Thomas Turner

…In the morning my brother Sam Slater came to see me and dined with me on half a calf’s head and a piece of bacon and carrots boiled. Paid a grandson of Thomas Fuller’s 3/4 in full for ½ dozen candles received by him today. In the afternoon rode as far as the Nursery with my brother. Called at Mrs Browne’s and Mr Coates’s. Came home about 7:20.

I am as it were quite distracted with trouble. I hardly know which way to turn or what course of life to take. I have lost the best of wives and companions and I think my relations (for they; can hardly merit the name of friends) seen quite estranged and stand as it were at a distance from my trouble… [20 words omitted].

After breakfast I rode to Alfriston in order to take a cursory view of Mr Sanders’s stock in trade, which I am shortly to appraise for him. I dined at Mr Snelling’s on a leg of lamb roasted, a pond currant pudding and some carrots and cucumbers… I came home about 6:20. In the evening my late servant Mary Martin came to see me and stayed all night with me. Oh, how simple I was not to be at church [in the?] afternoon, which was the only opportunity I had of being at church all day.

Mary Heath a-washing for me half the day and dined with me on half a calf’s head boiled, a piece of pork, a plain bread pudding and French beers. (My late servant went away as soon as we breakfasted.) In the afternoon finished posting my day book; in the evening wrote my London letters. My brother came over in the evening and supped with me and stayed with me some time. Mary Heath lodged at my house. Who can describe the anxiety of my mind… [13 words omitted].

In the forenoon my brother came over… Mary Heath a-washing for me all day and dined with me… Paid my brother 8/8 in full for the same sum he paid the Rev Mr Wharton., vicar of Framfield, for burying my wife. Paid George Verral (by his servant Robert Turley) 8/8 in full only for 2 dozen of cake soap received by him today. Mrs Wakitt, Mrs Fuller Jr and Rebecca Dicker drank tea with me. At home all day and thank God pretty busy; but who can paint my inward anguish.

…Joseph Fuller Jr smoked a pipe or 2 with me in the evening. How severely do I feel the loss of one of the best wives…[51 words omitted]…so that I may (with justice) say upon the whole I have lost one of the best of wives and almost the phoenix of the age… [36 words omitted]… She was religious but no bigot, discreet yet full of innocent mirth.

…I dined on a beef pudding and carrots and cucumbers… In the evening walked up to Mrs Piper’s hop-garden and looked it over.

…Dame German drank tea with me. At home all day; in the evening read part of Dr Russell’s OEconomy of Human Nature, which I esteem a very fine written thing, there being a justness of sentiment and a fine florid language. How melancholy and dismal is my situation!

My friend Mr Breeden and one Mr Samson called on me in the morning, but did not stay… In the morning I rode to John Dapp’s of Framfield with some hopbagging and bought of him 1 pocket of hops to be delivered on Monday next at the Nursery, at 59/- per hundred weight, to weigh and pay.

At home all day and pretty busy. Oh, may I live to imitate and copy the virtues of my beloved wife…[20 words omitted].

Myself and both servants at church in the morning, the text in the latter part of Matthew 26:24: “It had been good for that man if he had not been born,” from which words we had o fine sermon. During churchtime we had a storm of thunder, lightning and rain, though the two first were not severe here, but we had a very heavy rain for some time.

I dined on a piece of beef and pork boiled, and a plain suet pudding, carrots and spinach. No service at our church in the afternoon, Mr Porter preaching at Laughton. My servant’s brother and uncle came to see her and they drank tea with me and stayed till near 6 o’clock. In the day read part of The Whole Duty of Man. Oh, grief, how heavy is thy burden! In the evening wrote a letter to my friend Thomas Davy, and read part of The Acts.

In the morning as soon as I had breakfasted rode to Dapp’s, where I weighed up his hops, which was 1 pocket weighing 1 cwt O qr 2 lbs, and for which I paid him 2.19.0… In the morning sent my wool to Lewes by John Divol. In the afternoon my brother called on me in his road to Lewes in order to receive both his and my wool money… In the evening Joseph Fuller Jr smoked a pipe with me. At home all day; thank God very busy. Oh, how pleasant is trade when it runs in its proper channels, and flows with a plentiful stream. It does, as it were, give life and spirit to one’s actions; I think the most phlegmatic constitution must feel its pleasing and enlivening charms.