Thomas Turner

…Dined on a piece of bacon boiled and a light pudding. At home all day and but very little to do. Oh, melancholy time. At work in my garden part of the day.

…James Marchant dined with me off a calf’s heart pie and the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Rec’d of Joseph Fuller part of a loin of veal weighing 4¼ lbs at 3d. At home all day and thank God very busy. In the morning read part of a book entitled A Defence of Plurality of Church Benefices, but I cannot be persuaded by his reasons that it is anyways beneficial to promote our most holy religion.

In the morning about 5:10 my brother called on me, and we set out for Pevensey where we arrived about 7:30 and breakfasted with my friend John Breeden. After breakfast we took a walk by the seaside. We dined with Mr Breeden on a leg of lamb roasted, a piece of bacon boiled, a plain pudding, green salad, greens and a pond currant mudding (my family at home dining on part of a loin of veal boiled). We stayed and drank tea with Mr Breeden and then came away.

We called as we came home both upon Jenner the hatter and Ben Shelley, but did not stay. Came home about 9:30, very sober. Spent today 8d; that is, 2d for the turnpike and 6d we gave Mr Breeden’s son. My brother went home from my house immediately. Not at church all day. In the evening we had a fine refreshing shower, there being a great drought for some time past, so that in many places the grass is almost burnt up.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day and thank God very busy. My brother came over in the afternoon, but did not stay. In the evening wrote my London letters.

…Gave 12d to a brief for fire in Wiltshire; the loss to the unhappy sufferers amounted to £10000 and upwards. It was collected from house to house. In the evening Mr John Pike at Ashford lodged at my house, he coming to pay a visit to Master Hook. In the afternoon employed myself a-writing. Pretty busy all day.
 

…I dined on part of a breast of veal roasted. At home all day. In the afternoon busy a-writing. But very little to do all day. Drank tea with Thomas Durrant.

Rec’d of Joseph Fuller 13 lbs of beef at 3d. In the forenoon a relation of my servant’s came to see her and dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some beef-steaks fried.

Dame Cornwell Jr and Mrs Durrant drank tea with me. Spent the evening at Mr Hook’s in company with Mr Pike, Mr Long, Joseph Fuller Jr, Thomas Durrant and Thomas Davy. Came home about 11:10, sober. Mr Pike lodged at my house all night. Ah, how melancholy a time do I at present know.

…At home all day. In the afternoon drew up articles for a club in this parish to enter into to indemnify any of the society from serving in the militia by raising a fund to pay the money charged upon anyone by Act of Parliament who shall be chosen by lot and refuse to serve or to provide a substitute to serve in their stead. Mrs Durrant having company, Mr Buller lodged at my house.

Paid Will Turley at Uckfield 19/- in full except 6 hand bills and 3 top axes I have now of his… At home all day. Mr Buller lodged at my house again.

Myself and both servants at church in the morning… Sam Jenner dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some carrots. No churching at our church in the afternoon, Mr Porter preaching at Mayfield.

After dinner Mr Long, myself and Sam Jenner rode to Lewes and all went to the Church of All Saints where we heard a sermon preached by the Rev Mr Lund, rector of the said parish, from Galatians 6:2: “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” I spent the afternoon in company with my brother, Sam Jenner and myself (Joseph Fuller staying all night). Came home about 11:20, sober…

A fine calm and serene day, but I think never to go so far to church again, for company dissipates the thought so much that the good impressions which the service of the church should have on the mind is, I doubt, too much obliterated.