Thomas Turner

At home all day… My brother and Dame Watford drank tea at our house. In the evening wrote my London letters…

About 5:40 I set out for Rye in order to take a shop which I heard was to be let at Winchelsea (and a very sharp frosty morning I had to ride in). I called at Battle and baited and spent 8d; that is, 2d for oats and 6d for half a pint of wine. I then proceeded on my journey, and sure I never rode in a more unpleasant day in my life, it snowing and raining all the way and the wind most remarkably high. Before I got to Rye I had scarce a dry thread about me, and when I got just to Rye the tide was out, and I, a stranger to the roads, was afraid to venture through; so that I turned back and rode to a public house about 2 miles back, where I hired a guide and went in and dried myself. While he was getting ready I spent as under:

To my horse	0.0.4
To beer for the person that took care of my horse and others that assisted in drying my things	0.0.4
To brandy for my guide	0.0.5
Beer myself	0.0.2
Gave the people for their trouble and wood	0.0.3
	0.1.6

I then proceeded on my journey and got safe to Rye about 2:50, though once wet through again. I gave my guide 12d. I put up at the George, where I dined on some beefsteaks and oyster sauce and spent the evening there in company with Mr Fender, Mr Blake’s servant… Spent today 2d more for a turnpike. I stayed at the George all night.

I got up pretty early and, finding the shop I went after was let, I stayed and breakfasted and came away immediately. I spent as under:

My horse and ostler	0.1.8
The chambermaid	0.0.6
Myself	0.0.5
	0.2.7

Mr Fender, Mr Blake’s rider, paid for everything else I had. I called at Battle and baited my horse and came home thank God very safe and sober about 4:40… When I came home I dined on some boiled mutton.

In the morning my brother came over and breakfasted with us, and then he and I set out for Lewes where we met my brother Richard previous to appointment, and we went together to Mr Sam Durrant’s for him to settle the affairs of my late mother between my brothers and sisters, which he did not thoroughly complete, but kept the accounts for a further examination. We dined at Mr Durrant’s on some salt fish, a leg of mutton boiled, turnips and a butter pudding cake… We came home about 9:30. My brother stayed all night…

My wife in my absence paid Fieldcox the patten-maker at Battle in cash 1.18.6 in full for the following goods received by him today:

2 dozen women’s pattens	0.18.0
1 dozen girls’ do.	0.7.6
2 dozen women’s clogs	0.9.0
1 dozen girls’ do.	0.4.0

Paid John Cayley 2/- for the rent of our 2 seats in the church. Paid Thomas Burfield 7/6 for 1 dozen beehives received by him today. We dined on a chicken roasted, a piece of boiled pork and turnips. At home all day. My brother stayed and breakfasted with us, and then went home.

Very little to do all day; a most melancholy time–my poor heart is almost sunk with trouble! Dame Durrant made my wife a present of a fat goose.

…We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of some boiled mutton. Paid Joseph Fuller 9d for 1 neck mutton received of him today weighing 3¾ lbs. Lent Mr Joseph Burgess in cash 3.3.0, which he paid me again in the evening…

Myself, wife and servant at church in the forenoon… We had a brief read for the parish church Eastwood in the county of Nottingham, the rebuilding of which will amount to £1200 exclusive of the old materials (to which I gave one penny). This day Thomas German of this parish and Constant Elliot of Mayfield were asked the first time.

We dined on some mutton boiled, turnips and potatoes. No service at our church in the afternoon, Mr Porter preaching at Laughton. My brother came over in the afternoon and drank tea with us and brought me a note of hand from my brother Will… Mr Long and Thomas Davy at our house in the evening, to whom I read one of Tillotson’s sermons. Thomas Fuller Jr made me a present of a brace of carp.

Sent Mr Durrant by the post the brace of carp given me yesterday by Thomas Fuller. We dined on a goose roasted and some boiled mutton, applesauce, turnips and potatoes. Dame Horsecraft at Chiddingly drank tea at our house. At home all day and very little to do. In the evening wrote my London letters.

After breakfast went to Lewes. I gave Mr Sam Durrant in cash £20, for which I received his draft on Sir Joseph Hankey and partners for the same sum… I dined with Mr Sam Durrant on a boiled carp, veal cutlets and some cold boiled beef… I went to Lewes to meet with Mr Fletcher, Mr Sam Ridings’s rider, with whom I looked out a parcel of goods. Rec’d of Mr Thomas Scrase, by the payment of Mr Henry Verral, 22/- for 44 lbs butter sent to Mr Scrase. Called and spent some time with Mrs Roase. Came home about 6:15, not thoroughly sober, though not much concerned…

…Balanced accounts with Mr Will Piper and received of him 16d in full. After dinner went down to Whyly to choose me a fat hog. Myself and wife drank tea at Dame Durrant’s on account of Mr Thornton, this being his birthday, in company with Mrs and Molly French. I and wife spent the evening there with the above and Mr French.