Thomas Turner

In the forenoon my brother Moses and cousin John Bennett came over, and they together with my cousin Moses Bennett dined with us …and all went away for Framfield about 3:10. Gave Richard Fuller 6d and the carrier’s servant 12d to their Christmas box, as it is called, at home all day, but a heavy heart and a tormenting conscience, though there was no consent of the will in this.

About 10:20 I went down to Whyly, from whence Mr French and I set out for Buxted Place, he being a-going to gather some quit-rent of Mr Medley… After Mr French had done his business with Mr Medley, we were prodigious civilly entertained with some bread and cheese, wine and beer etc… We also were were showed the house all over, which undoubtedly is a very fine place, being built in the modern taste, though as yet it is not completely finished. We then went to Uckfield where I called on Thomas Osborne for some money, but could get none. Then we went to Mr Miller’s, where Mr French had more quit-rent to gather and stayed and smoked a pipe.

We came back to my mother’s and stayed but a very little time there. My cousin Moses Bennett being at my mothers, he came home along with me. We came home about 5:20. We called in at Mr French’s, but did not stay, though I must say, not sober. Oh, what a trouble is it to me that my head is so weak, for the liquor I have drunk today I am sure has been but little, and I tried as much as possible to avoid drinking that little I did drink! It even makes me almost despair to think that I am well assured I have no value for liquor, neither am I fond of drinking, and yet when I am in company, I must always appear singular or else this misfortune happens to me.

Mrs Virgoe and her two children drank tea at our house. This evening a meteor was seen by several people in the neighborhood, which appeared like a ball of fire that was falling from the clouds to the earth and seemed as if it fell about Waldron, leaving a train of sparks behind it as it descended. Its bigness was at last about the size of a large bell, though at first almost like a moon, and extremely light. I imagine fear and surprise has exaggerated many of the above circumstances.

After breakfast my brother Sam Slater went away… Gave John Streeter the post 12d to his box. At home: all day. In the evening read one of Tillotson’s sermons.

…This day my brother William signed the will which I made for him the 13th instant, and it was witnessed by Thomas Durrant and Thomas Davy. My brother William stayed till about 4:10 and then went away for Framfield. My brother Sam Slater stayed all night. At home all day. A very remarkable fog all day.

We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, and just as we had dined, my brother Sam Slater came in, who dined on what we left. About 5:25 my brother Will Turner came to see us, who [???] with us. And both he and my brother Sam Slater stayed all night. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening, with whom I played at cribbage and won of him 6d. At home all day and gave the following box-money:

Goldsmith’s carter	0.0.6
Thomas Turner	0.0.6
Starnes’s son	0.0.6
John Vine’s apprentice	0.0.3
John Browne’s do.	0.0.3
Robert Hook’s do.	0.0.3
Sinden’s Servant	0.0.3
	0.2.6

This being Christmas Day, myself and wife at church in the morning; the text in the 31st verse of the 10th chapter of the 1st Epistle Corinthians: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” My wife and I both stayed the communion. My wife gave 6d, but they not asking me, I gave nothing. Oh, may the God of all mercy pour into our hearts His Holy Spirit to strengthen this our weak endeavor that we may increase in faith and good works and maintain and keep the good intentions that I hope we have this day taken up, through the merits and intercession of our blessed Redeemer Jesus Christ.

The widow and James Marchant dined with us on a piece of roast beef and suet plum pudding. They also stayed and drank tea with us and went away about 5:20. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening, to whom I read 2 of Tillotson’s sermons.

My wife, self and servant at church in the morning… We dined on a small piece of beef boiled, a knuckle of a leg of mutton and potatoes and turnips. Myself, wife and servant at church in the afternoon… At home all the evening. In the evening and the day read 3 of Tillotson’s sermons.

My wife a good deal indisposed with the pain in her side and has an ulcer broken out on one of her legs. Oh, heavy and great misfortunes! But let me not repine since it is the will of Almighty God.

…At home all day. In the evening read part of Addison’s Evidences of the Christian Religion. Sure never was a more melancholy time than now. What the reason is I know not, but I have so little trade and my trust is so great that I think I must be ruined. And how to extricate myself out of my difficulties I am quite at a loss. I should not care how poor soever my own living was, so I had but a prospect of not losing that little I once had.

…This day being St Thomas’s day, gave the following people one penny and a draught of beer for a Christmas gift; viz.,

1	Widow Gower	18	Edward Babcock Jr
2	Dame Novice	19	John Dan
3	John Humphrey	20	Widow Day
4	Francis Turner	21	William Eldridge
5	Widow Trill	22	James Emery
6	Richard Braizer	23	John Streeter
7	Ann Wood	24	Will Slarks
8	Ed Babcock Sr	25	Will Slarks
9	Widow Cain	26	Robert Baker
10	Thomas Ling	27	Susan Swift
11	Thomas Heath	28	Richard Prall
12	Richard Heath	29	Widow Cornwell
13	Samuel Jenner	30	Thomas Dallaway
14	Thomas Tester	31	John Durrant
15	William Henly	32	Richard Vinal
16	Roger Vallow	33	Widow Bristow
17	John Elless

…In the evening read part of Hervey’s Meditations. Thomas Davy at our house the latter part of the evening.