Thomas Turner

Busy in the forenoon a-marking of sacks. We dined on the remains of Thursday’s dinner. About 6 o’clock my brother Sam Slater brought my wife home; he stayed all night. Thomas Cornwell made me a present of some eels and a bream.

…Paid Mr Sam Beckett in cash 0.11.4 in full for 34 lbs ginger received yesterday from Mr Thomas Breach of Eastbourne… In the afternoon my brother came and brought me 20 sacks from Lewes. I paid him in cash 13/8… in full for money he paid in Lewes today for me… My brother did not stay with me any time. At home all day. In the evening read part of The Universal Magazine for September.

Sent Mr Sam Durrant in Lewes by John Streeter the post £25 in order for him to send me a bill in lieu thereof… Last night we had a very remarkable high wind, which continued all night… Rec’d back by the post from Mr Sam Durrant in lieu of the cash sent him today, one bill on Sir Joseph Hankey and partners… In the afternoon my brother came over, and I received of him from my mother in cash 2.0.6 in full for a parcel of spices he had today. I then gave him in cash 2.6.6 in order for him to pay for some sacks etc. at Lewes tomorrow for me. In the evening Joseph Fuller Jr smoked a pipe or two with me.

Myself and servant both at church in the morning. We dined on a piece of bacon and chick boiled with some carrots and after dinner I and Thomas Davy walked over to Framfield where I stayed at my mother’s till past 6 o’clock.

Thomas Davy spent the evening with me, to whom I read 2 of Tillotson’s sermons. Oh, the intolerable and tormenting pang of a breast filled with horror like mine! If I look back, I can see the time when I was really happy, but if I take a view of some few years that are just gone past, as also the present tire, together with the prospect of future time (so far as we poor mortals can judge), how unhappy and miserable is the prospect! Thus by one imprudent step I have ruined, in all probability, my happiness for ever. Oh, women, ungrateful women! thou that art the last and most completest of the creation and designed by Almighty God for comfort and companion to mankind, to smoothe and make even the rough and uneven paths of this life art often, ah! too, too often the very bane and destroyer of our felicity. Thou not only takest away our happiness, but givest us in lieu thereof trouble and vexation of spirit.

…In the forenoon my father Slater called on us in his way from Lewes; he dined with us on the remains of Thursday’s dinner, and after dinner he went home, carrying my wife with him. Oh, the arbitrary temper of a wife that must be master! Not all the entreaties and expostulations could persuade my wife to postpone this journey, though no other reason could occasion this journey than the fantastical odd capricious humor of her mother when undoubtedly (if ever she is a help to me) I now have the greatest occasion for it to put my accounts and other affairs in order (after so great a confusion) as they must naturally require it. But the humor of a parent must be first consulted and then the interest of a husband, as humor and fancy leads. Not but I think parental authority and filial duty should have a just deference paid to it when it is not founded on a basis opposite to that of a more near (and should be) a more dear relation. Oh, how happy must that men be whose more than happy lot it is to whom an agreeable company for life falls, one in whom he sees and enjoys all that this world can give. He can open the most in-most recesses of his soul to her and receive mutual and pleasing comfort to soothe the anxious and tumultuous thoughts that must many times arise in the breast of any man in trade, occasioned by the many losses and disappointments that must naturally occur in business, one whose heart and interest is as his own, and not only so by marriage, but inclination only.

Ah, happy, thrice happy must that man be, and on the contrary (for I speak by woeful experience) how miserable must they be where there is nothing else but matrimonial discord and domestic disquietude. They drag on life, as it were with a galling and wearisome chain, and are only a burden to each other. They not only frustrate each other’s temporal interest but, it is to be doubted, their eternal also. How does this thought wreck my tumultuous breast! It even chills the purple current in my veins and almost bids nature stand still. A thought a pungent must I think pierce a heart that is as hard as the nether millstone. Oh, how are those delusive hopes and prospects of happiness before marriage turned into briers and thorns and seem as if they never existed. But as happiness is debarred me in this affair, I sincerely wish it to all those that shall ever tie the Gordian knot.

Rec’d of Mr Sam Slater 1.1.3 in full.

At home all day and very busy a-setting my goods in order after the confusion we have been in by the house’s being repaired… This day entertained my family at 3d expense with the sight of a racoon. At home all day. In the evening read part of The London Magazine for September. Very little to do all day.

Rec’d of Joseph Fuller 1 bullock’s cheek. We dined on the same baked in Marchant’s oven with a batter pudding under it. Paid Joseph Fuller 7/6 in full for one year’s window tax. Several boys at work for me today in helping me remove my earthenware, to whom I gave 6d. At home all day and indifferently busy. In the evening read part of Theron and Aspasio.

…We dined on a bouillis batter pudding. John Browne’s man at work for me all day. In the evening went down to Jones’s, where there was a company of neighbors met to drink out some ringing beer. Came home sober about 12:10. Spent 2d. Dame Babcock and Dame Watson drank tea at our house.

Master Watford the elder at work for me all day, who dined with us on the remains of Sunday’s dinner. John Browne’s man at work for me all day. In the evening read one of Tillotson’s sermons.

John Watford Sr at work for me all day. Thomas Davy and John Babcock also a-helping me gather my apples the greater part of the day. They all dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner… In the afternoon walked down to John Browne’s, but did not stay, and in the evening went down to Jones’s to a public vestry where there was only myself, Thomas Fuller, Joseph Burgess and Joseph Durrant. Rec’d of Thomas Fuller the 6/- I spent for the parish on account of Mary Hubbard. Came home sober about 9:40. Paid Mr Blackwell, paper-maker at Hawkhurst, in cash 2.14.0 in full for 12 reams of paper received of him today.