Thomas Turner

About 4:05 Thomas Durrant and I set out for Lewes in order to get some punch bowls, but could not get any. I came home by Halland, where I breakfasted. Paid Ben Shelley… the sum of 34.13.4 in full for the same sum he paid in London for me… Thomas Durrant dined at our house on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

To and fro at Halland all day. In the evening the Duke of Newcastle came to Halland. This day received a note of hand from my cousin Charles Hill for the bill, value £20, sent him the 10th ult… Paid Mr Faulkner Bristow 5/3 for 1 1b of chocolate bought of him today.

In the forenoon my brother Richard came to see us and dined with us on some boiled salt fish and a raisin suet pudding, parsnips and potatoes. Not at church all day.

This day there was a public day at Halland, where I believe there were 5 or 6 hundred people At Halland almost all day. My brother went home about 3:20. Captain Lamb lodged at our house, there being not beds enough at Halland. My wife, poor creature, very ill again. How glad I am the confusion is all over at Halland.

In the morning down at Halland where there were I believe nearly 5 hundred people to attend his Grace to Lewes, the election being there for the county, but no opposition…

After tea our late servant went home… My wife, poor creature, extreme ill. This day we had sent us for a present from Halland a shoulder of lamb. Oh, how glad am I the hurry and confusion is over at Halland, for it quite puts me out of that regular way of life which I am so fond of and not only so, but occasions one by a too great hurry of spirits many times to commit such actions as are not agreeable to reason and religion, for when reason is in a flustering state the passions are apt to ride triumphant.

…In the afternoon once down at Halland. My wife quite ill. Mrs Coates sent my wife a present of a beef pie. Thomas Durrant supped with us. In the evening read part of The Universal Magazine.

We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of some cold beef pie and green salad. At home all day and pretty busy… My wife, poor creature, quite ill.

In the morning Richard Fuller killed a hog for me, which I received of Master Darby, and for which I am to give 2/- per stone… Molly Fuller drank tea with my wife in the afternoon. At home all day. Thomas Davy supped with us, to whom in the evening I read 2 of Yorick’s Sermons… My wife somewhat easier today.

Today Richard Fuller cut out the hog he killed for me yesterday, which weighed 15 stone bare weight. Rec’d of Mr Day the 1.6.4 in full for the bill I sent him the 21st ult. by Mr John Long [?]receipt on it on account of the parish of South Malling.

John [??] on some hog’s liver fried. In the afternoon sent my brother Richard my horse for him to ride to London upon, and also sent him in cash £3 for him to pay in London for me (sent both by William Henly Jr, for which I gave him 8d for himself and paying the turnpike). At home all day. My wife, poor creature, quite ill.

…John Watford Sr a-gardening for me half the day. Pretty busy all day. My wife, poor creature, most extreme ill. What virtues daily show themselves in her, for though her pains increase and she has now been ill these 28 weeks past yet bears it all with the greatest patience and resignation to the divine will, making it her constant and earnest prayer to God for grace to strengthen her weakness, that she may not be impatient.

After breakfast I walked down to Mrs Browne’s, where I, in company with Samuel Jenner, posted and settled some of her late husband’s accounts. We dined there on a piece of pork and a leg of mutton boiled, and some salted French beans (my family at home dining on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of the hog’s feet and ears boiled, a hog’s tongue and lights boiled and greens. Stayed and drank tea with Mrs Browne and then came home about 5:20.

In the afternoon my brother William came to see me and stayed and drank tea with my wife and stayed till I came home, and then went away. Not at church all day. My niece at church in the forenoon and afternoon. In the evening read part of St John’s Gospel. My wife, poor creature, most extremely ill. Lent Mrs Browne today in cash 7/-.

…At home all day and pretty busy, but almost all delivered upon credit… My wife, poor creature, most extreme ill. Oh, how melancholy is this daily repetition, and how much more must it be so to my wife, but who can conceive the patience she bears her affliction with.