Thomas Turner

In the morning Mr Long and I went to John Cayley’s, where we measured a piece of wood ground of about 5 acres. Mr Long came back and breakfasted with me.

In the forenoon I papered out a bag of nails… about 4:30 Joseph Fuller Jr, Mr Long, Mr Thornton, Thomas Durrant and myself went to Laughton to pay a visit to Mr Edward Shoesmith, with whom we drank tea and stayed and supped on a veal pasty. Came home about 1:40, not thoroughly sober, nor very much in liquor, walking home very well without so much as a fall or anything like one.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a green salad. In the evening Mr Dodson brought home my horse and stayed with me all night…

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a piece of bacon und some spinach boiled. At home all day. Busy a-putting my shop in order.

…In the afternoon my brother and Bett Fuller drank tea with me. In the afternoon posted part of my day book and in the evening Thomas Durrant and Mr Buller assisted me in packing up my rags. They together with Mr Joseph Fuller and my brother smoked a pipe with me in the evening…

…Rec’d of Mr John Piper 1 shoulder of veal 10¼ lbs at 2d. I dined on a piece of veal boiled and the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Finished posting of my day book.

No service at our church in the morning. I went to Sam Jenner’s in the morning, with whom I breakfasted. After breakfast we walked to Ringmer Church where we heard a sermon preached by the Rev Mr Fletcher, curate of Ringmer and Laughton, Ephesians 4:30: “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

From Ringmer we walked to my uncle Hill’s, where we dined on a shoulder of veal roasted. In the afternoon walked to Little Horsted Church where we heard a fine sermon preached by the Rev Mr [Philips], curate of that parish and Maresfield, from the 21st, 22nd and 23rd verses of the 15th chapter St Matthew’s Gospel: “Then Jesus went thence and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word.”

I came home by Sam Jenner’s, where I stayed and smoked a pipe or two. Came home about 7:30. One of my servants went to Framfield Church in the morning and to Buxted in the afternoon. The other went to Horsted in the afternoon. No service at our church the whole day, Mr Porter being ill at Mayfield.

In the forenoon my brother came over and stayed and dined with me… In the afternoon Mrs Atkins, Mrs Hicks and Mrs Fanny Hicks drank tea with me… Dame Prall a-washing for me half the day.

In the evening wrote my London letters. But very little to do all day, and I think trade and money never was so dull before. Oh, what can I do? My hands are as it were tied, having no person whom I can trust with my business when I am from home. And by my being so much confined at home, undoubtedly my affairs abroad must be neglected.

Dame Prall a-washing for me all day and dined with me… In the afternoon rode out to get in a small debt, but was not successful. Came home about 3:30. Indifferently busy today. Paid Dame Prall 9d for her day and ½’s work.

…At home all day and really very little to do. Delivered to John Gosling the younger:

6 bags of my own rags, weighing	5.1.17
l bag of my brother’s weighing	5.3.22
	11.1.11

which he is to sell for me at Maidstone Fair. Ah, melancholy time–no loving virtuous wife for an agreeable companion to soothe the anxiety of my tumultuous breast… [31 words omitted].

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a piece of bacon boiled and a light pudding. In the afternoon Joseph Fuller and myself went to Chiddingly to see a match of cricket played between that parish and Laughton, when Chiddingly won the same, having 5 wickets to go down. Came home about 9:05, having spent nothing during my entertainment. But very little to do all day. In the forenoon took a ride to collect in a debt, but did not receive it.