Thomas Turner

…Sent Mr Ben Shelley by his servant one bill on Mr George Tomlin, hop factor in Southwark, dated today, value 6.17.6 in full for the same sum Mr Tomlin sold the hops belonging to myself and the other executors etc. of Mr Piper deceased.

Dame Akehurst a-washing for me all day and dined with me on a piece of pork boiled, an apple pudding and greens. Dame Merricks and Dame Wrothwell, buying some goods in the shop, drank tea at my house. At home all day and not at all busy.

Paid Dame Akehurst 18d for her 2 days’ work. In the evening Joseph Fuller Jr smoked a pipe or 2 with me.

…Dame Akehurst a-washing for me all day and dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some boiled mutton and carrots, as did also James Bull…

Dame Cornwell, buying some things in the shop, drank tea with my servant. At home all day and very little to do. In the evening wrote my London letters. Sent John Elliot at Ringmer by Joseph Martin 1 guinea for Samuel Jenner and which he is debtor to me for.

Myself at church in the morning… I stayed the communion and gave 6d. When I returned home I found my brother Richard at my house, who came during churchtime to consult about his staying with Mr Madgwick another year. He stayed and dined with me on a roasted duck and part of a neck of mutton roasted and then went away.

Myself and servant at church in the afternoon… After churchtime I went up to Joseph Fuller’s (being invited), where I drank tea in company with Thomas Fuller and his wife (newly married and come to pay their friends a wedding visit), John Fuller and his wife, Mr Shoesmith and his wife, Miss Hammond, Thomas Hammond, Bett Fuller and their own family. I also stayed and supped there and came home about 10:10, sober.

I received of my brother today the bill, value £60, which I sent him the 6th instant by the post to get me cash for, he not having the opportunity to get it exchanged. I must acknowledge I was entertained this evening in a very polite and elegant manner at Mr Fuller’s.

…I dined on some mutton steaks broiled. At home all day and very busy. A very windy and wet day. Mrs Carman, not Mr Carman, made me a present of a fine duck. Let not this, my readers, be a matter of speculation. There is no criminality in it. For I never kissed the woman but once, and, that was the day I stood sponsor or godfather for her daughter. So I presume her kindness (though I believe unknown to Mr Carman) proceeds from a spirit of gratitude.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some mutton broth. Mrs Carman, Dame Roase and Dame Tester drank tea with me. At home all day and very busy. In the evening Joseph Fuller Jr. smoked a pipe with me.

My sister went home about 11 o’clock. I dined on part of a neck of mutton boiled and turnips. In the afternoon, it being an extreme fine day, I and Joseph Fuller took a walk to Blackboys Fair. I spent 15d and came home about 7:20 not thoroughly sober, though I drank very little indeed.

My sister dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some onion sauce. At home all day and pretty busy. My sister stayed with me all day.

…My sister and John Watford, who was gathering of apples for me, dined with me on a piece of beef boiled, raisin suet pudding and turnips. In the afternoon my cousin Molly Hill came to see me, and she, her servant and my sister drank tea with me… At home all day and thank God very busy.

Sent Mr: Stephen Fletcher… one bill on Mr Will Margesson [and]…enclosed my brother Moses’s bill… My sister dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Dame Vallow and her daughter and Mrs Porter’s maid drank tea with me. At home all day and very busy. In the evening wrote my London letters.

Myself at church in the morning… When I came home, I found my friend Sam Jenner at my house, who came during churchtime. He stayed and dined with me on part of a sirloin of beef roasted, a plain suet pudding and horse radish. After dinner he smoked a pipe with me and then went away.

Myself and servant at church in the afternoon… Sent Mr David Guy enclosed in a letter by Marsh the news-carrier one bill…value £3… In afternoon I walked down to Joseph Fuller’s, where I smoked several pipes. In the evening my brother Moses and sister Sally came to see me. They both stayed and supped with me, and then my brother went away. My sister stayed all night.

Rec’d of my brother one bill value 13.3.0 in order to send to Mr Stephen Fletcher, servant to Mr Sam Ridings, and now at Lewes.