Thomas Turner

…In the day at work in my garden. In the evening Thomas Durrant and I packed up a cloth of wool. Mr Carman drank tea with us, and Thomas Durrant supped with us. At home all day and but very little to do. A remarkable fine day for the season of the year.

Paid John Cayley in cash and goods 4/- in full for the rent of a stable due about old midsummer last. In the day very busy a-getting down my pears… In the afternoon packed up my wool, with Thomas Durrant’s assistance; viz., 5 cloths containing 504 fleeces weighing 41 tod 20 lbs… Thomas Durrant supped with us. Thank God pretty busy all day. A prodigious fine season.

In the morning my wife and I set out with an intention to go to Pevensey, but finding our horse very skittish we thought it not safe, so we came back again, but as we could not get another horse my wife stayed at home and myself proceeded on my journey. I breakfasted with my friend John Breeden and also dined there on a shoulder of mutton roasted, a duck roasted and a fine bread pudding (my family at home dining on some broiled lamb). I stayed and drank tea with Mr Breeden, and then came away. I came home about 9:10 and thank God very sober. Not at church all day, there being no service at Pevensey the whole day…

John Watford came to work for me in the morning; we cleared all my pear trees and then carried them to Thomas Bean’s at Whitesmith where we made them out into perry, making near 60 gallons. I paid T. Bean 4/6 for the use of his mill and press, and his own and man’s assistance. I spent 6d for beer to drink with our bread and cheese, which we carried with us… We came home without perry about 6:20.

In the evening Mr Richard Sterry came to our house and I balanced accounts with him… Mr Sterry supped and lodged at our house. Dame Cornwell Jr drank tea with my wife. Rec’d by Thomas Emery from John Streeter a receipt from Mrs Taylor, a widow and glazier at Lewes, which receipt is in full on account of Mrs Virgoe for the money I gave to John Streeter to pay the said widow Taylor the 7th day of July last. Very busy all day.

Mr Sterry stayed and breakfasted with us and then went away. Sent Mrs Virgoe by her son Sam the receipt I received yesterday from John Streeter… This day sent Mr Thomas Friend (by John Divol) mine and my brother’s wool. Mr Porter’s maid drank tea at our house…

In the morning as soon as I had breakfasted I set out for Goudhurst in order to buy some flannels. I called at Ticehurst and baited myself and horse and from thence I went to Goudhurst, but did no business, the man having only one piece made. I stayed and baited myself and horse and then went for Tunbridge Wells by way of Horsmonden. I stayed and drank coffee at my brother’s and came away about 6:40. I called at my aunt Ovendean’s in my road home… Came home very safe and sober about 9:40.

My family at home dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, but I stopped nowhere for a set dinner, but put up with bread and cheese… My wife in my absence paid our servant Hannah Marchant in cash 4/-, which with a book debt of 36/- makes the sum of 40/- and is in full for 16 months’ servitude ending Tuesday the 16th of this instant, September.

We dined on a bullock’s skirt pudding, a piece of pork boiled, potatoes and cabbage. Mr John Billinghurst, rider to Mr Phineas Coates, called on me and I paid him in cash 4.15.0 in full on my account to this day. My wife very ill all day. At home all day and but very little to do.

We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of a piece of bacon, a bread pudding and cabbage. At home all day. My wife very ill.

Rec’d of Joseph Muller part of a loin of veal and part of a neck of lamb weighing 6½ lbs at 3½d. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of a scrag of mutton boiled and carrots. At home all day. My wife a good deal indisposed.

Myself and servant at church in the morning… We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of a raisin veal suet pudding. After dinner my wife and myself rode to Alfriston to see Mr Snelling and ask his advice, in company with Mr Thornton. We stayed and drank tea with Mr Snelling and came home about 9:30. No service at our church in the afternoon, Mr Porter preaching at Laughton. An extreme fine day, and thank God my wife is something better. In the afternoon our servant went to Framfield church.