Thomas Turner

Myself at church in the morning (my wife and girl staying at home)… We dined on a veal pudding, a raisin suet pudding and gooseberry pie. Myself and girl at church in the afternoon… In the afternoon Richard Trill of this parish was buried, aged 70 years, a person who has lain bed-rid with the palsy these three years past. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening, to whom, and in the day, I read part of Sherlock on judgment. At home all day except being at church.

We dined on a light pudding and the remains of, yesterday’s dinner. Paid Joseph Fuller by his son Thomas 21d for part of a loin of veal received by him today, weighing 6 lbs. At home all day; very little to do. In the day read part of The Peerage of England, and in the evening part of Thomson’s “Summer”. My wife much better.

In the forenoon tolerable busy. We dined on a boiled mackerel, a piece of bacon and green salad. At home all day. Sawed some wood. In the-evening read part of Thomson’s Seasons and in the day read part of The Peerage of England. My wife continues very ill though thank God much better.

My brother came over in the forenoon to see us and stayed… till near 6 o’clock. Paid John Streeter the post 10d for 2 lemons, 1 oz sago and 1 mackerel which he bought in Lewes for me today. At home all day and but very little to do. In the day read Thomson’s “Spring”. My wife continues very ill. This day the boys of Chiddingly and our parish played at cricket on our common, when the boys of our parish came off victors; having 5 wickets to go down.

In the morning Mr Mason called on me again; I gave him 2/6 for his journey of coming. And whenever he has a farm to measure and map, or if we can get one, he will then instruct us. If it is a farm that he has to measure, then we are to give him 10/6 per week each, but if we can get one, then he is to instruct us gratis; that is, for only the expenses of measuring the said land.

We dined on the remains of Sunday and yesterday’s dinners. Mr Stone paid my wife another visit today. This day a match of cricket was played on our common between this parish and Waldron; our parish were victors, they having 8 wickets to go down. At home all day. In the afternoon at work in my garden. In the evening read the 12th and last book of Milton’s Paradise Lost, which I have now read twice through and in any opinion it exceeds anything I ever read for sublimity of language and beauty of similes. And I think the depravity of human nature entailed upon us by our first parent is finely drawn.

Paid John Seaman 1.0.11 for 33½ lbs wool received from him today. We dined on the remains of Sunday’s dinner with the addition of some garden beans. Mr Mason of Eastbourne called on me [according to a previous] letter sent him some time since in order to treat with Mr Elless and myself about instructing us in the art of land-measuring. Now it is very probable the busy world may be greatly concerned to know what I can want to learn to measure land for, and I myself can give no other reason than as my trade is very bad and misfortunes attend me, and I have at present no other prospect than that of an approaching state of poverty, therefore I humbly hope this may one time or other be of some service to me. And should it so happen that it is not, I hope it will never be of any disservice but only the small expense of learning the same.

My wife continues very ill. In the evening read part of the 11th book of Milton’s Paradise Lost.

This day received of John Browne 8.5.10 in full on account of Mr James Hutson; viz.,

Mr James Hutson Dr.
To a bill of sundry goods delivered	12.10.10¼
Per Contra Cr.
Rec’d by 31 weeks’ horse-keeping	2.11.0
Do. by wood and faggots	1.14.0
Do. By cash today	8.5.0
	12.10.10

A journeyman carpenter at work for me today a-jobbing; he dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. This day we had a very fine shower, which appears to be very seasonable, there having been almost a continual drought for near 10 weeks past. Paid James Marchant the 5/- borrowed of him on Saturday last. Paid the carpenter 2/-.

At home all day, and my wife very ill. A melancholy time; trade very dull, and my wife very ill. But this, is the hand of God; therefore I hope to bear it patiently, knowing that our manifold wickednesses deserve many and great afflictions. Oh, may those misfortunes have that effect upon us which they should have upon all mankind and that they may rouse us from a supine and lethargic state of life unto a state of holiness and that we may have a just sense of our past follies and say with holy David that it is good for us that we have been afflicted; that we may learn thy statutes. The gardener at Halland made my wife a present of some garden beans.

In the morning Robert Hook made my wife a present of some roach, as did also Thomas Cornwell. My sister and the girl at church in the morning, myself and wife staying at home. We dined on a piece of bacon, and part of a breast of veal roasted, a rice and pearl barley pudding and spinach. My brother Moses came over after dinner; he and Thomas Durrant drank tea with us, and they together with Thomas Davy and Thomas Cornwell drank some syllabub with us.

My brother and sister went away about 8 o’clock. No service at our church in the afternoon, Mr Porter preaching at Laughton. My wife continues ill though much better. Mr Stone paid her another visit today… Gave my brother and sister 5 of the 6 roach given my wife today. At home all day.

…Paid the son of Mr John Crowhurst in cash 0.19.0 for some more earthenware received by him today; viz., on my own account 16/- and on my mother’s account 3/-. My wife and sister a-visiting at Mrs Weller’s, and they together with myself drank tea there. Borrowed of James Marchant by way of change 5/-. At home all day; my wife continues very ill.

Paid Benjamin Shelley 0.12.6½ in full for money he, paid to redeem Mary Hubbard’s cloths which were pawned (which sum was paid on the parish account). Our late servant Mary Martin came to see us and dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some green salad. She stayed and drank tea with us and went home in the evening. At home all day and pretty busy. Dr Stone paid my wife another visit, she being very ill.