Thomas Turner

…About 10:30 my brother-in-law Sam Slater came to inform us that my wife’s sister died yesterday about 4 o’clock. He stayed and dined with us on a light pudding, some mutton chops and green salad. A very wet day almost continually. My brother went away about 4:30. In the evening finished reading of Thomson’s Seasons, which I think a very good thing, he in my opinion having described nature very justly.

At work in my garden great part of the forenoon… In the evening read part of The London Magazine. A good deal of rain today. We received a letter from my wife’s father therein he acquaints us Nanny, my wife’s sister, is like to live but a very short time. In the evening Thomas Davy at our house.

…Paid Dame Cornwell 2/6 for knitting me 1 pair of white worsted hose… This day Molly Hook went away; we gave her 2/6 for the time the girl had been with us. In the afternoon about 5 o’clock, or something before, we had a very heavy shower of rain and several loud claps of thunder, which seemed to be far distant from this place. In the evening read part of Thomson’s “Winter”.

At home all the forenoon though but very little do. About noon we had a very heavy shower of rain which lasted near half an hour… About 3 o’clock I walked down in the park where there was a match of cricket played between our parish and the parish of Framfield when our parish was beaten by about 57 runs. There were two innings played out of both sides though Framfield fetched as many their first innings as this parish did at both, and in my judgment Framfield are the best gamesters in each part. I lost about l½d and came back about 8:40. Mr Thomas Calverley Jr called on me in my absence. Thomas Davy sat with us a while in the evening.

A great deal of rain fell in the night. After breakfast Thomas Fuller called on me to go to Bayley’a Lane with him in order to talk to one John Sicklemore about some money which appears to the parish to be due to the wife of Will Slarks, whose family is now become chargeable to this parish. We accordingly went and talked with the man, who says there is something due to her from him as being something of a trustee to her. And he has assured us he will speedily pay it. We came home round by Chiddingly and came home about 2:40… In the evening Mr Elless and I walked down to Peter Adams’s to look at Mr Carman’s wool which is lodged there. We came home round by the common where there were 3 or 4 boys at cricket; we stayed there near an hour. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening, who stayed with us till near 11 o’clock.

In the morning Charles Diggens came over and took up a coat and some trimmings for Mr Porter; he stayed and breakfasted with us… In the afternoon my brother came over, he being a-going to Whitesmith Fair. He also called as he went back. In the evening went down to Jones’s, there being a public vestry. We received of Peter Adams in cash 8.15.6, and we gave him up his bond (and a proper receipt upon it) which he gave this parish to pay them the 18d per week towards the maintenance of a female bastard child born of the body of Ann Cain, of which child he was the putative father. The said bond was dated the 4th April, 1752; so he is now forever quit of the charge of the said child. The money we received was as under:

To money which Mr Burgess had paid before Easter for keeping it	1.7.0
To keeping it from Easter till 7 years of age.	3.8.6
To cash given the parish to take it	4.0.0

Came home about 9:40. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening. Wrote my London letters.

In the morning about 8:10 Mr Thomas Scrase and his wife come to see us; they breakfasted with us and Mr and Mrs Scrase and myself were at church in the morning. The text in the former part of Revelation 14:11: “And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever,” from which words we had an excellent sermon. There was a brief read for to repair the groins and fortifications of the town of Brighthelmstone in this county against the encroachments made by the sea on that coast, which, if not timely prevented, will in all probability eat in and destroy the said town, several houses etc. having in a few years been swallowed up by the sea. The sum necessary for repairing and amending the present groins and for building and establishing new ones is £2250 and upwards. I collected on the said brief 23d, and 2d I am to put in for Joseph Fuller, 2d for Joseph Burgess, and 1d for Mr Piper, and 2d I intend to give myself makes collected in the whole of this brief the sum of 2/6.

Mr and Mrs Scrase dined with us on a leg of lamb roasted, 2 carp boiled, a currant rice pudding and green salad. Only our servant at church in the afternoon. Mr and Mrs Scrase and Molly French drank tea with us, and Joseph Fuller came in after churchtime and smoked 2 or three pipes with me. Mr and Mrs Scrase stayed till near 7 o’clock when we all went down to Mr French’s (except Joseph Fuller) and drank some syllabub. Mr and Mrs Scrase went away home from thence about 8:40, and my wife and I came home about 9:40. Sadly disordered all day, not having recovered Friday night’s debauch. Today John Cayley called on me and informed me that he would put me up as much butter as I required.

