Thomas Turner

…Lent Mr Joseph Burgess in cash 1 guinea, but received no note for it. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day. My wife, poor creature, extremely ill. Oh, how does the thought of losing her distract my tumultuous mind.

Lent Robert Hook in cash 5/-. My niece only at church in the forenoon. We dined on a piece of salt fish boiled, a piece of beef boiled, egg sauce, turnips, potatoes and greens. After dinner my brother came over and he, my niece and servant at church. My brother stayed and drank tea with us and then went home, I walking along with him part of the way for a walk. In the evening read part of the New Whole Duty of Man. My wife, poor creature, very ill.

…In the evening walked down to Halland, but did not stay. After I came back wrote my London letters. My wife, poor creature, very ill and so full of pain that it is past my power to describe it or even, I think, anyone to believe it, but only we that are constantly with her. Ah, melancholy situation; but still, I am thoroughly assured it is that which is best for me, for the unerring ways of God’s providence are undoubtedly right and just.

In the forenoon my brother came over and I lent him my horse to go to Lewes upon… In the afternoon my brother came back and left my horse. Posted part of my day book… My wife, poor creature, very ill and extremely full of pain. Joseph Fuller Jr, paying me for a frock, smoked a pipe with me in the evening. John Durrant made my wife a present of some small eels.

Paid Mr Howard a gingerbread baker in cash 0.8.9 in full for gingerbread etc. bought of him today; viz.,

14 lbs of thick	0.2.3
1 gross of Sweet Hearts	0.1.0
Thin Bread	0.5.6

…My uncle Hill called on me today… At home all day; posted my day book. My wife, poor creature, most extreme full of pain. Read several of Yorick’s Sermons.

…At home all day and but very little to do. My wife thank God somewhat easier today. In the evening read several of Yorick’s Sermons.

Mr Long breakfasted with me. Myself at church in the forenoon… We dined on a piece of beef and pork boiled, greens and some broiled eels. My wife, poor creature, very ill, nay even so ill that I think there is not any probability of her living but a few days.

…Paid Joseph Fuller Jr 2/3 in full for a fillet of veal and some beef suet received by him today weighing 6¼ lbs. Paid Thomas Freeman 2/6 in full for 6 pairs women’s clogs bought of him today. At home all day and pretty busy. My wife, poor creature, quite ill. In the evening read part of Yorick’s Sermons. This day sent Mr Day the wheelwright in the street of South Malling, near Lewes, the parish bill of South Malling, amounting to 1.6.4 (by Mr John Long) with a receipt on the said bill for the same, but Mr Day did not pay him, but promised to call on me and pay me the same very soon. Rec’d of Master Hesman per his daughter 2/- in full.

Myself only at church in the morning, the text in the 14^th verse of the 15^th chapter 1^st Epistle of Corinthians: “And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching in vain, and your faith is also in vain.” I stayed the communion and I gave 6d. We had a brief read for the rebuilding of the parish church of Orton (alias Overton on the Hill) in the county of Leicester, the expense of which amounting to the sum of £1042 and upwards, I gave to the collection for the same 2d.

We dined on a fillet of veal roasted and stuffed and a piece of beef boiled, greens and a raising bread pudding. My niece and servant at church in the afternoon, and during churchtime my cousin Molly Hill and her maid came to see my wife. They stayed and drank tea with us and then went home. In the afternoon and evening read part of Yorick’s sermons. My wife, poor creature, extremely ill.

In the morning our late servant Mary Martin came over to assist me today… In the afternoon I went down to Jones’s, there being a public vestry, when I balanced the accounts between Mr Will Piper the overseer and the parish, and there remained due to the parish the sum of 3.0.9½. The officers nominated for this ensuing year are Will Piper, churchwarden; Joseph Fuller, electioneer; Jeremiah French and John Vine Jr, overseers, and John Browne and Joseph Durrant, electioners.

Rec’d of Will Piper 6.13.10 in full for the parish account. And then I paid him 17/- in full for my poor tax. Rec’d of John Cayley 1.6.8 in full for the bread and wine for the communion for the year now past, and also received of him in cash £2 in full for a year’s land tax due for Mr Browne’s mills, and then I paid him 2/- in full for the use of Mrs Browne’s seat in the church, due some time in February last. Came home about 5:50.

My wife, poor creature, very ill indeed, almost past description… Rec’d of Mr William Piper today 8/- for Dame Novice. Our late servant stayed at our house all night.