Thomas Turner

At home all day. Gave Dame Burrage 12d on the parish account… Dame Braizer and her daughter drank tea with us. In the evening read part of Homer’s Odyssey. Oh! a terrible time took but £5 this week. Dame Durrant’s maid lodged at our house tonight. Thomas Davy sat about an hour with us in the evening.

In the morning arose to go with the man and woman to be married, but was soon disappointed by the man’s declaring he would not be married. We then concluded to go to Uckfield and put an end to so troublesome an affair. Our company was Mr French, Mr Vine, John Watford, Stephen Clinch, the man and myself. We called at Mr French’s and my mother’s in our road to Uckfield, but did not stay.

When we came before Mr Courthope, he discharged the man without examining him, but assured us he would take care that we should have proper security and that he would grant us some of our expenses since the man prevented our taking, the parish security on Thursday morning or rather on Wednesday night; that is, as to the superfluous expense he has put us to except the license and ring. We went to Mr Holland’s at the Maiden Head where we spent 18d… We called at my mother’s and Mr French’s as we came home, but did not stay. We came home thoroughly wet and fatigued about 6:20 and not a little overjoyed this troublesome affair is over. My family at home dined on the remains of Tuesday’s dinner, but I dined at my mother’s on some rice pie…

About 11:10 I was sent for down to Jones’s but did not go. Again about 12:30 I was sent for, when I arose and went and then found the man, instead of going to Uckfield today, in the mind of marrying the girl (for Mr French had agreed he should have £5, a ring value 10/-, a wedding dinner and married with a license). I stayed about 30 minutes (finding most of ’em drunk) and came home to bed. About 6 o’clock, I arose and went down to see if the man was in the same mind. When I found he was not, then I again went home to bed, and about 7:30 I again was sent for. I accordingly arose and went, and the man then declared if I would get the license, he would then be married. I then went up to Joseph Fuller and sent for Mr French, and they both agreed I should go to Lewes to get a license. I borrowed of Mr French 1.16.0. Joseph Fuller lent his horse to go upon, and we agreed I should meet the people at Laughton Church on account they must married there. So about 8:30 I set off for Lewes. (But first I desired to Mr French in my absence to send Mr Shoesmith word not to go to Uckfield). I arrived about 9:20 and applied for a license, but could get none on account the man was not there in presence. I breakfasted at the White Horse and then came away home by Laughton where I met Mr Porter, Mr French, Joseph Fuller, John Durrant, Thomas Cornwell, John Watford, Hyland and the girl, who all came away home again. I spent this journey as under:

To going through Peckham’s	0.0.1
Turnpike	0.0.2
Breakfast	0.0.6
¼ Pint wine	0.0.6
Horse and ostler	0.0.3
	0.1.6

We dined today on the remains of Tuesday’s dinner with the addition of some sausages. After dinner, the man being very sober and then in the mind of marrying, it was agreed we should go with him to Lewes to get a license. We accordingly set off, he on a horse of Mr French’s, John Watford on one of Mr Porter’s and myself on one of Joseph Fuller’s. We went very well till we came as far as Mr Spence’s, when the man declared he would go no farther, but would go in there and send for Mr Dicker to be bound for him, but we persuaded him to go back to Hoathly and send for the overseers of Laughton, go to Mr Courthope’s and have no more trouble. Well, he agreed to it and was got on our road home as far as the turnpike when his mind altered, and he would marry if we would advance 40/- more. We then turned again and went to Lewes where we met with Joseph Fuller Jr, who gave him a note of hand for 30/- and 5 stone of beef to be paid on the day he was married to Ann Durrant. He then made all the solemn vows etc. that he would then marry her if we would take out a license, which we did, and also bought a ring. After smoking a pipe with Feron, John and Joseph Fuller and Aldersey at the White Horse, we came home about 11:30. I spent this journey as under:

To going through Peckham’s	0.0.2
To the turnpike	0.0.6
Horses and ostler	0.1.1
Eating	0.0.6
Spent	0.2.0
License	1.4.0
Ring
	1.16.3

Borrowed of John Watford 12d. Balanced accounts with John Fuller and paid him 3/- in full…

In the morning went down to Mr French’s to inform him what I had done. Thomas Cornwell and Thomas Durrant watched the man all the morning. About 8:30 Mr Will Shoesmith and Mr Goad the Laughton overseers came and offered security for the child; viz, l8d a week and 40/- for the lying in. But our people; viz, Mr Porter, Mr French, Mr Vine and Jo Fuller, thought it proper to have the man before Mr Courthope before they took the security, thinking he might be persuaded to marry the girl, Mr Porter endeavering to persuade the man the justness of his so doing.

