Thomas Turner

Dame Prall here a-washing all day. We dined on the remains of Sunday’s dinner with the addition of a piece of bacon, apple pudding and turnips. At home all day. Read part of Chesselden’s Anatomy and in the evening read 2 of Tillotson’s sermons. Nothing to do all day; a melancholy time.

At home all day… Paid Mr Thomas Harman in cash 1.9.8 in full for a horse-load [20 gross] of pipes received by him today… In the evening read one of Tillotson’s sermons and part of his “Rule of Faith”. Paid Dame Trill 3/- in full for keeping Ann Braizer, due today.

My wife and maid at church in the morning. We dined on a piece of boiled beef, batter pudding and potatoes. My wife, maid and nephew at church in the afternoon. I was not at church all day, my throat being somewhat sore. Thomas Davy drank tea and spent the evening with us. I read 6 of Tillotson’s sermons.

After breakfast my brother went home. In the afternoon my wife paid a visit to Mrs Piper. This day finished reading of lead on poisons, which I conclude, in my judgment, a very good thing. At home all day, but not busy. In the evening not well.

In the morning I got up and went over to Framfield and called at Thomas Durrant’s as I went a-long, for some money, but could get none. I dined at my mother’s… After dinner my brother and I walked over to Uckfield and, meeting with Mr Thornton at home, I committed to him the care of getting in of Mr Adams’s debt. We came back and drank tea at my mother’s in company with Mr John Davenport and Mr Soundy, the latter of whom has declined taking my mother’s shop. After tea my brother and I came walking home together. He stayed and spent the evening with us and also stayed all night. In the evening read some in Mead on poisons.

After breakfast my brother went home. …At home all day. In the afternoon my wife paid a visit to Mrs Vine the younger. In the evening read about 100 pages in Mead on poisons, which I think an excellent book, for I think his way of demonstrating is very clear wherein he proves the nervous fluid is first affected with the bite of any venomous animal. Also his method of cure for the bite of a mad dog is very reasonable.

In the morning got up and rode over to Framfield. Dined at my mother’s… My family at home dined on the remains of Sunday’s dinner with the addition of some bloated herrings. After dinner my brother and I walked over to Uckfield to commit the getting in of Peter Adams’s debt to Mr Thornton. As Mr Adams has failed of his word, I am fearful I shall lose it. Mr Thornton was not at home. I spent 3d at Uckfield. A-coming back to Framfield, we met with Mr Smith of Hempstead, who asked us to go into his house and drink a bottle of beer, which we readily accepted of. We drank tea at my mother’s, and after tea my brother came and walked home along with me and spent the evening with me, as did Thomas Davy part of it. My brother stayed all night. N.B.: Thomas Durrant came home very safe today…

In the morning Mr Burfield and I settled the accounts as under: I paid him for John Streeter…37/6, in full for 1 year’s rent due at Lady Day, 1756, and Thomas Durrant paid him in cash 2.15.8 and by land tax receipts £1 and by bills etc. for repairs 6.4.4, which together makes £10 and was in full for 2½ years’ rent due from his father at Lady Day last. Then Mr Burfield and I treated of Burrage’s affair and settled it as under: As there were 2½ years’ rent due from Burrage, Mr Burfield agreed to abate the half-year if I would agree to pay or give security for the 2 years’, which I accordingly did by paying him in cash today 2.7.6 and by giving him my note of hand payable at Easter next for the sum of 2.7.6, which together makes the sum of 4.15.0. When Dame Paris has paid the parish her 40/- as she has agreed, there will upon the whole be 55/- for the parish to pay. I also gave Mr Burfield my note of hand to be answerable to him for the rent of the said house so long as Dame Burrage shall continue to live in it. After this we must walk up to Steyning Town with Mr Burfield where he had us about from one of his friends’ houses to another until we became not very sober. But, however, we got back to Mr Burfield’s and dined there…

After dinner, knowing my wife would be very uneasy if I did not get home tonight, and also that my business would want me, and thinking myself capable to undertake such a journey, I came away, leaving Thomas Durrant there, who actually was past riding, or almost anything else. I arrived at home through the providence of God very safe and well about 7 o’clock. I spent in the whole journey 4/-. To give Mr Burfield his just character in the light wherein he appears to me, he is a very good-tempered man, a kind and affectionate husband, an indulgent and tender parent, benevolent and humane to a great, degree, and one who seems to have a great capacity and judgment in his business. Honesty seemingly is his innate principle. But after all he is a man very much given to drink. When I came home, Dame Durrant was like to tear me to pieces with words for leaving her son behind. But, there, poor woman, she and I were both in one pickle. But however Master Durrant and she and Henry Weller of Eastbourne and Fanny Weller spent the evening at our house when it all came to right with the assistance of 2 or 3 drams of her beloved Nantz [brandy from Nantes].

Rec’d of the gardener at Halland 12 bushels apples and ½ bushel potatoes. Steyning I think is but a small town, though both a borough and market town; there is also a free grammar school there.

Mrs Vine the elder breakfasted with us. My brother brought over our mare about 10 o’clock, and I gave him a draft…payable to my mother…value: 11.5.0. About 11:30 Thomas Durrant and I set out on our journey to Steyning. We called at Falmer and Patcham to bait our horses and arrived at Steyning in the evening. Mr Burfield was not at home, but we spent the evening and lodged at his house. N.B.: My family at home dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

In the morning Mr Darby made me a present of a pig, and I in return gave him about a pound of sugar, value 8d. About 9:45 my brother and sister came over. Dame Burrage breakfasted with us. My brother, sister, nephew and myself were at church in the forenoon…

I called a vestry, when it was agreed I should go and treat with Mr Burfield concerning Burrage’s rent. We dined on the pig (given us by Mr Darby) roasted, a piece of beef boiled, a plum rice pudding and turnips. My maid and nephew at church in the afternoon. My brother and sister went away about 5:40. At home all day. In the evening read 5 of Tillotson’s sermons. Master Piper smoked a pipe with us in the afternoon. I got Joseph Fuller to pay the poor, which he did, and I accordingly gave him the money before churchtime; viz., 22/-.