Terrible bad with the headache. In the morning John Watford a-mowing my court and orchard; he breakfasted with us. In the forenoon rode over to Framfield. I dined at my mother’s on a hot veal pie… Thomas Cornwell made my wife a present of 2 fine carp, for which she gave him 12d. Mr Blackwell, a paper-maker, called on me today, to whom I gave an order. Very bad all day, though no more than I deserve…

In the forenoon rode down to John Cayley’s to buy a tub of butter, but be could not assure me to put one up for me. I called at Mr John Vine’s and looked at his wool and left word with Mrs Vine I would give 7d per 1b for it.

I think I have a very great dread upon my spirits about tonight’s entertainment, for as I drink anything strong so seldom, I am thoroughly sensible a very little will make me drunk. Oh, a melancholy thing to deprive oneself of reason and even to render ourselves beasts! But what can I do in this affair? If I stay at home, I shall be stigmatized with the name of being a poor proud ill-natured wretch, and perhaps disoblige Mr Coates. And if I go, I must drink just as they please, or otherwise I shall be called a poor singular fellow; so I must be guilty of an indecency to please the multitude…

Paid Mr Ben Shelley in cash 1.14.5, it being for the same sum which he paid in London for me this week… In the afternoon my wife went up to Mr Piper’s with a gown for Mrs Piper, and about 5:20 I went down to Halland where, after casting up a large account of wood, faggots etc. for Mr Coates, I entered the list of drinkers. Our company were Mr Coates, the Rev Mr Porter, the Rev Mr Fletcher, Mr Robert Turner, Mr Will Shoesmith, Mr James Shoesmith, Mr Sam Gibbs, Mr John Goldsmith, Mr Robert Saxby, Mr Jeremiah French, Mr Joseph Fuller, Mr Thomas Fuller, Mr Will Piper, Mr Joseph Burgess, Mr John Clinch, Mr Calverley, Mr Francis Elless, Mr Richard Bridgman, Joseph Durrant and myself. We supped with Mr Coates on two pieces of cold roast beef, a cold roast [rib] of lamb, a cold chicken pasty and green salad. We drank health and success to his Majesty and the royal family, the King of Prussia, Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, Lord Anson, his Grace the Duke of Newcastle and his duchess, Lord Abergavenny, Admiral Boscawen, Mr Pelham of Stanmer, the Earl of Ancram, the Earl of Ashburnham, Lord Gage, Marshal Keith and several more loyal healths. But about 10:10, finding myself to begin to be in liquor, and finding it impossible to sit there without drinking off bumpers as fast as could well be poured out, I deserted and came safe home, but, to my shame do I mention it, very much in liquor; though I have this to extenuate my crime, that it was with greatest reluctance I entered the list, and nothing but the fear of disobliging could ever have prevailed on me to have gone. And I think I made all the efforts I could to evade drinking, though all proved ineffectual. Before I came away I think I my say there was not one sober person in company, though some more so than others, for I was the fifth that deserted.

Now let us seriously reflect upon this transaction and look upon things in their proper light. I doubt not but we shall find it a very improper way of rejoicing, for instead of rejoicing in spirit and giving thanks and praises to Him that has given our armies success in battle, we have, as it must appear to any considerate person, been endeavoring to draw down vengeance and misfortunes from heaven upon our armies. For if there is a God (as undoubtedly there is), and one who delights in that which is good, then the crime of drunkenness and the many oaths and execrations that often resounded from all sides of the table could never be pleasing in his sight. Oh, the depravity of human nature! When will poor mortal man learn to be wise and think justly of his latter end? Sure the degeneracy of this present age must almost startle anyone that would but make a stop and consider duly the eternal torments which are pronounced against wickedness and impiety.

Rec’d back by the carrier a receipt from Mr Allen Chatfield in lieu of the money sent him the 27^th on account of Mrs Mills for Mr Piper. Sent Mr Piper the receipt, but have not had my note.

…In the forenoon I wrote out Mr Coates’s bill. We dined on some beans and bacon and a raisin suet pudding. In the afternoon my wife went down to see Mrs French. This day we had a rejoicing by ringing the bells etc. for a victory gained over the French by Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick near the lower Rhine, the particulars of which are not yet arrived, and Mr Coates this day gave me an invitation to come down tomorrow night to see him in order to rejoice there on this occasion. I think this is not the proper way of rejoicing on such occasions, for I doubt there is little thought of returning thanks to Him that gives success in war. But I think it is more probable to be guilty of what we know not to be right by getting in liquor and being guilty of indecencies thereby.