Thomas Turner

Paid Dame Trill (by Anne Braizer) 2/- on account of the parish for Mr Burgess. Paid John Juce in cash 10/6, which was due to him from this parish (for the keeping of a girl which belongs to this parish) at Easter last, and which I accordingly passed in my accounts made up with the parish on Easter Monday. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Rec’d of Sam Elphick in cash 0.10.6 (which is between my mother and self) for keeping his horse 8 weeks upon the farm at Framfield during the time my mother and I used the said farm jointly between us. I also agreed with him (upon condition that my mother approves of it) for him to feed out all the hay we have now left on the farm at 18d per head per week for every separate head of cattle that he shall feed therein. In the evening I balanced accounts with Mr Francis Elless and received of him 6.11.0 in full to this day; viz.,

Mr. Francis Elless Dr.
To sundry goods to this day	8.11.11¾
Per Contra Cr.
Rec’d by a bill for the boys’ Schooling	1.4.10
Do. by half pence at several times and by deficiency in silver for a guinea	0.6.0
Do. in cash today	6.11.0
	8.1.10

After we had balanced the above account, Mr Elless and I agreed upon the rent of the chamber over the school, which I now am to use as a warehouse. I am to pay 20/- for the rent of it from the time I first took it until next Lady Day, N.S. (being near.2 years), ten shillings of which sum we agreed to outset for the tables, forms etc. which he had of me when I resigned the school to him. The remaining ten is to be passed to the credit of his account when it become due.

Mr Elless and James Marchant and myself and wife sat down to whist about 7 o’clock and played all night till 7 in the morning. My wife and I won 11d apiece. We spent the night very pleasant and, I think I may say, with innocent mirth, there being no oaths nor imprecations sounding from side to side, as too often is the case at cards.

Myself, two boys and maid at church in the morning… We dined on beef and raisin suet puddings and turnips. Myself, two boys and servant at church in the afternoon… After churchtime Mr French Mrs French and their daughter Molly drank tea with, us and stayed with us till near or quite 7 o’clock. Thomas Davy at our house in the latter part of the evening, to whom I read the last of The Complaint and part of Sherlock on death. I now having read The Complaint through, think it an extreme good book, the author having treated many parts of religion in a very noble and spiritual manner wherein I think every deist, free-thinker and also every irreligious person may read himself a fool. For what is wit or wisdom (without religion) but foolishness?

At home all day. In the forenoon my brother came over and dined with us on a beef and light pudding with some turnips. Rec’d of my brother in cash 4/-, being my half part of a debt due from John Cottington at Framfield to my deceased father. Mr Joseph Hill and his servant called on me today, but did not stay. Pretty busy all day. In the first part of the evening read part of Horneck’s Great Law of Consideration, and in the later part of the evening Thomas Davy at our house, to whom I read part of Young’s Night Thoughts.

After I had been at home near 2 hour and breakfasted, I went, down to Mr Coates’s with some cloths… We dined on a beef pudding, some boiled tripe and turnips. Paid Thomas Overing in cash 9/- in full; that is, 4/9 for glass and repairing the window leads of the lights of my dwelling house, and 4/5 on the parish account for mending and repairing the church windows. When I was down at Halland today, I received of Mr Coates in cash £4 in full to the 25th ult. Very busy all day.

Rec’d of Joseph Fuller 2 stone, 3 lbs beef, 4/9. In the forenoon I went down to John Watford’s to borrow his horse to carry my wife to see Thomas Fuller. Thomas Davy dined at our house on the remains of Sunday’s dinner with the addition of some pear pie and potatoes. After dinner Thomas Davy carried my wife up to Thomas Fuller’s. Rec’d of Mrs Atkins (by her servant Anne Vine) 0.12.1½ in full…

About 6 o’clock in the evening I walked up to Mr Thomas Fuller’s in order to spend the evening there, where my wife and I supped (in company with Mr Will Piper and his wife and brother, Mr John Vine Jr and Mr French and his wife) on a buttock of beef boiled, a hind quarter of venison roasted, two raisin suet puddings, turnips, potatoes, gravy sauce, pickles etc. We played at brag, and my wife and I (though contrary to custom) won 4½d. It being a very wet night (and indeed it was one continued day and night of rain), we stayed till near 7 o’clock in the morning when Mr Thomas Fuller brought home my wife, and we all broke up, and that very sober. My wife and self gave Mr Fuller’s servant 6d each.

