Thomas Turner

My mother’s servant came over in the morning and breakfasted with us… James Marchant drank coffee with us in the afternoon on account it was my brother’s birthday, who treated us with it, and entered into the 25th year of his age. At home all day and very piteous. Paid Joseph Fuller 11d for the loin of lamb received of him yesterday. Read part of Josephus’s Jewish Antiquities, which I like extremely.

In the morning Crowhurst brought me some earthenware, and I paid him… After marking up my ware I walked over to Framfield. I breakfasted at my mother’s and came back about 11:10. I and the 2 boys walked down to Halland. We dined on a loin of lamb roasted in Marchant’s oven with a batter pudding under it. About 6:10 Mr Elless and I went down to look on the keeper’s wool, but it not being at home, we went to Mr Jones’s and master Goad’s and looked upon theirs. We also called in at Francis Paris’s and drank a mug of beer. We came back to the keeper’s sober, but I did not get home so. We came home about 1:20. I bought the keeper’s wool at 20/- the tod and am to have 2 shoulders of venison into the bargain. I sent word to Master Goad that I would take his at 1.10.0 per tod…

In the morning Master Piper gave me in cash 11.10.0 and a receipt for 1 year’s land tax (due at Lady last) for 2.8.0, for me to send by the carrier to Mr Allen Chatfield at Croydon for 1 year’s rent due to Mrs Mary Mills at Carshalton for her land which is used by Master Piper.

After breakfast Mr Burgess and myself went to talk to Anne Jeffrey and the servant of Thomas Osborne, who we had heard were both with child. But upon talking to them we have no reason to think so. Paid Mr Heaver, the miller at Isfield, 2.3.10 in full for 1 sack of flour and 3 bushels of pollard received by him today. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a plain rice pudding for my brother. After dinner my brother and I went down to look at Mr French’s wool, but he was not at home. Mrs Parsons and Anne Prall drank tea at our house. In the evening my brother and I went down to Whyly and looked at Mr French’s wool, which I agreed to give him 1.0.6 per tod for; and if it turned out well, I was to give him 6d more per tod. We came home about 10 o’clock.

Took physic today. In the morning Mr Joseph Burgess and I signed a certificate for James Simonds and Ann his wife and Ann their daughter to the parish of Ecklesham, and John Streeter and Stephen Hazelden attested the same, and Streeter carried it to Lewes to get it allowed by the justices and then to forward it to the man. I paid Streeter 4/- for the certificate and his trouble. In reading the Jewish Antiquities I find [various things]…

We dined on the leg of lamb which was roasted on Saturday in the oven, with a cauliflower boiled, and some gooseberry pie and custard. At home all day. In the evening my brother came back to our house to have his blisters laid on and care taken of them

After breakfast my brother Moses went over to Framfield to my mother’s. My whole family at church in the forenoon… We dined on the lamb’s head which was boiled yesterday, as also the lights, mint etc. minced with the addition of a green salad, gooseberry pie and custard.

In the afternoon our maid and nephew went to Chiddingly Church (to order the cooper to call at our house). Myself, wife and Philip at church in the afternoon… George Richardson came to see us while we were at church in the afternoon and stayed till we came out of church and also stayed and drank tea with us. And then my wife and I went down to Jones’s with him, where he treated myself and wife with a bottle of raisin wine. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening, to whom, and in the day, I read 4 of Tillotson’s sermons, 3 of which I think as good sermons as can be read.

Took physic today… In the forenoon my brother and I went down to Halland and delivered Mr Coates’s bill, amounting to 2.16.0. We dined today on lamb’s liver and some rashers of pork fried, a pudding baked under the leg of lamb, the lamb’s tongue and brain, with a gooseberry tart and a custard.

Busy all the evening. Charles Diggens took up a frock etc. for himself… This day Mr Francis Elless and Thomas Durrant ran in Halland garden a foot race 20 rods for 2/6 each, which was won by Thomas Durrant, I suppose with ease (I not being there). I went half the bet with Thomas Durrant so that of consequence I won 15d.