About 10:20 Mr French, Hyland and myself set out for Uckfield and when we came to Whyly, the man made some objection to going without a peace officer. We then sent for John Watford to go with us, who accordingly came. We then proceeded on our journey. We called at my mother’s but did not stay. When we came before Mr Courthope, he was that very worthy man as never to ask the man whether he liked to marry, nor so much as once to reprimand him for bringing so much trouble on both parishes, but told us we should send to Mr Shoesmith to let him be at Uckfield by tomorrow morning at 10 o’clock, and that we might leave the man in the care of our headborough till tomorrow (though he said the man must bear his own expense) and he would send the security by them. Spent 3d at the Maiden Head, and seeing Mr Thornton, he asked us to go to the King’s Head, which we did and spent 9d. In the meantime Master Watford, being loath (as I or anyone else should have been) to stay, went up to Mr Courthope and asked his consent to go home, who readily granted him the favor, provided he would see that the man was brought there again tomorrow.

As Mr French and I came home, we called at my mother’s but did not stay (Will Bennett being there). He also called at Whyly where was John Jones the Waldron overseer, who told us we should certainly have a certifcate with Elizabeth Day on Sunday next without fail. I came home about 6:10 where I found all the people at my house. I then sent down for Mr French, who came immediately and ordered them all down to Jones’s, we both going with them; but I did not stay, being at home and abed by 8:30. My family at home dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, but as for myself, I dined not anywhere. I think it is as near doing as I would be done unto if I charge the parish 6/- for the people’s eating etc. at my house. In the evening wrote a note to Mr Shoesmith to be at Uckfield tomorrow by 10 o’clock and agreed to give John Hesman 6d for carrying it, which he immediately did. My brother came over in the evening for the mare but did not stay.i

In the morning got up about 6 o’clock and went down to Thomas Lewer’s in order for him to go to Uckfield to swear his parish, which he readily agreed to, assuring me he would be at my house by 8 o’clock, which he was; and then we both went together in order to call Mr John Vine and Elizabeth Day, the former for company and latter in order to remove to her parish of Waldron, and upon whom I served the summons I had of Mr Courthope the 24th January last. But she absolutely denied going, saying that she would not go for anyone. Whereupon going back to Mr John Vine’s (only Thomas Lewer being with me when I served the summons) we agreed to defer our journey till another day.

Mr Vine and I came down the street together; he stayed and drank a bottle of beer with me… In the afternoon I went down to Mr French’s in order to acquaint him with our proceedings. In the evening Master Hook and I went down again to take up Hyland. When we came to his house, and after patrolling some time about the house, we found the man to be at home by hearing him talk. We then went immediately to Mr Rabson, the headborough of Laughton, in order for him to serve the warrant, which he refused to do without more assistance, though there were two of us and the man we were a-going to take was a man with the use of one arm only. I then desired him to charge his son-in-law, who lived with him, to whom I offered 12d for his trouble, but he refused to charge him. I then proposed a 2nd person in our road to Hyland’s, but he refused him. I then entreated him to go with us alone but could not persuade him. I then proposed his next neighbor, [but he] still rejecting my choice, still continued protesting he would go and charge somebody, which he did; I was after him, entreating him to serve our warrant and not to use us ill, as I imagined he designed (and as I afterwards found true). For he went about a ½ a mile on the contrary road from which we were a-going under pretence to charge a man to go with him. But instead of doing that he went to one of the overseers and told him his business; viz., that he had got a warrant to serve on George Hyland and begged he would send word of it to the other overseer. And after staying at the overseer’s about 20 minutes, he at last told him he should be glad of his company if he liked to go, but he should do as he liked about going. So that one may plainly judge of the baseness of the poor creature’s principles. But we must, I think, say this of him; that he is a compound both of baseness and ignorance. However, we came back again by his house and called Master Hook where we had left him and then proceeded on our road to take the man (our company was Goad, the Laughton overseer; Rabson; myself and Hook.)

