Thomas Turner

Myself and brother at church in the morning… My brother stayed and dined with me on some hog’s chine boiled, an apple pudding and greens and then went away. Myself and servant at church in the afternoon… Sam Jenner drank tea with me, to whom in the evening (and Joseph Fuller Jr) I read 3 of Tillotson’s sermons.

Rec’d of Edward Hope per his son Richard 1.8.0 in full for poor tax. At home all day except being at church. A very cold day and vastly windy.

Balanced accounts with Thomas Overing and paid his parish bill and made all even to this day. Rec’d of Mr John Vine 6.19.0 in part of poor tax. Ditto of Thomas Reeve in part 1.13.0. Ditto of Mr Michell the Duke of Newcastle’s tax 8.12.0. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

At home all day and very busy. Mrs French, Mrs Virgoe and Mrs Durrant drank tea with me. In the evening my brother William came to see me and stayed all night. Not well today, but thank God very busy. A very cold day.

Rec’d of Jeremiah French £27 in part of poor tax. Rec’d of Mrs Piper 2.12.0 in full for poor tax. Do. Mrs Atkins £1 in full for do. This day balanced accounts and made all even to this day on both sides with Joseph Durrant.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some hog’s chine bones and greens boiled. Balanced accounts with Richard Vine, weaver at Laughton, and made all level on both sides to this day. Joseph and Thomas Durrant drank tea with me. At home all day and very busy. In the evening Sam Jenner, coming in and staying late, took part of my bed.

Balanced accounts with John Jones and made all even to this day. Balanced accounts with Robert Hook and made all even to this day. My servant dined on a carp made me a present of by Robert Hook boiled, myself being so busy I had not time to eat any dinner at all.

In the afternoon went down to the yearly vestry at Jones’s, where I made up my accounts as overseer with the parish, and there remains due to me the sum of 21.6.3¼. The overseers chosen for the year ensuing are myself and Mr Thomas Carman, the electioners James Fuller and John Watford; the churchwarden Jeremiah French, electioneer Richard Hope. I stayed till about 11:50. Spent 10d.

I balanced accounts today with Mr William Rice and paid him in full to this day. Paid Mr French the churchwarden in full for his bill on the parish. Paid him his bill for wood in full. Do. Richard Page’s bill in full. Do. Joseph Fuller’s; do. Joseph Durrant’s; do. Mr French the balance last year; do. Eldridge’s tax; do. Richard Hope’s bill; do. Will Harman in full with the money lent him the 31st ult. for beautifying our church. Rec’d of the following people their poor tax in full: Robert Hook, widow Marchant, John Jones, Eldridge, Mr Carman, Joseph Fuller, James Fuller, widow Page, Edward Foord, John Watford.

The officers signed and sealed a bond to Mr Porter for a hundred pounds of Mr Atkins’s money as a legacy to this parish and the which the parish have hired towards repairing the church.
 

This morning were married at our parish church Samuel Washer and Martha Pollard…

Rec’d of Mr Thomas Swaine per the payment of Richard Bridgeman in cash 5.12.0. Rec’d of the widow Prall for the payment of Thomas Prall in cash 0.11.0 and twice washing the surplice 5/-, which together makes 16/-. Rec’d of John Cayley in cash 1.4.0. Rec’d of Thomas Davy in cash 6/-, all of which several sums are in full for the same sums assessed on each respective person by a poor rate made the 24th ult. Rec’d of Ben Mott 2.13.0 in full. Rec’d of Ann Inkpin 49/- in full. So busy that I ate no dinner.

Sarah and Ann Inkpin drank tea with me. This day Edward Hope signed and sealed a bond [still in the possession of the Sussex archaeological society] to indemnify this parish from all expenses touching and concerning the bastard of Catherine Jenner which she charged him with begetting in her examination taken in writing before Richard Rideout Esq. The obligation of the said bond is £40 and dated the 1st day of March 1763, witnessed by Robert Hook. I then gave him the note of hand he gave me as a security until the said bond was properly signed and executed. He also gave me his note of hand payable to me or order on demand for 24/- in full for all the expenses I was at in taking him up, the women’s examination etc.

Sam Jenner, coming in the evening, took part of my bed. Busy a-writing till near 12 o’clock.
 

I dined on a hog’s clad piece boiled and some greens. Paid Robert Hook in cash £3 in part of his parish bill. Molly and Bett Carman, Pat Pollard and Lucy Emery drank tea with me. The two Carmans and Sam Jenner and myself played a few games of whist in the evening; I won 3½d.

At home all day and thank God very busy. Sam Jenner stayed and took part of my bed. Oh, what pleasure does a busy active life give! It quite enlivens the spirits and adds fresh vigor to nature.

…I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some broiled sausages. Paid Mr Richard Wrothwell in cash 2.14.0 in full for Messrs Merricks and his bill on the parish for flax and tow this year. Paid Mr George Peckham in cash 14/9½ in full for milling 61 yds linsey on account of the parish. Paid Mr Thomas Overing in [cash?] 2.2.0 in part of his bill on the parish account.

Thomas Durrant drank tea with me. At home all day and thank God very busy. In the evening wrote my London letters and posted the parish accounts.

Myself only at church in the morning; the text in I Corinthians 15:14: “And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.” Sam Washer and Martha Pollard were asked for the third and last time. We had a brief read for building and endowing a chapel and protestant school in Germany, to which collection I gave 3d. I stayed the communion and gave 6d.

Paid Richard Parkes in cash 0.18.0 in full for keeping his wife’s natural daughter Ann Thomas Vinal 24 weeks, due this day on account of the parish. I dined on a piece of pork roasted and applesauce with a plain butter pond pudding and greens.

Myself and servant at church in the afternoon; the text in Luke 24:34; “Saying, The Lord is risen indeed.” I drank tea with Thomas Durrant, and afterwards we took a serious walk. In the evening read part of Hervey’s Theron and Aspasio.

Rec’d of Joseph Burgess 12/- in full for the same sum assessed on him by the poor rate made the 24th ult… My servant dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, myself not eating anything, being quite sunk in anxiety and trouble…

My servant sat up with her sister all night. Thomas Durrant took part of my bed. At home all day and thank God pretty busy…

Myself at church in the morning; the text Isaiah 53:5: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

Sam Jenner dined with me on some hog’s plate bones boiled and some broiled sausages and greens. In the afternoon one of Mr Porter’s servants, buying some things in the shop, drank tea with me. At home all day. O could I find words to paint that heavy and melancholy gloom that sits on my benighted mind! I even fear the consequences that may ensue from it, for it really seems to impair my health daily.