…William Starks at work for me all day a-scouring of a pond. Thomas Davy gave me his assistance part of the day and dined with us on a beef pudding, a piece of pork and greens. Just as we were at dinner, Mr Snelling came in, who dined with us. He stayed till about 4 o’clock. My mother’s servant came over in the morning and stayed and breakfasted with us. Paid William Starks by cash and goods 16d for today’s work…

Thomas Davy at our house in the evening, to whom I read 2 of Tillotson’s sermons. Mr Snelling ordered my brother to be entirely debarred from beer, brandy (or any kind of spirits), and meat, and to drink the following for his constant drink; viz., Take 1 ounce of cream of tartar, ½ lb of lump sugar, the peel of a lemon; pour a gallon of boiling water on them and let it stand all night, then strain it off and bottle it for use. He also ordered him the cold bath and blisters behind the ears to be perpetual, notwithstanding he has an issue both in the temple and arm.

Paid Joseph Miller 2d for half a pound of suet. Today in reading the London Magazine for May, I find the following description of the comet [Halley’s] that is shortly expected to appear; viz., that it has appeared 6 times already; viz., in the years: 1305, 1380, 1456, 1531, 1607 and 1682, and that it revolves about the sun at intervals of 75 and 76 years alternately, and since the last period; viz, in 1682, was 75 years, it is presumed the present period will contain 76 years, and therefore its next appearance will probably be in 1758. But the time of its appearing is uncertain, and it may happen the latter end of the present year 1757, or the beginning, middle or latter end of the next year. After 85 days it will obtain to its perihelion, or be nearest of all to the sun, and alter 130 days it will come to its descending node, at which time it will be very near the earth’s orbit; and should that happen the 12th of May, we should then be in a dangerous situation as the denser part of its blazing tail would envelop the earth. It seems to be of those that rise to the least height from the sun, its greatest distance being only 35 times greater than the distance of the earth from the sun, so that at the farthest it does not run out four times farther from us than Saturn.

We dined on a bullock’s kidney and some pork fried and a raisin suet pudding and green salad. In the evening my brother and I walked to Richard Jenner’s and looked upon his wool for my mother, and accordingly he gave us the promise of it when the prices were more known. From thence we went to Thomas Durrant’s and asked him for a small debt due to me, but could not get it. We called at Master Diplock’s and John Browne’s and came home about 8:45.

…Just before dinner my brother came in, who dined with us on some boiled mackerel, a kidney and some pork fried and green salad. My brother’s eyes being very bad, he wanted me to walk with him to Mr Snellings’ at Alfriston to have his farther advice. And accordingly by about 2 o’clock we set off. We called at Crowhurst’s at Bayley’s Lane and bought some earthenware; from thence through Wilmington to Alfriston, where we arrived about 5:10 and were not so unfortunate as to find him gone from home. We stayed and drank 1 glass of wine and then we went to the Star and had a mug of beer and a piece of bread.

We then came home through Berwick, Selmeston, Ripe, and so to Whitesmith where we went in and had a mug of beer. We came home about 9:10. We spent in our journey: 4½d apiece. My brother stayed all night at our house. This day Mr Chatfield called at my house and I agreed for his wool at 20/6 a tod for my mother.

In the morning Mr Sam Beckett the carrier made me a present of some mackerel… We dined on the remains of Sunday’s dinner with the addition of some fried eels. This day I was to give my answer in to Honest Joseph Fuller about having the horse, for provided I had him not today, I should not have him tomorrow under 11.11.0. So in the morning I had concluded to have the horse, but in the evening, instead of the horse, I bought a young colt of him at about 30 percent too much. It is a gelding, about 3 years old, 12 hands 3 inches high, never ridden, and for which I gave him. 5.6.0.

In the evening went to Croxted to see Mr Chatfield’s wool for my mother, but they were not at home. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening, to whom I read part of Locke on Education.