Thomas Turner

Myself, two boys and servant at church the morning… We had a proclamation read today for the holding a general fast throughout England, the Dominion of Wales and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed on Friday the 17th February next, in order for our humiliation and confession of sins to Almighty God, to implore his blessing and protection on our fleets and armies. We dined on a giblet and a plain suet pudding, Jerusalem artichokes and turnips. Myself, two boys and servant at church in the afternoon…

After churchtime Mr Piper came in to invite my wife and self to come and sup with him tomorrow night. Mr Thomas Fuller also came in to ask me to write a letter for him tomorrow. They stayed and smoked one pipe and then went away. In the evening and in the day read part of the New Whole duty of Man.

…In the forenoon Mr Jeremiah French and one Mr Fletcher of Eastbourne called on me to go with them to take an account of the goods of Thomas Fowler, who, going to London about-6 weeks ago, has not since been heard of; so it is conjectured he must have lost his life by some accident of one kind or another, he being a very old man–I believe above 70. We accordingly broke open his chests, boxes’ etc., but found nothing of any value but common household furniture which we took account of. All this was done in the presence of Mr Fletcher, Mr French, Mr Joseph Fuller, Peter Adams, Mr Josias Smith, Mr Joseph Burgess, Margaret Fox, myself, Thomas Ling, the Widow Cain and a man who was a stranger to me. I came home about, 1:20.

We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the afternoon Robert Diggens called at our house, and I walked over to Framfield with him to get a gray, yard-wide gown for Mrs Porter, but my mother had none. I stayed with my mother about an hour and came home about 5:20. In the evening went down to Mrs Porter’s and acquainted her I could not get her gown before Monday, who treated me with all the affability, courtesy and good humor imaginable. Oh, what pleasure would it be to serve them were they always in such a temper. It would even induce one to almost forget to take a just profit. In the evening read part of the New Whole Duty of Man.

At home all day. We dined on the remains, of Wednesday and yesterday’s dinners with the addition on a cheap kind of soup, the receipt for making of which I took out of The Universal Magazine[1] for December as recommended (by James Stonehouse MD at Northampton) to all poor families as a very cheap and nourishing food. The following is the receipt:

“Take half a pound of beef, mutton, or pork, cut into small pieces; half a pint of peas, three sliced turnips, and three potatoes cut very small, an onion or two, or a few leaks; put to them three quarts and a Pint of water; let it boil gently on a very slow fire about two hours and an half, then thicken it with a quarter Pound of ground Rice, and half a quarter of a Pound of oatmeal(or a quarter of a Pound of Oatmeal and no rice); Boil it for a quarter of an hour after the thickening is put in Stirring it all the time; then season it with salt, ground Pepper or pounded ginger to your taste.”

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This in my opinion is a very good palatable cheap nourishing diet. John Watford and his wife and James Marchant drank tea at our house. In the evening read part of the 6th volume of Medical Essays.

[1] https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015021715092&view=1up&seq=9

…We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a boiled duck and some turnips. About 3:20 Thomas Fuller Jr went with my wife down to Whyly, she riding on one of Joseph Fuller’s horses, and about 6:30 I walked down to Mr French’s, where we stayed and supped (in company with Joseph Fuller, his wife, two daughters and son Joseph) on three boiled ducks, two rabbits roasted, part of a cold loin of roasted pork, sausages, hog’s pudding and pear pie. We played at cards; my wife and I won 7½d. We gave their servant 6d each; that is, 12d between us. We came home between twelve and one o’clock, and I may say quite sober, considering the house we were at, though undoubtedly the worse for drinking, having I believe contracted a slight impediment in my speech, occasioned by the fumes of the liquor operating too furiously on my brain.

