Thomas Turner

…Paid Mr Ben Shelley in cash 1.1.2, which sum he paid to Mr Will Ashmore the 17th instant in full on my account. Paid John Watford 11d for 1 gallon beans which he bought in Lewes for me today. At home all day. In the evening read the third book of Milton’s Paradise Lost, and in the day read part of The Peerage of England.

In the morning rode over to Framfield and breakfasted with my mother. I came home again about 11:10. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of 3 boiled trout… Sent by John Streeter 3/9 for my club arrears. In the evening read the second book of Milton’s Paradise Lost.

At home all day. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some boiled trout. The widow Cornwell and Thomas Cornwell’s wife drank tea with us. In the day read part of The Peerage of England. In the evening read the first book of Milton’s Paradise Lost.

…Thomas Cornwell at work for me about half the day. He and my brother Sam Slater dined with us on a piece of bacon and part of loin veal boiled, a light pudding, and greens and a boiled mackerel. As soon as we had dined my brother Samuel Slater went away. In the evening Thomas Davy at our house to whom I read part of Euclid’s Elements of Geometry.

…Paid Mr Francis Elless 12d in full for William Dallaway’s schooling. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a boiled mackerel. Thomas Cornwell at work for me in the morning. He breakfasted with us and made my wife a present of 5 trout, for which, with the roach he gave her Friday, I gave him 12d… In the evening read part of Sherlock on judgment. About 10 o’clock my brother Sam Slater came to see us and stayed all night.

Myself and wife at church in the morning… My wife and I both stayed communion; we gave 6d each. In the time we were in church Mr Tucker came to see us and brought my wife a present of two mackerel. He dined with us on a cold veal pie, gooseberry pie and custard, and stayed and drank some coffee with us, and went away about 6:20. In the evening and in the day read part of Sherlock on judgment. No service at our church this afternoon, Mr Porter preaching at Laughton.

…We dined today on some fried roach and some biscuit sopped. Paid the widow Virgoe in cash 8.9.0 and by a book debt 1.11.0… in full for the same sum borrowed of her by my wife the 8th of April. Paid Richard Prall and Edward Martin 7½d for slitting a batten for me. At home all day and very busy. In the evening finished reading Wake’s Catechism, which I think a very good book and proper for all families, there being good instructions in it and also something which is prodigious moving. It was written in a lively, brisk manner and not as if the author wrote more out of form than for the good of peoples’ souls. At the same time it is in a very plain, familiar style, suitable I think to the meanest capacities that can read. And so far as I can judge there is everything contained in it necessary to a man’s salvation.

In the morning rode over to Framfield to see my brother, he being very bad with an ague. I breakfasted with my mother and stayed all the forenoon; cut her out 2 round frocks. I dined at my mother’s on some calves’ liver fried and a light pudding and green salad. I came home about 3:30. Sarah Stevens drank tea with my wife. In the evening read part of Wake’s Catechism and wrote a letter to Mr Stanley Crowder in answer to one I received by Thursday’s post, wherein he very peremptorily demanded a debt which I have already paid. My family today in my absence dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Rec’d of my mother today 4/3 for some buttons etc. which I bought for her at Lewes on Saturday.

…We dined on a light pudding and some potatoes, Mrs French and Thomas Fuller’s wife drank tea with my wife. At home all day and busy, but all, or at the least, the greatest part of the goods delivered are booked. Thomas Cornwell made my wife a present of a few fine roach, but as I was not in the way, my wife, gave him nothing. In the evening read part of Wake’s Catechism.

At home all day and a-brewing. We dined on the remains of Sunday’s dinner with the addition of some bread and cheese. In the evening read part of Wake’s Catechism. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening.