Thomas Turner

My side continues bad. Took physic today. My wife and servant at church in the morning, and while they were at church Mr Tucker came to see me, who dined with us on a meat pudding, a piece of bacon, a pond currant butter pudding, potatoes and turnips. My wife and servant at church in the afternoon. Mr Tucker stayed and drank tea at our house and then went home. In the evening read 2 of Tillotson’s sermons.

…My brother came over in the afternoon, and he together with Sarah Burgess drank tea at our house… At home all day. A good deal out of order with my old complaint in my side. In the evening Thomas Davy at our house, to whom I read part of The Universal Magazine for January.

This was the day appointed by proclamation for a general feast and humiliation before Almighty God for obtaining pardon of our sins and for averting those heavy judgments which our manifold provocations have most justly deserved, and imploring his blessing and assistance on the arms of His Majesty by sea and land, and for restoring and perpetuating peace, safety and prosperity to His Majesty and these his kingdoms.

Myself and servant at church in the morning (my wife staying home only upon account of her illness). The text in the 6th verse of the 122nd Psalms: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” Myself and servant church in the afternoon; we had only prayers. After we came home, we dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some hog bones, which Dame Durrant made my wife a present of.

The fast in this place has seemingly been kept with great strictness and, I hope, with a sincere and unaffected piety, our church in the morning being crowded with a numerous audience. God grant we may every one of us reform our wicked ways and that every Briton may inspire his neighbour with a sense of religion and the fear of God by his own good example. For I think no nation had ever greater occasion to adore the Almighty Disposer of all events than Albion, whose forces meet with success in almost all quarters of the world, and where plenty once more rears her pleasing aspect.

The pestilential distemper is now no more among our herds, and there now seems to reign a spirit of unity in our national councils. A king sits upon the British throne whose whole intention seems to be that of making the happiness of every individual of his subjects the same as his own. Oh, let Britain think on these blessings and adore the giver of them! Let us all with sincerity and pure devotion in one voice continue to supplicate the blessing of the Almighty on this our happy isle!

…Richard Braizer at work for me all day a-gardening. He dined with us on a skirt pudding and potatoes. Rec’d of Joseph Burgess in cash 3.3.0, with which sum I am to pay the Rev Mr Thomas Wharton, vicar of Framfield, £3 for one and a half years’ interest due on a bond for £50. At home all day. Molly French drank tea with my wife who continues very ill. In the evening posted some London accounts.

…Mr Stone paid my wife another visit today and let her blood. We dined on part of a loin of mutton roasted with potatoes. At home all day and took physic… Mrs Fuller and her daughter Ann, with Mrs Weller, drank tea with my wife.

At home all day. We dined on a sheep’s heart pudding and potatoes. In the afternoon posted some London accounts. My wife very ill all day.

My wife being very ill in the morning, sent Thomas Davy to Doctor Stone’s. He came back and breakfasted with us. Mr Stone paid my wife a visit and also let my blood… The cook at Halland drank tea at our house.

Myself and servant at church in the morning (my wife staying at home, not being very well)… We had a brief read for the rebuilding the parish church of Stoke Talmash in the county of Oxford, the expense of which will amount to the sum of £1096, exclusive of the old materials. I gave one penny to the said brief. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a sheep’s bell and potatoes and turnips. My wife, self and servant at church in the afternoon…

After churchtime my wife and self, with Thomas Davy, walked down into the land belonging to Halland to see some Turkey, or Oatland [?] Sheep, which are there a-keeping. They are very like our country’s sheep for size and make, but they have no horns, and their coats are hair instead of wool, and their color seems tending to a brown, or like anything which has been singed with the fire. There were some young lambs which were of a perfect liver-color. They are extremely poor [thin}, though they are fed with hay twice a day and oats once and are in grounds where there is good grazing. Their poorness I imagine proceeds from the different degrees of heat between our climate and that from which they are brought.

I believe it is as mild a time, considering the season of the year, as has been known in the memory of man, everything having the appearance and carrying with it the face of April rather than of February (the bloom of trees only excepted). The meadows now are as verdant as sometimes in May; the birds chirping their melodious harmony, and the footwalks dry and pleasant. In the evening Thomas Davy at our house, to whom I read part of Young’s Night Thoughts.

At home all day. We dined on [a] calf’s feet boiled and sheep’s head with potatoes and turnips. In the evening Joseph Fuller Jr smoked a pipe or two with me.

After dinner I walked over to Framfield, and from thence my brother and I walked to Uckfield in order to get a debt of Thomas Osborne, but he was not at home. We came back to my mother’s and drank tea, and from thence I came home about 6:10.