Thomas Turner

Gave Mr Thomas Smith in cash £10 for him to pay in London for me… About 2:40 my brother called on me in order to go to Lewes to meet Mr Fletcher… About 4:50 my brother and I set off for Lewes on foot, where we arrived about 6:40. We spent the evening at the White Horse in company with Mr Fletcher, Mr George Kemp, Mr John Webb, Mr Thorn, Mr Friend, George Richardson and my brother and self. We broke up about 10:30, all very sober except my brother. We lodged at the White Horse all night. Paid Mrs Stemp 6d for 1 quart yeast and 2 bladders.

At home all day. Paid Jo Fuller the 10/6 borrowed of him the 28th February, Gave John Streeter 12d for getting the poor book signed for me by John Bridger Esq. Paid Dame Trill 3/- in full for keeping Ann Braizer, due today, and then I gave her 6d over… This day Thomas Daw came to me and informed me if the parish would not find him a shop to work in or allow him 2/6 a week, he would make his complaint to a justice. I then assured him I would call a vestry next Sunday and represent his complaint to the parish.

In the morning my whole family at church… We dined on a piece of bacon boiled, light pudding, parsnips and potatoes. My whole family at church this afternoon… After churchtime I paid the poor as under:

To Widow Pilfold	0.6.0
To Dame Trill	0.6.0
To Ed Babcock	0.4.0
To Ann Wood	0.4.0
To John Streeter etc. for house rent etc. for Widow Pilfold	0.3.0
Gave him more	0.1.0
Paid Dame Trill as by agreement	0.1.0
	1.5.0

In the evening read two of Tillotson’s sermons. Not out anywhere today except at church, nor any person to interrupt my spending the day with pleasure. A remarkable cold, frosty day and some snow fell.

In the morning went up and called Master Piper and then proceeded on our journey to Uckfield to meet Dame Vinal. We called at my mother’s, but did not stay. When we came before Mr George Courthope, I represented the truth of Dame Vinal’s affair to him and convinced him we were not hard to our poor, or at least not in this point as Dame Vinal went about. Mr Courthope reprimanded her very much for coming to him with such a heap of lies and told us he would grant her nothing unless we liked to give her daughter’s child a pair of shoes, which I assured I would. We spent at Uckfield 12d and gave Mr Courthope’s clerk 12d for his signing our poor book.

As we came home, we called and dined at my mother’s on some short bones broiled… As we came home, we called at Whyly. I stayed there and drank tea and came home about 4:20… In the evening went up to Joseph Fuller’s to inform him how I made out. Thomas Davy sat with us in the evening, to whom I read a part of Castalio and Julia. This day Mr Samuel Durrant of Waldron delivered a certificate to me for Elizabeth Day and Ann her daughter, signed the 4th instant by Nicholas Attwood, John Smith and John Jones, allowed the 5th of this instant by Luke Spence and John Bridger Esq and attested by Samuel and John Durrant.

In the morning I continued making the poor book, Mr Elless helping me and breakfasting with us. At home all day making up the parish accounts. My wife at church; we dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. …This day Dame Vinal brought me a summons from Mr Courthope to appear before him tomorrow morning by 10 o’clock to show cause why we use the poor so hardly. In the evening we had a public vestry when it was agreed by the consent of the majority of the said vestry to make a poor rate for the relief of the poor at the rate of 3/6 to the pound. We charged 5/- to the parish account for money spent at Jones’s tonight, but not paid.

This day gave John Jones my note of hand for 2.4.9 for money spent at Jones’s on Hyland’s affair. The people at the vestry were: Jo and Thomas Fuller, Jo Durrant, William Piper, Jo Burgess, Jer. French, T. Turner, Peter Adams, John Cayley. This day paid John Cayley in cash 2/- for 1 year’s rent for Mrs Browne’s seat in the church.

In the morning went down to Whyly for Mr French’s account on the parish; breakfasted there. This day began to make the poor book. We dined on a leg of mutton boiled, a piece of pork, apple pudding, turnips and parsnips. My brother came over in the afternoon, but did not stay. In the evening went down to Whyly on account of a mistake Mr French had made in his account. I stayed there till about 8:20. This day received a certificate from Mr French, which was brought or sent him from Laughton, granted by the said pariah to Thomas Lewer and Sarah his wife and John his son, signed the 4th of May, 1754; by James Shoesmith, Robert Burfield, Robert Turner and Edmund Roffey, and allowed the 4th June by Luke Spence and John Bridger Esq and attested by E. Verral and George Willmot.

