Thomas Turner

Breakfasted at Mrs Weller’s. Paid Joseph Fuller 13½d for a knuckle of veal received by him today, weighing 6¾ lbs at 2d per lb. Paid Mr Francis Weller in cash 3.16.0 and by a receipt for half a year’s land tax due at Lady Day last 4/-, which together makes £4 and is in full for half a year’s rent due the 5th of April last…

My wife came home in the evening, Thomas Durrant having gone for her in the morning. Pretty busy all day.

Myself and servant at church in the morning… I stayed the communion and gave 6d. We dined on a knuckle of veal, a piece of bacon, and a gooseberry pudding boiled and spinach. No service at our church in the afternoon, Mr Porter preaching at Laughton. Thomas Davy and I walked to Chiddingly, where we had a sermon preached by the Rev Mr Herring, vicar of Chiddingly, from Proverbs 4:23: “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Mr Long drank tea with us. In the evening read one of Tillotson’s sermons.

Our late servant Mary Martin came to see us in the forenoon and dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a veal pudding and green salad.

In the afternoon I walked up to the common to see a game of cricket played between our parish and that of Chiddingly, which was won with great ease by the latter. Chiddingly the let innings got 66 runs, and our parish 66; Chiddingly 2nd innings got 117, and our parish 50, so that our parish was beat 67 runs. In the evening wrote my London letters…

In the evening Mr Long and I walked to Crockstead to look upon Mr Chatfield’s wool, which I did, but as the prices of wool are not yet settled we agreed that I should give him a market price for it, which I have assured him I would do. We came home about 8:20. Paid the widow Virgoe 5/- which I received yesterday of Matthew Lewer. Very little to do all day.

We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of a light pudding and some spinach. In the evening walked down to Richard Page’s, but did not stay…

…In the evening went down to Jones’s, in company with Joseph Fuller, Mr Long, Mr Thornton and James Marchant, to take part of a forfeit which Joseph Fuller paid to be off a bet which he had made with Mr Thornton. The bet was for a guinea that Mr Saxby had either a horse or mare that would go (one pace) from the park gate on the leigh of Laughton to the Cat in Cats Street [now Cade St., Heathfield] within the hour (being between 9 and 10 miles and very uneven ground), but Mr Thornton laid he had not.

We stayed and spent 7½d apiece besides Joseph Fuller’s forfeit and I came home about 10:20 sober. But little to do all day. My uncle Hill called on me in the morning, but did not stay.

We dined on a piece of bacon boiled, a light pudding and spinach… In the evening played at cricket some little time. At home all day, and but very little to do. In the forenoon John Baker assisted me in packing up my rags to go to Maidstone Fair. We packed them up in 5 bags containing 6 cwt 2 qr 18 lbs.

…Paid 3d for 1½ lbs of crabs bought today. At home all day and thank God pretty busy. In the evening went to cricket a little while with several more out before my door. In the day read part of the 1st volume of The Guardian.

No service at our church, Mr Porter preaching at Laughton, to which place Thomas Davy and I walked to church… We dined on a shoulder of mutton roasted, carrots, cauliflower and a plain rice pudding. Myself, wife and servant at church in the afternoon… After churchtime my wife, self and Thomas Davy took a walk. In the evening and the day read two of Tillotson’s sermons.

In the forenoon walked down to Whyly. My brother came over in the forenoon, but did not stay. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the afternoon wrote out some bills. In the evening wrote my London letters. Delivered to John Gosling Jr 4 bags of rags, weighing 6 cwt 3 qr 14 lbs net, which he is to sell for me at Maidstone Fair the 20th instant. At home all day and not very busy.