Thomas Turner

We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Rec’d of John Piper in cash 10.13.0½ and a land tax receipt for 2.4.0, two bills of repairs 1.0.11½, which together makes the sum of 13.18.0, which I am to send to Mr Allen Chatfield at Croydon and is in full for l year’s rent due from Mr Will Piper deceased to Mrs Mary Mills at old Lady Day last.

In the evening my friend John Breeden called on me in [his] road from Nutley Fair and stayed at our house all night. We balanced accounts… My wife, poor creature, very ill though I hope somewhat easier. Paid John Cayley the 3/8 I received of Mr John Morris the 2nd instant.

Mr Breeden stayed and breakfasted with me and then went home… paid James Crowhurst in cash 3.1.4 in full for earthenware received of him today. Thomas Cornwell a-gardening for me today and dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with some broiled sausages and some roasted pigeons and asparagus. Paid Mrs Weller by her daughter Frances in cash £4 which is in full for one year’s interest due on bond the 5th ult. At home all day. My wife, poor creature, very ill, though I hope rather better again.

After breakfast I rode to Pevensey to consult my friend John Breeden about a servant he recommended to me when at our house. I dined there on some cold sparerib, some broiled sausages and a hog’s foot pie with currants in it (my family at home dining on the remains of yesterday’s dinner). I came home about 3:40. In the evening Thomas Cornwell assisted me in bottling off a barrel of beer and he and Thomas Durrant sat a-chatting with us an hour or two in the evening. My wife extreme ill, but I hope not worse.

…Paid Charles Vine 12d for bringing some goods from Lewes for me. About 5:10 I went down to John Watford’s to go to church with a natural son of Miss Frances Hicks, a child of 1 year and 3 months old, which was this day buried, and where I gave away 4 pairs of youth’s white gloves. My wife thank God easier today than for some days past.

We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of a hasty pudding. Rec’d of Mr Ben Shelley a receipt (for the money I gave him the 5th instant) from Mr Allen Chatfield, which receipt I sent by Philip to John Piper. At home all day. My wife very ill.

…Lent Mr Laurence Thornton in cash two guineas, for which he gave me his note of hand payable to me or order on demand… A most melancholy time. Never did I know trade so dull. My wife, I hope, somewhat better. Many are the afflictions I have labored under, but I doubt not but they are ordered by the divine Providence for our good, and God grant me grace to make a right use of them.

Myself only at church in the morning… I stayed the communion and gave 6d. During churchtime my sister Sally and my [brother’s] daughter Nanny came to see us, and they together with Mr Long dined with us on a loin of veal roasted and gooseberry pudding. Myself and 2 nieces at church in the afternoon… My sister and cousin Nanny stayed with us all night… My wife, poor creature, very ill. In the afternoon the banns of marriage were published for the first time between Francis Turner of this parish and Mary Weaver of Selmeston.

…My sister and niece dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of a cold pigeon pasty. They stayed and drank tea at our house, and then went home. At home all day. In the evening wrote my London letters. My wife quite ill all day.

Delivered to Ben Shelley by our servant in cash £10 in order for him to pay in London for me… We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day. Thomas Durrant supped at our house. My wife very ill, but I hope somewhat better.

Dame Rabson at Laughton dined at our house… Thomas Durrant drank tea with us. At home all day; pretty busy. In the evening my niece went over to Framfield. My wife somewhat better.