Thomas Turner

My friend John Breeden called on me in his road to Uckfield Fair, and breakfasted with me… In the afternoon my wife rode down to Mr Porter’s in a cart and stayed and drank tea there. Mr Breeden called on me in his way home… Pretty busy all day.

…We dined on a piece of beef boiled, a peas pudding. Mrs Browne drank tea with my wife. Today filled up a paper of indentures whereby John the son of William Gasston in the Cliffe is bound to Joseph Durrant and his son Thomas for 6 years, the money specified £5, signed and sealed in the presence of myself and Robert Hook, who were witnesses to the same; the time is to commence from Lady Day last past. I also signed a note from the father (that is, William Gasston) to Joseph Durrant, whereby he promises to pay him £5 at the expiration of 7 years provided the boy lives so long. At home all day my wife quite ill.

Paid the miller of this parish 8/- in full for 2 bushels flour received by him today. Mrs Vine sent my wife a present of a fine tench and some eels, for which I gave the boy 6d… At home all day and pretty busy. My wife very ill. A remarkable fine seasonable time for weather; all nature seems to strive with the greatest energy to be luxuriantly bountiful to man, nay even to poor ungrateful man.

Myself and niece at church in the morning… We dined on a tench boiled, an eel boiled and broiled and the remains of yesterday’s dinner. My niece and maid at church in the afternoon. Rec’d of Mrs Browne in cash 3.1.3; that is, to pay her rent tomorrow at the audit; viz.,

To a half year’s rent due at St Michael last	3.1.3
Out of which I am to keep 10/- for half a year’s land tax due at the same time	0.10.0
	2.11.3

which remaining sum is in full for the rent, including the receipt for land tax.

In the evening myself, Thomas Davy and Mr Long took a little walk, and they came back and sat with us some time, to whom and in the day I read 2 of Sharp’s sermons. Mary Heath came to wash for us tomorrow and lodged at our house.

This day was buried at our church Francis Rich, aged 45 years, who died after a few days’ illness and has left a widow and 7 children. What a moving spectacle it was (I am not able to describe it) to see an industrious and sober man, the only support of his family, followed to the grave by his widow and fatherless infants, whose stares [tears?] and lamentations as it were bespoke their inward and sincere grief. Oh, would the licentious libertine take opportunities to frequent such scenes as this, I think he would no longer follow his vicious course, but would in time become wise unto salvation.

Mary Heath a-washing for us all day and dined with us… In the afternoon walked up to Mr Vine’s to the audit, where I paid Mr Thomas Francis, the steward, the money I received of Mrs Browne yesterday in full for her half-year’s rent due at St Michael last. I came home about 7:30, not staying at all. In the evening wrote my London letters. My wife, poor creature, very ill. Mary Heath lodged at our house.

Mary heath a-washing for us all day and dined with us… At home all day and but very little to do. Paid Mary Heath 18d for 2 days’ washing. My wife very ill.

After breakfast rode over to Framfield in order to consult Mr Rideout about Mrs Browne’s apprentice, his time being out upon the death of her husband. Met with Mr Terry, rider to Messrs Kendall and Rushton, at my brother’s and we came home together; I gave him an order… Rec’d of Mr John Gosling, trustee [???] will of Mr Sam Virgoe deceased, by the payment of Mr Jeremiah French, the sum of 10.5.0 in full for the use of the widow Browne.

In the afternoon Mr Porter and myself went up to the dwelling-house of the late Mr Piper and took a rough kind of inventory of the stock on the ground, household furniture and husbandry tackle of the deceased. Came home about 7:20. Pretty busy in the shop all day. My wife very ill, poor creature. A prodigious windy day. In the evening read part of Sharp’s sermons.

We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of a green salad. In the afternoon down at Mr Porter’s a-writing of letters to the creditors of Mr Piper to meet us at his dwelling-house on Tuesday the 9th day of June next by 2 o’clock in the afternoon, in order to settle and balance accounts… My wife extremely ill. In the evening, read part of Young’s Night Thoughts. Pretty busy today.

…We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of a piece of pork boiled, a raisin suet pudding and greens. Paid Mr Ben Shelley in cash 3.14.5 in full for the same sum he paid in London for me this week… At home all day. Thank God my wife somewhat better. Pretty busy.

…My wife, poor creature, very ill again. I, who yesterday was all joy and pleasure at the prospect of my wife’s being better, am now all trouble and affliction, so vain and uncertain is all worldly happiness! But, alas! why do I so afflict myself at the will of Providence, whose all-seeing eye directs all things by the power of unerring wisdom. Let me rather with an humble and truly contrite heart adore that ineffable goodness for the many blessings daily poured upon me. Oh, may I above all things live in such a manner as not to fear death whenever it comes.