Thomas Turner

…After breakfast walked to Francis Gibbs’s, where there was a sale of all sorts of household furniture, stock etc. where I received of Mr Charles Thornton, attorney, 8/- in full for 1 year’s land tax due from Francis Gibbs at St Michael last… Mr Richard Stone sent me by his huntsman a hare, for which I gave his man 12d. I drank tea at Joseph Durrant’s. In the evening posted part of my day book.

Pretty busy all day, but how can I describe melancholy situation; no, I cannot. I no ways repine at the all-wise distributions of Providence, but yet through the knavery of some and the folly of others my situation is far from being happy, and who can describe the difference between the good economy of my wife in the prudent management of her affairs and what I now by sad experience find, and yet I believe few have more honest and truer servants.

…After breakfast I rode to Framfield, where I dined at my brother’s… I stayed and drank tea at my brother’s and came home about 7:40. This day balanced the accounts between myself and brother and sister, on account of the keeping of Philip and the rent which my brother had received of James Knight for two years, due at St Michael last (0.S.). After we had balanced the accounts and outset the expenses attending keeping the boy, I received of my brother my share of the remainder of the rent.

Sure a duller time for trade I never knew, and what way to take in order to improve my little fortune I am at a loss to know, being so confined and limited with family connections and so tied down that I cannot exert myself in the manner I otherwise might do.

…Mrs Piper, her servant and children drank tea with me. At home all day. In the evening posted part of my day book. Dame Durrant made me a present of a fat goose. Very little to do all day.

I dined on a hare roasted, with a pudding in the belly. In the afternoon drank tea with Mrs Atkins… In the evening Mrs Browne sent to me. She wanted to consult me about some business, and I accordingly walked down to her house, Mr Long accompanying me. I came home about 9:20, Sam Jenner coming, home with me, who stayed an hour or two with me. Posted part of my day book; a dull heavy time.

…In the afternoon I sent Mr Long for my sister Sally, who accordingly came with him, and stayed with me all night. In the evening John Cayley and I balanced accounts…and he, together with Mr Long, smoked a pipe with me. At home all day. Finished posting my day book. Pretty busy all day. Oh, what can express my inward anguish of mind and trouble… [32 words omitted].

Myself and sister at church in the morning… During churchtime my brother Richard came to see me and he, my sister and Molly French dined with me on a goose roasted, a piece of pork and a chick boiled, a raisin pond butter pudding, turnips, cabbage and potatoes. My brother went away soon after dinner. Molly French stayed and drank tea with me and then went away. Paid my brother today on account of his master Mr John Madgwick 1 bill on Mr Will Margesson… value £20. Neither myself nor servants at church in the afternoon.

In the forenoon walked down to Halland with some silver. My sister dined with me…and in the afternoon she walked down to Whyly to pay Molly French a visit. In the evening I walked down to accompany her home; I stayed and supped at Mr French’s on two roasted chickens, a duck roasted, cold ham, tarts etc., in company with Molly and Bett Fuller and two of Mr Porter’s servants. We came home about 11:20. I gave their servant 6d…

…I dined at Mr Porter’s on a sirloin of beef roasted and potatoes. My sister and Mr Robert and Will Noakes dined at my house on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of some rashers of bacon fried. In the afternoon Thomas Durrant carried my sister home.

I wrote a general release from Mr Robert, Thomas, John and William Noakes, and Thomas and Elizabeth Vigoe to Mr Porter, John Piper and myself as executors and devisees to Mr Will Piper deceased. At home all day. Samuel Jenner smoked a pipe with me in the evening.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of cold goose-giblet pie. Mrs Browne drank tea with me. Pretty busy all day.

In the forenoon walked to a fair at Cross-in-Hand where I paid Mr Robert Noakes and Mr Will Noakes £100 in full for themselves and others who were devisees of Mary the wife of Will Piper, and is in full for their whole demand on the estate of Will Piper deceased, and I accordingly took of them the general release, properly signed and witnessed, which I wrote for them the 17th instant. I dined with them and my companion John Piper… Came home in company with John Piper and Sam Jenner about 5:20. Spent 14d, which is on the account of my executorship to Mr Piper.

During my absence my brother came over and stayed and spent the evening with me. A dull melancholy time for trade. In the first part of the evening down at Mr Porter’s, but did not stay.