0.3.o
1 London almanac	0.0.4½
	0.3.7½
Rec’d by money paid to Mr Charles Thornton	0.1.0
	0.2.7½

About 5:30 walked down to Halland (previous to my invitation yesterday) [i.e., by previous invitation], there being a rejoicing on account that Admiral Hawke has dispersed a fleet which was preparing to invade this nation. The engagement happened near Belle Isle. The advantage gained by our fleet was but small, only burning two French ships, sunk two and took one, and at the same time we had the misfortune to lose two which ran ashore in the night, and, as they could not be got off, the Admiral destroyed them. This engagement is looked on ae a great advantage, on account it has entirely dispersed the fleet and at the same time wholly disconcerted their schemes so that in all probability their thoughts of invading these nations must be laid by for some time.

There was a fire of 8 hundred of faggots, a discharge of cannon and considerable quantity of beer given away among the populace, and we had a supper of a cold sirloin of roast beef and bread and cheese. Our company was Mr Porter, Joseph and Thomas Fuller, Mr Jeremiah French, Mr Calverley, Mr Burgess, Joseph Durrant, Mr Whitfield, John Browne, Sam Gibbs, Mr Saxby, Mr Goldsmith, Ed and William Shoesmith Jr and Richard Bridgman. We drank a great many loyal healths (and even too many). I came home about 11:15 after staying in Mr Porter’s wood near an hour and a half, the liquor operating so much in the head that it rendered my legs useless. Oh how sensible I am of the goodness of the divine providence that I am preserved from harm, and, that I may always have a just sense thereof, let me ever be meditating of the goodness of Almighty God to me, a poor sinful creature.

At home all day. I took some physio. Our servant only at church in the morning. We dined on a rabbit pudding, turnips and potatoes. Our servant at church in the afternoon, but neither my wife nor myself all day. Oh how do the stings of a guilty conscience torment me: Well might Solomon say: a wounded spirit who can bear? Oh let this be one more admonition for me never to do it again!