Thomas Turner

I breakfasted at Mrs Foreman’s. About 10:20 we began appraising the goods; viz., Mr John Balcombe of Angmering in behalf of Mrs Foreman and myself in behalf of my friend George Richardson. We all dined at the Chequer on a cold duck pasty and two rabbits roasted. My brother came over in the forenoon to stand the shop for me during my absence… Mr Foreman, Mr Balcombe, Mr Richardson and myself spent the evening at the White Horse, where I lodged all night.

We all breakfasted with Mrs Foreman and completed valuing the stock in the forenoon, which amounted to only £82. Mr Foremen, myself and Mr Richardson dined at the Chequer on a leg of mutton boiled and turnips and cabbage… I came home very safe and sober about 8:20.

I called as I came home and drank tea with Mr Madgwick and paid in cash 3.4.0 for funeral gloves etc. I also received of him a receipt from Mrs Mary Roase for the bill I left with him the 20th instant. My brother stayed with me all night…

Oh, what raptures did I use to approach home with in my dear Peggy’s life when I had been out, but now how different the scene… [15 words omitted]… No pleasing object to meet me with the smiles of approbation and all the other endearments of conjugal love and affection. Little, ah, little do the sons of riot and debauchery [know?] how great, how far beyond description, is the pleasure that is found in the company of a virtuous wife.

My brother stayed and breakfasted with me and then went home. In the forenoon walked over to Chiddingly to buy Mr Ed Russell’s hops, but could not agree for them… In the evening read part of the one of the volumes of The Spectator. How gloomy and pensive my situation.

…Paid Thomas Freeman by the post boy 4/6 in full for half a dozen pattens received by him today. Dame Novice dined with me on a bullock’s cheek stewed and French beans. Dame Durrant drank tea with me. In the evening walked over to Master Russell’s and bought of him 6 pockets of hops at 47/6 per cwt and gave him in hand five guineas; the hops [?] Joseph Fuller Jr and myself are to be joint partners in.

After breakfast walked up to Mrs Piper’s; from thence John Piper and I walked down to John Cayley’s, where I bought his hops at 2 guineas per cwt and I gave him 10/6 in hand. Those hops are in joint partnership between Joseph Fuller and myself… In the afternoon I walked around Mrs Virgoe’s wood to examine the fences. I drank tea at Joseph Fuller’s… In the evening Mr Thornton smoked a pipe with me.

Pretty busy all day. But who can imagine my inward anguish of mind? How do I daily and hourly find the loss of the most valuablest of wives.

After breakfast I rode over to Framfield; from thence my brother and I rode down to Savage’s to look upon their hops, but did not buy them. I came back to my brother’s… Joseph Fuller acquainted me that he had bought of Thomas Reeve all his hops at 46/- per cwt, which we are to be joint partners in.

In the morning my servant went to Alfriston to see her friends. No churchings at our church in the morning, Mr Porter being indisposed. I dined at Joseph Fuller’s on a piece of beef roasted, an apple pudding, potatoes and French beans.

Myself and servants at church in the afternoon… The banns of marriage (for the first time) were published between John Jones and Mary Heath, both of this parish. Mr Chalice, curate of Ripe, preached in the afternoon. I drank tea at Joseph Fuller’s. In the evening read 1 of Tillotson’s sermons. All, all is pensive melancholy sadness.

Sent to my brother Richard (enclosed in a letter by Joseph Durrant’s apprentice) 1 bill on Mr William Margesson payable to Mr Sam Ridings or order…value £14. The bill was enclosed in a letter to Mr Stephen Fletcher…now at Lewes, to whom my brother was to deliver the bill and letter.

In the morning rode to Edward Russell’s and weighed up his hops, which was 6 pockets, weighing together 8 cwt 1 qr 18 lbs, which at 47/6 per cwt amounted to 19.19.5¼ . I paid him…in full for the said hops.

From thence I rode to Alfriston where I breakfasted with Mr Sanders and in the day I and Mr Ben Hudson appraised his stock to Mr Vincent, who had bought the same, myself in behalf of Mr Sanders and Mr Hudson in behalf of Mr Vincent. The said stock amounted to about £32. We all dined at Mr Sanders’s on a shoulder of lamb roasted, a baked rice pudding and cucumbers. (My family at home and my sister and niece Nanny Turner, who came to see me in my absence, dined on some boiled pork and French beans). We all drank tea at Mr Sanders’s. I called at Mr Snelling’s, and came home about 8:25, having spent nothing.

I received of Joseph Fuller Jr 9 guineas and half in full for his part of Edward Russell’s hops which I weighed today. In the evening smoked a pipe at Master Fuller’s. My sister and niece stayed with me all night.

…My sister and niece dined with me on a shoulder of mutton roasted, a plain rice pudding and French beans. My sister and niece stayed and drank tea with me, and then went home. I walked with them a little way. Paid Thomas Fuller by Will Burrage 3/4 in full for half a dozen of candles received by him today. In the evening Joseph Fuller Jr smoked a pipe with me and informed me he had bought Joseph Bonwick’s hops in joint partnership between us at 50/- per cwt.

…In the evening Joseph Fuller Jr smoked a pipe with me. Thoroughly melancholy all day. My loss, my loss, how great; but yet I am thoroughly sensible and doubt not but the unerring ways of Providence direct and govern all the affairs of man with infinite goodness and undoubtedly know what is better for us than we poor short-sighted creatures of a day can for ourselves. Therefore I humbly submit I hope with as much cheerfulness as possible to the divine will, and I am sure I desire nothing so much as to improve in virtue, knowing (were my wife alive, whose memory I hope will ever be dear to me) nothing could equal the satisfaction she would enjoy in the sight of it. I am truly certain by daily experience that frail and fallen man stands as it were surrounded with temptations, but still we have the promise of infinite goodness (if we are not wanting to ourselves) that we shall never be tempted above what we are able to bear. Therefore, may the pangs and agonies of that dear creature (my wife) be always fresh in my memory and act as an encitement to spur me on to prepare for that awful minute when death shall separate the soul from this mortal body. This I am sure should be the true use I ought to make of her death, and which through the assistance of divine grace I hope to do… [59 words omitted].