Thomas Turner

In the forenoon went down and looked at Mr French’s wool and agreed to give him 21/- per tod. Came home about 11:05… My brother came over in the afternoon and brought my colt and took home the mare. At home all day, but very little to do. In the evening read part of Thomson’s “Autumn” and part of his “Winter”. In the day read part of The Peerage of England. Paid a glover that lodges at Prall’s 2/6 for mending a pair breeches.

…Sent the money and receipts etc. to Mr Allen Chatfield by Mr Shelley which Mr Piper gave me yesterday. I tied it up all together in a paper and gave it the carrier, telling him what it was… In the evening Mr Elless and I walked down to John Cayley’s to buy some butter of him, but he was not at home. Came home sbout 8:05. In the evening read part of Thomson’s “Summer” and “Autumn”.

In the morning Mr Will Piper brought me in cash 9.12.0 and by sundry bills of repairs and land tax receipt 4.6.0, which makes together the sum 13.18.0, which he desired I would send by the carrier tomorrow to Mr Allen Chatfield, distiller in Croydon, it being in full for 1 year’s rent due at Lady Day last to Mrs Mary Mills at Carshalton; Viz.,

James Fielder’s bill	0.4.4
John Vine’s do.	0.10.0
John Potter’s do.	0.8.9
Mr Piper’s do.	0.11.11
Joseph Durrant’s do.	0.3.0
1 year’s land tax	2.8.0
3 thirty-six shilling pieces	5.8.0
2 twenty-seven [shilling] pieces	2.14.0
1 guinea	1..1.0
9 shillings	0.9.0

I gave Mr Piper my note for the money until he has his receipt. In the forenoon I was sent for down to Mr Porter’s, where I got myself pretty well huffed for only my looks, which I think verifies the old proverb that a man’s looks will hang him; though if mine was deserving of blame, it was innocently. The case was this: Some time ago Mr Porter desired I would send for a Suffolk cheese for him, which I accordingly did. After he had had it some time, he sent for me and desired I would take half of it again and he would allow me, for he did no ways desire I should be a loser by it. Now I readily took it without any the least reluctance, no-ways thinking, as he asked me to take but half, that I must offer to take the whole (which I believe was his quarrel against me). So if my looks deserved blame, it was contrary to my inclination and therefore of consequence innocently; though I believe if I had understood Mr Porter’s language; that is, the tongue to speak a different language from what the intentions of the heart are, and had offered to take the whole, all had been well. But however after he had vented his passion, he gave me orders for a coat…

After dinner I set out for Lewes on my mare, where I bought 2 3/8 yds of superfine cloth of Mr Madgwick (for Mr Porter), for which I paid him 38/-. Came home by Mr Goad’s at Laughton where I looked upon his and Mr Sam Gibbs’s wool, and I am to have Goad’s at 7½d if I buy Mr Gibbs’s. I called on Mr Gibbs’s, but he was not at home. I came home about 7:50 and had never eaten nor drunk the time I was gone. In the evening wrote my London letter. My brother came over in the morning, but did not stay.

My wife and self at church in the morning… We dined on a piece of bacon and some veal boiled and a light pudding and gooseberry pie. Myself, wife and girl at church in the afternoon… After churchtime myself and wife took a walk. In the evening and the day read part of Sherlock on judgment.

…Prodigious uneasy to think my wife did not come home according to her appointment, which was last night, neither for my brother to come over as he promised. It quite astonishes me to see how I am as it were deserted by all my friends, though it is no other than what I have seen approaching those 5 years past (and better). But, however, what to attribute the coldness and indifference with which I am treated by my friends and relations I am at a loss to guess. Sometimes I think I must be a prodigy that all my relations in general seem to be so indifferent to me, but when I come to take a more nearer view, I can find among the greatest part of their behavior something of self-interest intermixed with it, to which if we add that easy temper of mine; that is, easy to be imposed upon, I believe it will easily solve the appearing oddity; so that I shall find I have nought to trust to except the divine Providence and my own industry…

About 1:20 my brother Sam Slater brought home my wife and dined with us on some veal and bacon fried… At home all day. John Hesman supped with us.

As soon as we arose, my brother went away home. I paid him the 9/6 borrowed of him the 21st instant. We dined on a piece of bacon boiled… In the evening Thomas Davy at our house. I gave him one pair hose value 0.3.8 for the many journeys he has been for me and many other jobs and kind offices be has done for me, for which he would never take no money.

