Thomas Turner

…After dinner I rode over to Framfield. I called upon my mother, but did not stay. I then went and looked upon Mr Peckham’s wool, where I stayed and drank tea on account of the rain there was in the time I was examining his wool. I offered Mr Peckham 21/- per tod for his wool, which is more by 12d per tod than it is really worth, but he would not take it till he had heard more of the prices, being as I presume afraid he should sell it for 6d per tod less then it was worth. I think Mr Peckham to all outward appearances seems to be a very worldly man. Came home about 5:30. In the afternoon John Watford a-cutting my grapevine. After I came home, Mr Francis Elless played at cricket against Thomas Durrant and myself for one pound of gingerbread; he beat us 7 runs at one innings. This is the 19th day on which it has rained successively. In the day read part of The Peerage of England.

In the morning wrote out the window tax books for Mr Joseph Burgess and Joseph Fuller… Several very heavy showers of rain in the day, which makes this the 18th wet day we have had successively. In the afternoon my brother came over and brought me from my mother in cash 4.4.0 in part for nails which I have sent for on account of my mother. At home all day. In the evening wrote my London letters.

Just before churchtime my brother Will came to see me, and he and I both went to church in the morning (my wife staying at home)… We dined on some beans, bacon and a butter pudding cake. My wife at church in the afternoon, my brother and self staying at home. My brother stayed and drank tea with us and went away about 7:20. In the evening read part of Sherlock on judgment. This is the 17th day on which it has rained successively.

At home all day… A very wet afternoon, and I think this is the 16th day which we have had successively whereon it has rained. A most prodigious melancholy time; very little to do, for I think that luxury increases so fast in this part of the nation that people have very little or no money to spare to buy what is really necessary. For the too frequent use of spirituous liquors and the exorbitant practice of tea-drinking have in such a manner corrupted the morals of people of almost all ranks that they have rendered industry a stranger to the people in those parts. Therefore poverty must of consequence be always a concomitant of idleness, as it now too truly manifest… Thomas Davy sat with us a while in the evening.

In the forenoon Charles Diggens took up a pair of breeches for me. We dined on the remains of Tuesday’s dinner with the addition of some peas. Paid Mr Ben Shelley in cash… to a gammon of bacon and carriage 15 lbs 10 oz, 0.6.11… At home all day, but very little to do. What will become of me I cannot think!

A very wet night and rained great part of the forenoon… As soon as we had dined we came away and got home very safe about 5:20. My brother stayed and drank tea with us and then went home. Spent this journey [for]… shoeing… 0.1.3… After supper I went with [Mr Bulcock] down to Jones’s, where I stayed and smoked a pipe or two and came home about 11:15. And sober. Nothing of moment happened either at home or abroad during this journey…

In the morning my brother came over and breakfasted with us, and after breakfast my wife and I set out for Hartfield where we arrived about 12:20. We dined at my father Slater’s on some bacon and beans and peas (my brother at home dining on the remains of yesterday’s dinner). My wife’s sister Anne Slater was buried about 8:10. She was aged 18 years–a very melancholy funeral, for I think it must affect anyone to see a poor young creature cut off just in the bloom of youth. We stayed at my father Slater’s all night, as did my brother at our house. The confirmation at Lewes today for Pevensey Deanery, to which this parish belongs.

Sent Messrs Margesson and Collison enclosed in a letter by Messrs Beckett and Shelley the bill, value £20, which I received yesterday from Mr Sam Durrant… In the afternoon posted my day book and began to make the window tax books for Mr Burgess and Joseph Fuller. A confirmation today for Lewes Deanery at Lewes. Paid Dame Dallaway 2/- for making a crape gown for my wife. In the evening Joseph Fuller Jr smoked a pipe or two with me. Almost a continual wet day.

In the morning sent Mr Sam Durrant of Lewes by John Streeter, Mayfield post, in cash £20 in order for him to send me a bill in lieu thereof…one eighteen-shilling piece…one quarter of ditto… [and other coins]. Rec’d back by the post from Mr Sam Durrant one bill on Sir Joseph Hankey and partners, dated tomorrow, 21 day’s date, No. 2032, value £20. At home all day. In the evening read part of Sherlock on judgment.

In the morning my brother came over; he stayed and breakfasted with us, and about 10:50 we both set off together, he for Framfield, and I for Lewes. I dined with Mrs Madgwick on part of a loin of veal roasted, a suet pudding and white cabbage (my wife at home dining on some bread and cheese). I paid Mr Ed Verral in cash 0.17.6, which with 4d in bad copper which he allowed makes 0.17.10 and is in full for the sum total collected in this present year upon all the briefs read in our church. I called upon Mrs Scrase. I came home about 7:20… A very wet showery day. In the evening read some little of Sherlock of judgment. Neither my wife or self at church all day.