Thomas Turner

…I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of two eggs boiled. In the evening wrote out some bills and also balanced all the accounts of what kind soever between Mr Robert Hook and myself and received of him in cash 1.18.7½ in full of all accounts to this day. Master Hook sat with me some time in the evening. Very little to do all day.

…In the afternoon James Marchant came to take up a coat for me and also balance accounts, which we did, our accounts on both sides being the same. He stayed and drank tea with me and he, together with Sam Jenner, Thomas Davy and myself played at cribbage in the evening; I won 5d.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day; in the evening Joseph Fuller Jr smoked a pipe with me. A most melancholy time, hardly anything to do in the shop.

After breakfast I walked over to Framfield where my brother Moses and myself and sister Sally settled the accounts of the expenses etc. attending the keeping Philip up to the 1^st day of January 1762, and I received of Sally 10/6 in full for her part and also of my brother Moses 21/- in full for his and my brother Richard Turner’s part, which is in full (with my own part included) for all the money that I have paid or any otherwise ex-pended on the said account. My brother and I then balanced the accounts between us in regard to the goods etc. which have passed from one to the other… Now what more remains due to me from my brother is only what is due as executor to my mother, which I believe to be about £230.

I dined at my brother’s on some sausages, hog’s puddings and cold chine (my family at home dining on a piece of pork and turnips boiled). I stayed and drank tea with my brother and came home about 6:40, my brother coming along with me for company part of the road… A truly melancholy time; trade extremely dull and money more so, and what still makes my situation appear and really be melancholy is I have not a person to whose prudent management I can entrust the care of my affairs… [49 words omitted]… What adds to it more, my wife it must be owned (without partiality) was possessed of all sociable and domestic talents fit for to direct and carry into execution anything necessary for the prudent care of my affairs.

A young man, an acquaintance of one of my servants, dined with me on a piece of pork, a beef pudding and turnips. At home all day and really hardly anything to do in the shop, so dull is trade. A fine day and frosty, and I think the pleasantest day we have had for some months. Employed myself part of the day in sawing wood.

Myself and both servants at church in the morning… We had a brief read for rebuilding the parish church of Penal in the county of Merioneth in South Wales, the expense of which amounted to the sum of £1270 and upwards; I gave 1d. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a hot beef pudding and turnips. Myself and both servants at church in the afternoon… In the evening read one of Tillotson’s sermons. A very cold frosty day.

…At home all day; a cold sharp frosty day; very little to do all day. In the evening wrote my London letters. Employed myself today part of the day in sawing of wood. Oh, melancholy times — what to do I hardly know.

…At home all day and really very little to do all day. In the day sawed some wood. In the evening myself, Joseph Fuller Jr, Master and Thomas Durrant smoked a pipe or two with Mr Long. We came home about 11:20. It is impossible to say how dull trade is, for I have hardly anything to do, and I am sure I must daily lose money, so that I am as it were come to a resolution to leave this place…

After breakfast walked over to Framfield where I settled the accounts between my brothers and sister, and my brother Moses signed a promissory note of hand to my sister for £50, as also another to my brother Richard for £33, both of which notes are to bear interest at £4 percent per annum to commence from the 1st day of February next, both of which notes I witnessed.

I dined with my brother on a hand of pork boiled, an apple pudding and turnips… I stayed and drank tea with my brother and then came home, my brother accompanying me home, and we together with Joseph Fuller Jr and Mr John Long spent the evening at Joseph Durrant’s. We came home about 8:50. My brother stayed and supped with me and then went home…

This day died the wife of Will Alcorne after being married about 10 months. The wife of Thomas Davy was this day delivered of & girl after being married only 6 months, two people whom I should the least have suspected of being guilty of so indiscreet an act. But what can be said of this passion? How careful should we be of ourselves in this particular when we daily see people of the strictest virtue (apparently) guilty of it.

…At home all day. In the afternoon posted some accounts. Thomas Durrant drank tea with me and also lodged at my house, his father having company. Nothing to do at all the whole day.