Thomas Turner

…John Watford, a-gardening for me today, dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some fried veal. Mrs Davy and two of her children, buying some things in the shop, drank tea with me.

Rec’d of Thomas Prall 19/-. Rec’d of John Nutley 1.5.0. Ditto of John Vine Jr 0.15.0; ditto of Richard Hope 1.15.0; ditto of Will Eldridge 0.16.0; ditto of Mrs Weller 0.3.0–all in full for land and window tax due Lady Day last. Rec’d of Thomas Reeve 5.5.0 in part for land and window tax.

At home all day. Lucy Mepham, coming; to help my servant iron tomorrow, took part of her bed…

Sent Mr Will Lee, hosier in Nottingham… 4.15.0. Dame Akehurst, a-washing for me all day, dined with me on dried hog’s cheek, a light pudding and greens. Rec’d of Mr John Vine 5.18.0. Ditto of Mrs Browne 1.6.0 in full for land and window tax, due Lady Day last. Rec’d of Mr Richard Bristed 5.2.0 in full for land tax due Lady Day last. Rec’d of John Shoesmith 3/- in full for window tax due Lady Day last Rec’d of John Cayley 1.6.0 in full for Land tax due Lady Day last…

Dame Rich, buying some things in the shop, drank tea with me. Paid Dame Akehurst 18d for her 2 days’ washing. At home all day, but very little to do.

Dame Akehurst, a-washing for me, dined with me on a piece of beef boiled, an apple pudding and greens. Rec’d of Mr Joseph Burgess 0.15.0; ditto of the widow Page 2.19.0; ditto of Edward Hope 1.11.0, all of which is in full for land and window tax due at Lady Day last.

At home all day. In the evening wrote my London letters. Dame Akehurst lodged at my house. Sam Jenner, coming in late in the evening, took part of my bed.

I am in my mind very uneasy for as I have no person to whom I can trust the management of my affairs, I have many things that sustain loss for want of a more strict examination. Neither is my life as regular as I could wish and desire it was, so that I must acknowledge my life is a continued scene of anxiety. I must still repeat that the thoughts of that valuable woman my wife is daily in my mind though I hope not with any repining at the allwise dispensations of providence, whose ways are always just and merciful.

No service at our church in the morning, Mr Porter being gone a journey. After breakfast I rode to Lewes where I went to St John’s Church and heard a sermon preached by the Rev Mr Daniel Le Pla, rector of the said parish, from Philippians 12; “work out your own Salvation with fear and trembling.”

I dined at Mr John Madgwick on a boiled carp, a breast of veal roasted and a plain bread pudding. Drank tea with Mr Comber. Paid Mrs Mary Roase…£13. paid Mr John Hartley 6/- in full. Left with my brother Richard 1.11.6 in order for him to pay Mr F Bristow in full on my account.

Rec’d of Mr Thomas Swaine per Richard Bridgman in cash 4.15.0 in full for land and window tax due the last Lady Day…In the afternoon Mr Will Francis in company with Messrs Barlow and Wigginton called on me and we balanced account… Lent Thomas Durrant my horse to ride to Uckfield Fair upon, and he, coming home late, took part of my bed.

Rec’d of Thomas Davy 7/- in full for land and window tax due Lady Day last. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a green salad… At home all day and very little to do. In the evening read part of a volume of The Independent Whig by Mr Gordon…

In the morning my brother called on me in his road to the Dicker Fair, but did not stay. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some green salad. In the morning walked up to Mr Vince’s about some business, but did not find him at home.

At home all day, but very little to do, except as above. In the evening my brother called on me in his way home, and he had seen Mr Martin, who returned me by him the 20/- he received too much of me yesterday. In the evening Joseph Fuller Jr and Thomas Durrant smoked a pipe with me.

Rec’d of James Fuller in cash 2.12.0 in full for land and window tax due Lady Day last. Rec’d of Mrs Atkins in cash 2.17.6 in full for land and window tax due Lady Day last. In the forenoon walked down to Halland where I received of him 1.6.0 in full for land tax due Lady Day last. Rec’d of James Awcock 19/- in full. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a green salad. Rec’d of Thomas Davy 25/6 on account. Very little to do all day

Sent Mr Thomas Calverley & Son…£20… Rec’d of Joseph Fuller 2.17.6 in full for window and land tax due Lady Day last. In the evening Thomas Durrant and I took a walk to collect some window and land tax. I received of Charles Vine per the payment of his wife 3/- in full for window tax. Came home about 8:10.

Sam Jenner dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day, vastly stiff and tired with my journey yesterday. In the evening wrote my London letters and read Shakespeare’s As You Like It and Taming a Shrew, both of which I think good comedies.