Thomas Turner

John Watford a-gardening for me all day; he dined with us on a beef pudding and turnip greens. Lent John Streeter in cash 1 guinea… This day Joseph Fuller killed a hog for me. At home all day and very little to do. Paid Joseph Fuller 3d for 1 lb of beef received from him today. My uncle Hill called on me today, but did not stay.

After breakfast rode over to Little Horsted to see my brother Will, who has been very ill, but found him much better. Came home about 11:10, not staying at all.

My brother Moses came over in the forenoon, but did not stay. John Watford a-gardening for me all day and dined with us on some hog’s liver and caul fried and a beef pudding, turnips and turnip greens. Paid Mr Jeremiah French 2.2.6 in full for my hog; viz., 21 stone 2 lbs at 2/-… Joseph Fuller cut my hog out in the evening and stayed and smoked a pipe or 2 with me. Rec’d from Mr James Burfield of Steyning by Joseph Durrant a receipt for the bill sent him the 10th December last for Burrage’s and Streeter’s rent. Robert Diggens drank tea at our house.

…We dined on hog’s kidneys broiled and a heart pudding, turnips and turnip greens. Rec’d of John Mott 5/- on account of Mrs Virgoe. Afterwards balanced accounts with Mrs Virgoe and paid her 2/6 in full to this day. At home all day and thank God pretty busy.

No service at our church in the morning, Mr Porter preaching at Laughton (where our servant went). We dined on some hog’s feet and ears, chap, liver, lights, tongue etc. boiled, turnips and turnip greens. Myself and servant at church in the afternoon… We had a proclamation for a general fast to be held on the l4th instant.

Gave John Streeter a receipt I received from Mr Burfield and took up mine which I gave him the 31st October last. Read part of Burkitt on the New Testament.

At home all day. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the evening wrote my London letters. My wife went down to Mr Porter’s, their youngest child being very ill.

…In the evening went down to Mr Porter’s, to take instructions for the funeral of their little boy, who died this morning about 8:20, aged about 9 months. At home all day, but very little to do.

At home all day. We dined on some pork bones roasted and applesauce. Finished posting my day book. My brother came over today in the forenoon, but did not stay. Very little to do all day.

In the morning my brother came over and breakfasted with us. I lent him my horse to ride to Lewes upon. He came back and dined with us, as did John Watford, who was a-gardening for me all day (on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a hog’s-flesh pudding, turnips, greens and potatoes). My wife paid Dame Hook a visit in the afternoon. At home all day, and very little to do –a most melancholy; time.

Mr Stone bleeded [?] in the forenoon and I received of him in cash 3.3.0, which is in full for the composition of a debt due to me from Will Elphick of 5.5.0, and really it is a fine drawback, as some of the money was paid out of my pocket, and what makes me the more vexed about it is I have the greatest reason in the world to think that it is a very shuffling and unfair compound, but I was willing to have something, rather than lose all. But I must own and shall always look upon myself as guilty of mean spirit in coming into the composition and not seeing the affair to the utmost, for I really think the man when he absconded took with him a considerable sum of money…

In the afternoon Mr Fender, Mr Blake’s rider, called on me and I paid him… At home all day, and but very little to do. What will become I cannot think…

…We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the afternoon went down to Mr Porter’s, to go to church with their child, who was this day buried, as was also Anne the daughter of Francis Turner, aged 31 years; they were both buried about 5:40. I gave away at Mr Porter’s 2 pairs men’s white kid gloves.

This day amelancholy affair broke out in this neighborhood; viz., Lucy Mott, servant to Mr Jeremiah French, last night absconded herself from her service (privately and quite unknown to anyone in the family) and from many corroborating circumstances there is great probability to think she had committed that rash action of suicide. She went off in her worst apparel, and left behind her all her money, and had taken more than common care in laying up all her clothes and collecting it together in such a manner that it might be the more easy to find by her relations. There is also the greatest reason imaginable to think she was pregnant, for by some reasons given by her mistress it seems plain, and on the 16th ult. she wanted of my wife 2 ounces jalap. But upon her saying we had not such a quantity in the house and telling her she must be either mistaken in the name or quantity, for that must be enough for 20 people to take, she seems greatly confused and pretended it was not to take (but however she by fortune had none) so that I should rather think her intentions might be then rather to destroy the foetus than herself.