Thomas Turner

In the morning received by the carrier a present sent me from my father Slater of a fine spare-rib and some sausages. At home all day. My wife very ill. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner and some hog’s chitterlings. Gave Will Eldridge 12d on the petition I composed for him the l4th instant. In the evening wrote my London letters. This day lent Master Weller the sparerib sent us from Hartfield, 14½ lbs.

My wife very ill. While the people were at church in the forenoon I set out for Framfield where I met Mr John Collison. We both dined at my mother’s on the best end of a neck of veal roasted (my family at home dining on a hog-meat pudding)… I afterwards balanced accounts with Mr John Collison as under: We balanced the cash account, when there remained due to me, on the same, 10.0.7½, which balance we carried to the credit of my account for goods, which we then balanced. I gave the bill, value £30, which I received of Mr Smith [this morning], and received of him in cash 4.6.6; so I paid him out of that bill 25.13.6; viz., 15.13.6 on my own account, which leaves £15 to balance on my own account, and the remaining £10 out of the 25.13.6 I paid him on my mother’s account, which is in full for the money I received of her the 30th December and the 3rd and 11th of January. I gave Mr Collison to dispose of for me in old gold 9 pennyweight and 12 grains, and in old sliver 2 oz 12 gr. We stayed and drank tea at my mother’s and then Mr Collison set out for his inn at Maresfield. Thomas Davy being at Framfield at his mother’s, he called me and we came home together about 7 o’clock. He stayed and supped with us.

At home all the morning. My wife very ill… In the afternoon went down to Mr Coates’s and carried in their bill, but could receive no money. In the evening I carried down to Mr Porter’s some silver and received of him the 6/9 left when we balanced on Thursday evening and which is in full to the 1st of January, 1757. Thomas Davy spent the evening with us. Rec’d a letter by the post from Mr John Collison for me to meet him tomorrow at my mother’s. Gave John Dan 6d on the parish account.

In the morning composed the following petition for Will Eldridge, which Mr Elless wrote for him:

“Whereas William Eldridge hath lately had the misfortune to loose a Hog by it’s getting under the Ice and being Drowned, and as it is at a Time that Corn and all other provisions are very dear it will render him incapable to get another which will be a great loss in his Family, He therefore assumes to ask the Charity of his Neighbours, hoping they will commiserate this his Misfortune and he will always (as bound in duty) gratefully acknowledge the favors they shall be pleased to confer on him.”

We dined on a hog’s haslet roasted. At home all day. In the evening went to see James Marchant and stayed about an hour. My wife very ill.

We arose about 7 o’clock, and after staying about 2 hours for Mr Cooper’s getting up, in expectation of receiving my balance, we then set off without it, he telling me he could not pay it then, but would the next time he saw me. We came home about 12:15. My brother stayed and dined with us on a hog’s heart pudding and short bones. After dinner my brother went home… Mr Francis Elless drank tea with us. Afterwards I went down to Mr Porter’s in the evening and balanced accounts with him and received of him in cash 2.3.0…in full of my account to the 1st January, 1757 except 6/9. James Marchant spent the evening with us after I came back from Mr Porter’s.

In the morning we arose and breakfasted with Mr Hook… I called on Mr Thomas Scrase. I paid Mr Bristow 12/- in full and bought 3 lbs gunpowder, for which I also paid him. I called on Mr John Madgwick and also on Mr George Verral, where we dined on some cold beef and sausages… I also paid him 1.6.0 in full. I paid Mr Robert Plumer 12.9.6 in full on my mother’s account, and also 5.7.10 on my own account… I also balanced accounts with Mr Will Rice and received of him 2.17.8 in full to this day. I paid Mrs Sarah Mott 16/-in full for year’s interest due on a bond in November last. Paid at Dr Davy’s 18d for 1 box of pills for my wife. It being very bad weather, we stayed at the Cats all night, and I might as well say I was not sober, though in truth I drank nothing all day- – I am sure not more than 1 bottle of beer. I also stayed in part for having some hopes of receiving of Mr Cooper the balance of his account, which has been due – – some of it–2 years, and which he promised me last night he would certainly pay me.

After breakfast my brother Moses came over to our house for my brother’s little boy; so accordingly we went over to Framfield and carried the little boy… About 4:30 my brother Moses and I set out for Lewes where we arrived about 7 o’clock. We called in at my uncle Hill’s, but did not stay… We called on Mr Hook and supped. We spent the evening with Mr Tucker at the White Horse and lay there… My brother was at my mother’s, where and with whom I stayed about 2 hours.

In the morning Joseph Fuller cut out my hog, and we weighed him, Mr French being here; he weighed 23 stone ½ lbs, which, at 2/2 per stone, amounts to 2.9.10½. I did not pay for him. At home all day… In the evening went down to Mr Porter’s to acquaint him he had the sum of 30.13.0 paid by Mr Thomas Wright to Messrs Margesson and Collison on my account. This day [sent] by John Streeter the post boy in cash to Mr Robert Plumer the sum of £21. In the evening Thomas Davy at our house. We played at cribbage; I lost 1d. In the afternoon sent our servant to Framfield to bring home some lump sugar, who acquainted me my brother John was at Framfield. Lent Mr Jeremiah French 1 sparerib, weighing 8½ lbs.

In the morning myself, nephew, and maid at church… We had a brief read for the parish church of Trees in the county of Salop for the sum of 1130 pounds and upwards, to which I gave 2d. We dined off the hog’s lights boiled and 2 of the feet, tail and turnips. Myself, nephew and maid at church in the afternoon (my wife not at church the whole day, being not very well)… After evening service Mr Burgess came into our house and stayed and smoked a pipe with us. I agreed to have his roots for the use of the parish and accordingly sent my maid in the evening to order Ed Hope to carry 2 loads of them to John Durrant. I am to give 3/- a load for carrying of them. In the evening Thomas Davy sat with us an hour or two, to whom, and in the day, I read 5 of Tillotson’s sermons.

In the morning Thomas Fuller Jr killed a hog for us, which I am to have of Mr French at 2/2 per stone. He stayed and breakfasted with us. We dined on the hog’s sweet-bread fried with the addition of some apple-pie and bread and cheese. In the evening Robert Hook got me to go down to Jones’s in order for me to draw up his account of surveyorship to carry to the sitting on Monday. But Mr French and I, seeing no reason and what he had already done was sufficient, I did not do it; though in being so good-natured as to go with him, it cost me 4d. Sure nothing is more despicable than to see what slaves many people make themselves to that most detestable poison called gin. At home all day except as above. Read part of Martin’s Magazine for October and November. Gave John Dan 12d on the parish account.