When we came to the house, the man and Ann Durrant were both in bed, but he soon came down and opened the door. And then we came away for Hoathly, leaving the poor old man so soon as we came into the park, and only G. Hyland, A. Durrant, R. Hook, Goad and myself came to Hoathly, where we arrived about 12 o’clock and sent for J. Watford. We went into Jones’s and stayed till past 2. We spent 3/2; viz., 3/- charged to the parish and 2d I paid, though for the parish. A. Durrant, myself, Hook, Watford and Hyland came up to our house where we supped, or rather breakfasted on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. We sat up all night. This day gave Mr Thomas Smith the carrier in cash £10 to pay in London for me.

After breakfast my brother came over for me to go to Framfield, and accordingly I walked over with him to Framfield where I found my uncle Ed Bennett. He was come to receive the principal interest of a bond due from my mother to Charles Tanner. She paid him as under and accordingly took in the bond:

4	36/-pieces	7.4.0
18	guineas	18.18.0
4	half-guineas	2.2.0
½	of a moidore	0.6.9
12	half-crowns	1.10.0
129	shillings	0.6.9
35	sixpences	0.17.6
	half pence	0.0.3
		37.7.6

The above mentioned sum of 37.7.6 is in full both for the principal and the interest of the bond viz.,

The present principal	35.0.0
To interest due today	2.7.6

I dined at my mother’s on a piece of boiled beef, butter pond pudding and greens… I came riding home after dinner. In the afternoon went to Mr John Vine’s, where I stayed some time in company with Mr Martin, in partnership with Mr Tapsfield. I came home and called on John Watford, and we went in the evening to Laughton in order to take up George Hyland again. When we came to his house, we thought we perceived a light and also heard somebody talk. We then went to the man whom we thought had been the headborough of that hundred, but he not being headborough we were disappointed. It being somewhat late, we came home, where I found Thomas Davy, who stayed about an hour.

I wrote my London letters. This day spent 2d on the parish account. On looking over the account I settled today for my mother I found I had made a mistake of 9/1O as under:

To the interest of £4O at 4 percent from the 21 Nov., 1755 to the 12 July, 1756	1.0.6
To the interest of £35 at 4 percent from the 12 July, 1756 to this day	0.17.2
To the principal	35.0.0

which is just 9/10 less than she paid.

My wife, self and two boys at church in the morning… We dined on a sparerib roasted, applesauce and a plain batter pudding. In the afternoon myself, wife and two boys at church (our maid being gone to Framfield to church)… In the evening went up to Joseph Fuller’s and stayed about an hour. In the evening and in the day read four of Tillotson’s sermons; viz., of the inward peace and pleasure which attends religion, the nature and benefit of consideration, the folly and danger of irresolution and delaying, and of the distinguishing character of good and bad men.

…In the forenoon my brother came over and brought my brother John’s little boy, but did not stay. Master Watford a-gardening about three hours for me in the afternoon… This day Ann Durrant was brought me (being big with child) by an order from Luke Spence and George Courthope Esqrs dated today and delivered to me by one of the officers of Laughton Parish. In the evening read two of Tillotson’s sermons; viz., one on the deceitfulness and danger of sin, the other on the difficulty of being saved in the Church of Rome.

…Papered up 192 papers of tobacco weighing 43 lbs… In the afternoon my brother Moses brought over Philip according to our agreement on Tuesday last. He stayed and drank tea with us. In the evening read a sermon preached at this church on the 1st of August, 1716 by the Rev Mr Richard Haworth on the wonders of providence in the defense of the reformation, and which in my opinion is an excellent discourse. Also read the 8th of Tillotson’s sermons, which I think a very fine one. The subject was of the happiness of a heavenly conversation.