Mr Francis Elless supped with us (we eating no dinner) on a piece of beef and a duck roasted, a light pudding and greens. Mr French this day made me a present of a fine goose and gave my wife and me an invitation to come and see him and Mrs French tomorrow. In the afternoon wrote out part of Mr James Hutson’s bill. At home all day. Thomas Fuller Jr came in by accident to our house, and he stayed and supped with us. He with Mr Elless stayed and spent the evening with us. In the day read part of the Medical Essays. A very fine, gentle thaw continues.

…We dined on the remains of Sunday’s dinner with the addition of some mutton broth. This day gave a man 6d who came to the door under pretence of [being] a broken chandler, whose misfortune appeared to proceed from being surety for a friend. James Marchant drank tea at our house and stayed and spent part of the evening with us. Thomas Davy also sat with us a while in the latter part of the evening. This day began a very mild thaw.

Rec’d of Joseph Fuller in cash 10½d and 1 lb mutton, 3¼d, which together makes l4d and is in full to this day. Sent by John Streeter to Mr Sam Durrant in Lewes in cash £17; viz.,4 36-shilling pieces, 1 27-shilling piece, 3 guineas, 10 half-guineas and 1 shilling in order for him to send me a bill for the said sum.

We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a pound of mutton stewed and some turnips and potatoes. Balanced accounts with Mrs Virgoe, widow, and received of her 0.18.3 in full… Rec’d back by the post from Mr Sam Durrant (in lieu of the cash sent him today) one bill, value £17, on Sir Joseph Hankey and partners… My brother came over in the afternoon. He, Mrs Virgoe and Joseph Fuller Jr drank tea at our house. In the evening about 7:20 I went down to James Marchant’s, there being a concert of three violins and a German flute. I came home about 11:10. Our company was Mr Welman, Joseph Fuller, Thomas Durrant, James Marchant, Mr Elless, Thomas Daw, James Awcock, Joseph Smith, James Holden and myself.

Myself and two boys at church in the morning… John Hide, Mr Will Bennett’s apprentice, called on me after churchtime, but did not stay. Just as we were a-going to dinner, my brother Will came in, who dined with us on a piece of beef boiled, two raisin suet puddings and some potatoes. Just after we had dined Mr Tucker came in, who dined on the remains of what we left. My wife, two boys and servant at church in the afternoon. Just as they came from church, my brother Moses came. About 5 o’clock. Mr Joseph Hill’s servant called for my brother Will, and both went away immediately. Mr Tucker and my brother Moses stayed and drank some coffee with us, and both went away about seven o’clock. A very sharp frosty day; a great deal of snow upon the ground. In the evening and in the day read the first Sunday in The Whole Duty of Man.

…We dined on the remains of Tuesday’s and yesterday’s dinners with the addition of a light pudding and some potatoes. At home all day. Sure an extreme sharp day; some small snow fell today. Thank God indifferently busy all day. Master Bull of Whitesmith sat an hour or two with us in the evening.

Gave Mr Jeremiah French the note of hand he gave me the 2nd instant, value £12, which he paid to my wife the 18th instant. We dined on a hot beef pie and a baked rice pudding. My brother came over this afternoon, but did not stay. A very sharp day; a considerable quantity of snow fell today.

In the day read part of The Universal Magazine for December, and in the evening read a pamphlet entitled “Primitive Christianity prepounded or an Essay To revive the Antient Mode or manner of Preaching the Gospel“. This is a pamphlet which I imagine to be written by a Baptist preacher in favour of preaching without notes. I must in my own private opinion say that I can see no harm consequent on our method of reading, as the author is pleased to call it. But I must acknowledge the idle lazy way of preaching, which many of our clergy are got into, seeming rather to make self-interest the motive for the exercising their profession than the eternal happiness and salvation of men’s souls. To which if we add the intolerable degree of pride and covetousness predominant in too many of our clergy, we need not wonder at our degeneracy from the strict piety with which our fore-fathers worshipped God in the first ages of Christianity. I would not by this digression be thought to derogate from the Established Church of England. No! but only I think the precept and practice in most (that is, in too many of us) are opposite to each other.