Thomas Turner

…Mr Godfrey drank tea with us… At home all day and thank God pretty busy. In the evening my wife at Mr Porter’s some little time.

…This day signed a bond as security for Thomas Davy during the time of his being a hop-assistant. My fellow obliger was Mr John Long. I also signed another bond as security for the good behavior etc. of Thomas Durrant during his employment as a hop-assistant. My fellow obliger in this bond was Joseph Durrant. At home all day and thank God pretty busy.

…Paid Mr John Gosling 3/- for 6 pairs men’s tan gloves received by him today. At home all day and thank God very busy. Rec’d of Richard Page the guinea I lent him the 22nd instant. In the evening went down and sat with Mr Porter some time, he being ill with a fluxion on the parotids and maxillary glands.

Paid Thomas Durrant 7/6 in full for the same sum he paid for me for hop-bagging. No service at our church in the morning, Mr Porter being ill. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of a green salad and French beans. No service at our church in the afternoon. At home all day.

In the evening my brother came over and I gave him several bills… I also delivered to him enclosed in a letter unsealed directed to Mr Stephen Fletcher one bill on Mr William Margesson [for 16.11.0] payable to Mr Samuel Ridings… and which letter and bill my brother is to carry to Mr Stephen Fletcher (servant to Mr Samuel Ridings) who is now at Lewes tomorrow. In the evening and the day read 5 of Sherlock’s sermons.

…My wife, standing sponsor for a boy of John Browne’s who was baptized today, dined there. Myself and servant dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with a green salad… Charles Diggens coming over to take up a coat for Mr Coates, stayed and smoked a pipe or two with me, and about 8:10 we both went to the christening house, where we stayed till near 12 o’clock, in company with Mr Burgess, John Watford and Francis Gibbs. My wife and I came home about 12:30 and pretty near sober, but something the worse for drinking.

My wife gave the nurse 16d and the maid 12d. In the evening as we went to Mr Browne’s we had several very severe flashes of lightning and a very loud stroke or two of thunder and it continued to rain by showers I believe the whole night and the wind extremely high. Very busy all day.

…At home all day and pretty busy. My wife very ill all day. A very melancholy time; the weather prodigious tempestuous and has been so for some time. Our servant sat up with Thomas Ling.

We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of a raisin veal suet pudding, a cold veal pie and French beans. At home all day and pretty busy. My wife continues very ill.

…Thomas German at work for me all day a-gathering of apples, and dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of a piece of bacon and some mutton boiled, potatoes, carrots, cabbage and turnips. Paid 14d to T. Jarmand (Carman) for his day’s work. Paid 12d for a gallon nuts bought today. Dame Henly drank tea with us. Rec’d of Will Henly 21/2 (per his wife) in full to this day. My wife extremely ill, and I doubt dangerously. At home all day and pretty busy.

Mr Stone paid my wife a visit… At home all day and thank God pretty busy, but my wife very ill. Oh, how melancholy a time it is, [when I], quite destitute of father or mother, am in all probability like to lose my wife, the only friend I believe I have now in this world, and the lone center of my worldly happiness! When I indulge the serious thought, what imagery can paint the gloomy scene that seems just ready to open itself as it were for a theater for my future troubles to be acted upon.

Paid 3d for 14 lbs tripe bought today. Lent Mr Jeremiah French in cash 5.5.0 for which he gave me his note of hand, payable to me or order. Lent Mr Joseph Burgess in cash 10/6. Lent Robert Hook in cash 10/-. We dined on some boiled and fried tripe. Paid Mr William Piper 2/4½ for 1 pig received by him today weighing 9½ lbs at 3d. Dame Merricks and Dame Rotherfield drank tea at our house.

My brother came over in the afternoon and brought me a receipt from Mr Stephen Fletcher (for the bill I delivered to my brother the 28th ult.) which he acknowledges to be in full on account of Mr Sam Ridings. In the evening Mr William Godfrey called and left with me (he being somewhat in liquor) in cash 19.8.6 for which I gave him my note of hand, payable to him or order on demand. At home all day and very busy. In the evening Mrs Porter came and sat a little time with my wife, who is really very ill…