Thomas Turner

Dame Akehurst, a-washing for me part of the day, dined with me on a piece of bacon, a piece of beef boiled, an apple pudding and French beans. She also lodged at my house. Paid Will Alcorne in cash and goods 17/6 in full for half a year’s rent due for will Starks’s [Slark’s] and of a house at Lady Day last on the parish account. At home all day and really very little to do. Oh, what a melancholy time I have…

Dame Akehurst a-washing for me the whole day, she dined with me on a cold chick pie and French beans. At home all day, and really very little to do. Paid Dame Akehurst for washing 13½ d. In the evening read part of Young’s Night Thoughts.

…This day received of Ben Shelley by his brother a receipt from Mr Will Margesson for 45.19.0 and also a guinea returned, it being not weight, which together makes the sum of £47 and is in full for the £47 delivered to him the 27th instant… In the evening Mr Richard Sterry called on me and supped with me and also stayed all night. In the evening we balanced our accounts…

Mr Sterry stayed and breakfasted with me and then set forward on his journey. I dined on a plain bread pudding, a piece of pork and cucumbers. At home all day and not very busy. Oh, melancholy time!

One of my servants in the morning went to see her friends. Myself and the other at church in the morning where we had a sermon preached by a gentleman who I presume is come to be Mr Porter’s curate at Ripe (Mr Porter preaching at Mayfield) from Matthew 11:30: “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

My old acquaintance Mr Tucker came to see me and dined with me on a piece of pork boiled, a chick boiled and some carrots. There being only prayers at our church in the afternoon (and that more than we knew of till we came from church), Sam Jenner and I took a ride to Seaford where we took a walk by the seaside and took a view of the two forts newly erected there, one of which has 5 24-pounders mounted and the other 5 12-pounders.

We drank tea at the Sign of the Tree. Came home by Alfriston where we overtook on the road my servant and Thomas Durrant. We came home about 11:10–oh, could I say not thoroughly sober. I think I am the most unfortunate fellow in the world, for only a few glasses of wine intoxicates my brains. I was not so far intoxicated today as to be guilty of any indiscretion, still though we only took a ride with no other design than innocent inoffensive amusement, and with an intention of reaping advantage of serious and improving conversation from each other, yet being guilty of this one folly, the whole of our journey must become contaminated, which otherwise could not have been more than a breach of an active obedience. Each of us spent today as follows:

To tea	0.0.6
Wine	0.0.6
Beer	0.0.2
Horses	0.0.4
A-coming home	0.0.7½
	0.2.1½

I dined on a chick boiled and a piece of pork and French beans. In the afternoon wrote my London letters. In the evening went down to Jones’s, there being a vestry. Spent 2d and came home very sober. But little to do all day. My brother came over in the afternoon and drank tea with me.

Paid Joseph Fuller Jr 6d for a sheep’s head and pluck bought of him today. I dined on a sheep’s head etc. boiled and carrots. At home all day and very busy. Posted part of my day book.

…Finished posting my day book. In the afternoon Mr French and I rode down to Mr John Dicker’s to consult about burying of John Durrant, who died yesterday, and came home about 5:10.

Mr Tipper and Mr Buller drank tea with me in the afternoon. But very little to do all day. Oh, melancholy time! Trade very dull and money intolerable scarce and, what is still worse, no sincere friend for an agreeable companion.

…Sam Jenner a-gardening for me half the day and dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a cold sheep’s heart pie, some beefsteaks broiled, French beans and cucumbers. At home all day and very little to do. In the evening Joseph Fuller and Sam Jenner smoked a pipe with me. Thomas Durrant lodged at my house.

In the morning, bought the Rev Mr Porter’s wool at 6d a pound. Went down to Mr French’s and bought his wool, but at no particular price… Paid Ben Shelley in cash 2/4½ and by money he received of Mr Ben Treacher in full for rabbit skins I sent him 9/7½, which together makes the sum of 12/- and is in full for the same sum he paid Dr Godfrey in full for three dozen of his cordial this week…

In the evening Joseph Fuller Jr, myself, Thomas Durrant, Joseph Durrant, James Marchant and James Potter went down to Jones’s, where we stayed and smoked a pipe or two and spent 3d each. Came home about 10:05, very sober.

This afternoon John Durrant the younger was buried at our church, aged 31 years, who died as it were after a few days’ illness, though he has not been in a firm state of health some time past. Very little to do all day. I hardly know what to do for the want of money; and yet I cannot get in one bill. Thomas Durrant lodged at my house all night.