Thomas Turner

We dined on the remains of Tuesday’s dinner. At home all day. In the evening my brother came to stand the shop for me during the time I went to Halland to assist Mr Coates tomorrow. My brother stayed all night. About 6:20 I walked down to Halland, where I supped in company with Joseph Fuller on a neck of mutton roasted and potatoes. I lodged at Halland all night.

About 3:10 we arose to perform our task; viz., some of the ancestors of the Pelham family have ordered that on this day (forever) there should be given to every poor man or woman that shall come to demand it 4d and every child 2d and also to each a draught of beer and a very good piece of bread. My business was to take down their names while Mr Coates paid them, and I believe there were between 7 and 8 hundred people relieved, of all ages and sexes, and near 9 pounds distributed, besides a sack of wheat made into good bread and near a hogshead and a half of very good beer. I came home about 11:20, having received my groat among the rest.

My brother stayed and dined with us on a light pudding, a piece of beef boiled and potatoes, and then went home. Relieved the following poor persons today with 1d each and a draught of beer; viz.,

1.	Francis Turner	16.	John Durrant
2.	Widow Trill	17.	John Elless
3.	Richard Braizer	18.	Richard Prall
4.	Ann Hood	19.	Susan Swift
5.	Edward Babcock	20.	Richard Heath
6.	Widow Day	21.	Dame Burrage
7.	Will Eldridge	22.	John Streeter
8.	James Emery	23.	Widow Cain
9.	John Dan	24.	Thomas Ling
10.	Widow Cornwell	25.	Robert Baker
11.	Thomas Dallaway	26.	Richard Vinal
12.	Sam Jenner	27.	Will Henly
13.	Thomas Tester	28.	Will Slarkes
14.	Will Sinden	29.	John Hesman
15.	Mary Heath	30.	Roger Vallow

Paid John Cayley 8/- in full for 16 lbs butter received by him today. Gave John Jenner’s son 6d to his Christmas box.

…We dined on the remine of yesterday’s dinner. Rec’d from my father Slater by the carrier a present of a fine turkey. At home all day; posted my day book…

No service at church in the morning, Mr Porter preaching at Laughton. Took physic today. Mrs Virgoe, her son and daughter and Thomas Davy dined with us on a turkey roasted, a piece of beef boiled, a raisin suet pudding and turnips. My wife, self and servant at church in the afternoon… Mrs Virgoe, her son and daughter drank tea at our house. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening, to whom I read 3 of Tillotson’s sermons.

…At home all day, but not very busy. Mr Elless at our house a while in the evening… Gave Dame Horsecraft’s girl, whom I serve in spirituous liquors, 12d in goods to her Christmas box.

My wife and self at church in the morning, the text in the latter part of the 26th verse of the 9th chapter, Epistle of Hebrews: “…But now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” My wife and I both stayed the communion; we gave 6d each. The widow Marchant, James Marchant and Elizabeth Mepham dined with us on a buttock of beef, a raisin suet pudding, turnips and potatoes. They stayed and drank tea with us.

Balanced accounts with Mr Will Piper and paid him in cash 15/3½ and by a book debt 6/8½, which together makes the sum of 1.2.0, and is in full for 2 sacks of oats… In the forenoon my brother came over and borrowed my horse. He came back and dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

In the evening I went into Joseph Durrant’s to smoke a pipe with Mr Thornton, where were Joseph Fuller Jr and Mr Elless. We stayed until near 3:20 when I came home sober. Mr Elless came and lodged at our house. I think I never spent an evening with less pleasure in my life, most of the company being in liquor, and very indifferent company, some before they were in liquor and some afterward, though if I speak truly I think universal good nature did not abound.

Gave the following boys as under for box money:

Stephen Starnes	0.0.6
Richard Fuller	0.0.6
Robert Hook	0.0.3
Henry Vine	0.0.6
Isaac Turner	0.0.6
	0.2.3

Paid Joseph Fuller 4/- for highway tax.

Mr Elless breakfasted with us. My brother Will came over in the forenoon and dined with us… At home all day, but not very busy. My brother stayed all night.

After breakfast I set out for Lewes where I dined with Mr Faulkner Bristow on some roast beef, broiled sausage and cold spare-rib (my family at home dining on the remains of Tuesday’s dinner, as did James Awcock and Thomas Durrant and my brother). My brother stayed and kept my wife company till nearly 4 o’clock…

Paid Mr Faulkner Bristow 19/- in full and then paid him 12/- in full for ¼ cwt of currants bought of him today… Rec’d of Mr Plumer 3/- in full for 2 lbs of Battle powder charged in my last account more than I had. Rec’d of Mr Will Lee in cash 9.10 0 which with taxes etc. outset is in full for one year’s rent due at St Michael last to Mrs Virgoe; viz.,

Mr Lee Dr.
for 1 year’s rent	16.0.0
Per contra Cr,
To one year’s land tax due Lady Day 1758	3.0.0
To 1 year’s do. due Lady Day 1759	2.12.0
To 2 year’s insurance due Xtmas, 1760	0.18.0
Rec’d in cash	9.10.0
	16.0.0

Paid Robert Rice on account of his father Will Rice in cash £5 for Mrs Virgoe and gave him a bill on Mr William Lee, 10 days after date, for 3.7.0 in full for a quarter’s rent (when the 13/- for a quarter’s land tax is outset) due at Christmas just past… Spent 2d only on my own account for the turnpike. Came home very sober about 6:20.

After I came home, went down to Mr Porter’s and balanced accounts with him and received of him in cash 69.15.6 in full to this day. Stayed and supped there and came home about 10:50. Gave Winifred Akehurst 6d to her Christmas box.

My brother came over in the morning to borrow my horse to go to Lewes upon. I gave [him] in cash £105 to get of Mr Sam Durrant a bill for me of the same value… Gave John Streeter the post 2/- for his Christmas box; that is, 12d which I gave him last year and which he returned again, thinking it not enough, and 12d for this year. Gave 12d to the carrier’s servant for his Christmas box. At home all day, but far from being busy. A thorough wet day.