Thomas Turner

After breakfast Mr Verral and I went up to Mr Vine’s and sold his furniture or at least part of it, there being a public sale, and Mr Verral was salesman and I wrote and took the money. We went all day without dinner, and came home about 8:20. Mr Verral supped with me on a cold shoulder of mutton. Mr Verral and Sam Jenner took part of my bed. I paid Mr Verral 14/- for his day’s work…

At home all day and very busy. Dame Akehurst a-washing for me and she and Mr Long dined with me. Bett Carman and Suky drank tea with me. In the evening wrote my London letters. And lent Mr Long in cash 5.5.0.

Myself at church in the morning… I dined on a suet pudding. After dinner I went to Ringmer, intending to go there to church in order to see Mr Long, but when I came there the person was not at home and there was no service. So I went to Lewes where I spent about an hour with my brother, and then came home about 6:20. Sam Jenner and Mr Long lodged at my house.
 

In the morning Mr Piper and I set out for Lewes in order to have his writings executed from John Goldsmith, which was accordingly done at Mr Michell’s, and the deeds, fine etc. all witnessed by Mr Will Michell and Thomas Farnes.

We dined at the Cats and came home sober about 5:20. Master Piper paid my expenses and gave me 5/3 for my trouble. Rec’d of my brother Richard from Mr John Dennett in cash 34.6.0 in full for my wool. Thomas Durrant took part of my bed.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner… In the evening went down to Halland where I stayed and supped and came home very sober about 9:20. John Piper stayed for me at home and waited till I came back.
 

Master Watford at work for me today and dined with me on part of a breast of mutton boiled. Paid Joseph Fuller 6d for part of breast of mutton bought of him today.

In the evening went down to Jones’s, there being a public vestry, and we made a poor rate at 15d to the pound, and stayed till near 2 o’clock. Spent 10/-. Our company was Mr Porter, Mr Blackman, Mr Carman, Mr Joseph Fuller, myself, John French, Richard Hope, John Piper, Joseph Durrant, Robert Hook and John Watford.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day and very busy a-writing. John Watford at work for me today.

Sent Messrs Barlow, Wigginton and Francis… 30.8.0… Sent Ben Shelley, delivered to his brother by my servant, in cash £80 for him to pay in London for me this week.

My brother came over in the forenoon and dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Mr Thomas Wharton, rider and servant to Mr Joseph Hiller & Co., called on me and I paid him in cash 4.18.0… After dinner I rode to Lewes, there being a fair there today. I gave my brother Richard today one bill on Mr William Margesson… payable to Mr Sam Ridings or order…value 20.15.0… Came home about 7:30.

My brother stayed in my shop today for me during my absence; after I came home I gave him a bill… value 19.6.6, for which he paid me the cash. My brother stayed and supped with me on some bread and cheese and then went home. Spent on myself, horse, turnpike and ostler 10d. Drank tea at Mr George Verral’s.

John Watford the elder and his grandson, being a-gathering of apples for me, dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some potatoes. At home all day and very little to do.

Gave Joseph Fuller Jr the five bank bills I received of Mr Porter the 26th and 28th instant, value £105, for which he gave me cash. In the evening wrote my London letters. Busy a-writing the greatest part of the day, and I think I never took so little money in any one day since I have been in trade for myself. Rec’d of James Marchant in cash 4 guineas.

My friend Mr Elless stayed and breakfasted with me and then went away. Myself at church in the morning, the text in Romans 14:7: “For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.”

I dined on a piece of beef roasted and potatoes. After dinner Thomas Durrant and I set out for Lewes, I to consult Mr Henry Burtenshaw, attorney at law, about following business (and he for the company). There has been time immemorial given at Halland at the expense of his present Grace the Duke of Newcastle and his ancestors to this parish and Laughton a certain quantity of bread and beer to eight poor persons in this parish and I think to 12 in the parish of Laughton. The quantity of beer to each person in both parishes was 3 gallons every Thursday and Sunday, and a bushel wheat made into bread was distributed every Sunday between the said poor in both parishes, though it was not divided equally, some having a claim as supposed to double the quantity another had, and as such it was distributed. Now, the Duke having lately put in a new steward [Abraham Baley], who is famed for economy and frugality (though I should rather think it deserved the name of niggardliness and was done to gain self-applause),–but be that as it will. He has given both parishes notice that no more shall be distributed after old St Michael.

Now, as the parishes will sustain a loss upon the whole of £50 annually, they seemed determined to see the end of it, and accordingly we have agreed to pay the charge between both parishes according to their respective quotas, and myself to transact the business. Though at first sight it should appear we have an undoubted right to it, as it has been continued without any alteration that I ever could find in the same manner it now is (and has been looked upon as our right) for time immemorial, and I should think we could trace it back upwards of hundred years, yet, as we have nothing to show for it of any deed or no writing, we can have no other claim than a prescriptive right, which, considering the greatness of the person we have to deal with, might prove too great an undertaking for us to be crowned with success. Therefore, I thought proper first to be certain of our right by examining at Doctors’ Commons the wills of the ancestors of the Pelham family, and if we are successful in our attempt, then to contest it to the utmost, and I accordingly spoke to Mr Burtenshaw about searching them.

We called on my brother, but did not stay any considerable time. Spent today as under:

On our selves	0.1.2
Horses	0.0.4
Turnpike	0.0.4
	0.1.10

We came home very sober about 6:20. A very wet afternoon. In the evening sat some time with Thomas Durrant, my servant being not at home.