In the morning Mr John Withington and I rode over to Framfield where I breakfasted at my mother’s. I paid Mr Withington by bill… 6.15.0 in full for Thomas Fuller’s account, due to Messrs Bancroft and Nixon. I and my mother both gave him an order. I stayed and dined at my mother’s on hog meat pudding… After dinner I walked up to Dr Stone’s in order to get his parish bill, but meeting him at the wheeler’s shop, I went no farther, he then assuring me I should have it tomorrow morning. I came home by Thomas Fuller’s, where I had not been long before Mr Rice, Thomas and Joseph Fuller came in, as did Master Durrant after some time. I stayed there till near 9 o’clock when we all came away together. Mr Rice stayed some time at my house. Thomas Davy sat with us in the evening.

In the morning Mr French, John Watford, George Hyland and myself set out for Uckfield in order for him to swear his parish. We called at Mr French’s, but did not stay. We then proceeded on our intended journey as far as my mother’s, where I took my mare and rode to Uckfield. There we all met again and went to Mr Courthope’s, who examined the man and he swore his parish was Laughton. Mr Courthope then granted us an order to carry him and Ann his wife home to their said parish of Laughton.

While I was at Mr George Courthope’s, Mr John Withington, Messrs Bancroft and Nixon’s rider, called there for me and went and stayed at the Maiden Head till we came back from Mr George Courthope’s. There he, I and Mr Jesse Attree drank 1 pint of white wine. He then promised to come and lodge at my house tonight; we then parted, Mr French, Hyland and Watford going to Hoathly, Withington on his journey, and I to Lewes to get the order signed, which I did by Luke Spence Esq. I paid Mr Ed Verral 1.9.0 in full. Bought 2 sheets treble starp paper for Mr Porter…

As soon as I had dined, I went away directly for Laughton where I arrived about 3:20, and after sitting at the Pound about 15 minutes, Mr French, Hyland and his wife, John Durrant and J. Watford came in. Then Mr French and I went and delivered Hyland and his wife to Master Goad, one of the overseers of Laughton, who received them without any sort of dispute, and went with us down to the Pound where we stayed an hour and a half. I then called as I came home at the Laughton headborough’s, my old friend, and told his wife if he would come up on Friday next and make up the affair of the 22nd instant, it might be done on easy terms. If not, the parish would prosecute him. I came home about 5:45 where I found Mr John Withington was just getting off from his horse at Jones’s. After going up to my house and staying about 45 minutes, we went down to Jones’s and spent the evening and supped there.

While we were at supper, we were alarmed by a quarrel which happened between Mr French, John Durrant, and Mr Smith and Thomas Starr, they being just come to Jones’s. Upon our hearing a great tumult we left our room and went into the kitchen where we found the two former abusing Mr Starr very much. We came home about 10:30. Mr Withington lodged at our house all night… Received of George Hyland 3/- in full.

Paid Mr French the 36/- borrowed of him the 24th; also paid him 9d which he spent on the parish account. About 9:30 George Hyland sent word to us that he would be married today if the parish stood to their agreement as before. Whereupon Mr French, Joseph Fuller and Mr Porter agreed to it. Whereupon I and Stephen Clinch and Thomas Fuller went to Laughton to get the parson ready, but he was not at home. Then Thomas Fuller went back for Mr Porter. Joseph Fuller walked to Laughton along with George Hyland and Ann Durrant, and Mr French went to call the clerk. After we had stayed at the church some time, Mr Porter came and married them in the presence of Mr French, Joseph Fuller, Robert Durrant, myself and several people as ringers in the belfry. Stephen Clinch was father to give her away. Stephen Clinch and Joseph Fuller signed the register. They were married by 11:35. I paid Mr Porter for Mr Shenton’s fees 0.10.6

do. the clerk	0.2.6
do. the ringers etc.	0.2.11

…Borrowed of Mr Porter in cash 6.10.0 and of Joseph Fuller 10/6. Lent John Jones 6.10.0. As we came back, we called at Mr Coates’s, but did not stay. We dined at Jones’s on a leg of mutton and bacon boiled with greens and turnips… We stayed till near 8 o’clock. My brother came over today, but did not stay. In the evening wrote my London letters…

Sunday, Feb. 27: At home all day. My wife, maid and two boys at church in the morning, but not myself because I have wrung my heel and could not get my shoe up. While they were at church, Mr John Tucker came to see me, who dined with us on a piece of bacon, parsnips, turnips, greens and a currant batter pudding. My maid and nephew at church in the afternoon, Mr Tucker stayed and drank tea with us and vent away about 5:50. In the evening Mr Elless and Thomas Davy sat with us a while, to whom I read 2 of Tillotson’s sermons; viz., 18th and 19th…