After breakfast my brother went home… Gave Daniel Wicker 12d for carrying my wife yesterday. Thomas Cornwell a-gardening for me about 2 hours; he dined with us on the remains of Tuesday and yesterday’s dinners. Rec’d of John Jenner of Hailsham 3 hats at 15d, 20d, 24d, 30d and 36/-, which amounts to 1.11.3 [?]. I paid him by a book debt and goods 2.7.9, which is 16/6 more than the hats came to, for which sum he is to send me 3 hats at 3/6 and 3 at 2/-…

In the evening about 10:10 my brother came over again; he supped and stayed with us all night. A very lonely time, having nobody all the day but a poor, wild girl to take care of the household affairs. At home all day and thank God pretty busy. In the day read part of Wiseman’s Chyrurgery.

About 10:10 my brother came over upon the mare and immediately my wife set out for Hartfield (Daniel Wicker carrying her) to see her sister, who is like to live but a very little time… So soon as I had dined, I set out for Lewes on a horse of Mr Burgess’s in order to let Mr Lee the house of Mrs Virgoe’s, which I accordingly did for 5 years at £16 per year, and for him to enter upon it at St Michael next… I called on Mr Madgwick, Mrs Roase and Mr Will Bennett. I came home sober about 8:20…

This is my birthday and the day on which I enter into the thirtieth year of my age. How many were they have arrived at this age have been cut off and taken out of this world, probably in the midst of their sins; therefore as it has pleased the almighty Disposer of all events to give me my health and life. How careful should I be that I live not in vain. As I daily increase in age, so may I also improve and increase in all virtue and godliness of life, for if we only look back and reflect upon the time that is past, we shall find he that lives to the greatest age will have room to say with holy psalmist that our days are passed as it were a tale that is told. Therefore my sincere wish is that I may ever endeavor to lay hold on the present minute, that when my exit shall be, I may evermore live a life of happiness and bliss.

Borrowed of the widow Virgoe in cash today 1.1.0. Mr Sam Beckett the carrier made me a present of three mackerel. We dined on some veal boiled, with green salad. After dinner my brother came over, and I rode behind him to Eason’s Green (where there was a cricket match a-playing between Framfield and Isfield). I left my brother there and walked to Framfield where I stayed and drank tea with my mother and came back again to Eason’s Green, where I stayed to see the end of the match. Framfield beat their antagonists at one innings (though there were two played). I came home about 8:40. My wife in my absence paid Mr Daniel Beard 2.1.0 in full; that is, 1.15.0 on account for Mr Joseph Burgess and 6/- on my own account.

Sent Mr Sam Durrant in Lewes (by John Streeter the post) in cash £28 in order for him to send me a bill in the lieu thereof… Paid the widow Carter (by John Seaman) in cash 14/10 for wool received by him today. Paid him also 18d in full for some wool of his own… Rec’d back by the post from Mr Sam Durrant one bill on Sir Joseph Hankey and Partners… Paid the post 3d for some prawns. At home all day, but very little to do. In the afternoon posted my day book whereby I find I have entered in my book since I posted last, which was the 25th ult., between 11 and 12 pounds. Oh, melancholy work! The long credit that I am obliged to give must greatly hurt my trade.

This day I saw in the Lewes Journal, which was an extract from the Gazette, that our troops under the command of the Duke of Marlborough had landed at St Malo in the province of Brittany (in France) and had burnt and otherwise destroyed 137 vessels of all denominations; that is, one man-of-war of 50 guns, about 30 privateers from 30 to 14 guns, a great number of merchants and some small craft. And that after destroying the above vessels, he reembarked his men without any loss (in the reembarkation) in order to proceed according to his instructions. It is conjectured that they are to proceed to attack Brest or Rochefort. This success of our army must doubtless greatly weaken and distress the French (who I believe are already in a very poor state), but yet should there be nothing more done, I do not imagine this to be a loss to the French nation adequate to the charge which our nation are at in fitting out and equipping such a fleet as went upon this expedition, though still I think it is acting the more humane part than burning and destroying of a town and thereby destroy, ruin and take away the lives of thousands of poor innocent wretches that perhaps never did or thought of any hurt to the British nation.

Thomas Davy at our house in the evening, to whom I read part of Thomson’s “Summer”.