At home all morning. Master Overing, being at work a-mending my windows, dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a light pudding and turnips. In the afternoon James Marchant and I walked over to Framfield in order to get some blue cloth of my mother for a coat for Master Richard Porter, by Mr Coates’s order. We stayed at Framfield about an hour and came home about 5:20. In the evening went down to Mr Porter’s and balanced accounts with him; there remains due to me the 1^st instant the sum of 7.17.0, for which Mr Porter gave me his note of hand… I also took up my note of hand value 37.13.6 which I gave Mr Porter 3^rd ult., being for the same sum paid by the widow Wright to Messrs Margesson and Collinson (by Mr Porter’s order) on my account… I gave Mr Porter a receipt, dated today, in full of all demands to the 31^st ult. Inclusive. After we had balanced accounts, I paid Mr Porter 5/- for his visitation dinner. I stayed and drank a bottle of cider with Mr Porter and came home about 9 o’clock. After I came home, my wife and I both cast my book over again and found it right as Mr Porter and I had settled it excepting a mistake of one half-penny to my prejudice.

This day the son of John Browne, an infant of about 3 months, was buried. Oh, what pleasure would it be it be to me were there a good understanding between my mother and self, but why do I say myself, when I am assure if I know my own heart, that I am so far from having any ill against her that I have almost undone myself to serve her. Now this assertion is no more than what every unprejudiced person must allow were they thoroughly acquainted with the whole state of our affairs. But the reason of my mentioning this in so abrupt a manner was the seeming distant behavior with which my mother treated me today, seeming so mistrustful that I should cheat her. She even appeared almost to be loath to trust me with a few remnants of cloth for fear I should cut a nail or 2 more than I should inform her of. I will stop the progress of my pen and thoughts and only conclude with saying and thinking she is my mother. Dr Stone paid my wife a visit and, cut her an issue.

This day sent Messrs Margesson and Collinson in a letter by Messrs Beckett and Shelley, carriers, the bill value £46 which I received yesterday from Mr Sam Durrant. This day Thomas Overing, being at work a-mending my windows, dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s Sunday dinner with the addition of some potatoes. At home all day and thank God indifferently busy. In the evening read part of Horneck’s Great Law of Consideration.

In the morning I sent John Streeter [by the post to Mr Sam Durrant in Lewes in cash £46 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 some apple fritters. Sent over to my mother by Mr French’s servant boy for her to lend me £10, which she sent by him… I received by the post from Mr Sam Durrant (in lieu of the [???] I sent today) one bill on Sir Joseph [H]ankey and partners, payable to me or order, dated the 31^st ult., 21 days’ date, No.1620, value £46. This day lent Mr Jeremiah French in cash £12, for which he gave me his note of hand, payable to me or bearer on demand. Rec’d of Mr Joseph Burgess the 2/- I paid Dame Brill for him the 26^th ult.

In the evening wrote my London letters. Master Overing of Chiddingly being at work a-[??] my windows, he dined with us. Joseph [Fu]ller [and Thomas?] Davy at our house in the evening and stayed and smoke a pipe with me. At home all day and busy. A very remarkable cold sharp frosty day, and in the evening and the night there fell a great quantity of rain.

As soon as we arose, my brother went away home. Myself and cousin Bennetts and my nephews at church in the morning where we had an excellent sermon preached by the Rev Mr Shenton, curate of Laughton (Mr Porter at [???] the sacrament at Laughton, from the following…. “And the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, with the Lord of hosts.”

We dined on a piece of beef boiled, a raisin suet pudding, turnips and potatoes. Only Philip at church this afternoon. In the [time] the people were at church this afternoon my two cousins went [up], intending to tarry at my mother’s all night. [I gave?] my cousin John Bennett 12d in order for him to buy for me at Edmund [Ba]nker’s circulating library [at Tunbridge Wells] Burden’s Account of the Hurricane in Sussex in 1729. In the evening read part of Horneck’s Great Law of Consideration. Our servant came home in the evening and sat up all night with Mrs Porter. This has been a most remarkable Frosty day.

In the morning our servant went to see her friends. In the forenoon my brother Moses and my cousin Moses and John Bennett came to see us. They dined with us on the remains of Sunday’s dinner with the addition of [light] pudding, potatoes, rice pie and pear pie. Rec’d from my mother by my brother in cash 13.16.8, which is in full for the bill I sent her the 13^th instant, value 14.7.0 for 23 lbs shoe hemp and 0.13.2; 7lbs gunpowder, 0.10.6, which together makes the said sum of 15.18.8. My brother and cousins stayed all night. At home all day and very busy. A very sharp frost.