Thomas Turner

About 9 o’clock my wife, self and nephew set out upon a horse borrowed of Francis Smith to see Mr Hill of Little Horsted, where we arrived about 10:30 and found ourselves disappointed of going to church as we had proposed, my uncle already gone to church. We dined at my uncle’s, in company with my mother and brother (who came to Horsted Church and so came home with my uncle) on a leg of very ordinary: ewe mutton half boiled, very good turnips, but spoiled by almost swimming in butter, a fine large pig roasted, and the rind as tough as any cowhide (it seemed as if it had been basted with a mixture of flour, butter and ashes), and sauce which looked like what is vomited up by sucking children, a butter pond pudding, and that justly called, for there was almost but enough in it to have drowned the pig, had it been alive.

After dinner my uncle and my mother balanced their accounts and I wrote a promissory note which my uncle signed for the balance, which I think was 16.11.5¾, and made payable to my mother or bearer on demand. We stayed and drank tea and all came away together, my mother and brother parting with us at Highcross. We came home just at 7 o’clock and, considering the house I had been at, sober, though it may with justice be said I was the worse for drinking. We spent 14d as under:

myself to the boy	0.0.6
my wife to the maid	0.0.6
turnpike	0.0.2

…Borrowed of my brother Will the Apology for the Life of Bampfylde Moore Carew…

Paid Joseph Fuller 15d for a neck of mutton of 5 lbs. We dined on the scrag end of the neck of mutton stewed. Paid Clymson, a glover, 8/4 for goods he bought of me today; viz.,

8 pr. hedging gloves	0.6.0
2 pr. ditto cuffs	0.8.4

Gave Master Baker (the parish clerks) orders to give notice of a public vestry at Jones’s on Tuesday next. In reading Martin’s Magazine for September I find [random items concerning the history of Sussex, quoted extensively]… At home all day. Trade very dull. In the evening read one of Tillotson’s sermons.

…Thomas Davy spent the evening with me, and also supped with us. We played at cribbage until past 11 o’clock; I lost 2d. Mr Elless sat with us a little time in the first of the evening. This is the day on which I was married, and it is now 3 years since. Doubtless many have been the disputes which have happened between my wife and myself during the time, and many have been the afflictions which it has pleased God to lay upon us, and which we have justly deserved by the many animosities and dissensions which have been almost incessantly continued and fermented between us and our friends from almost the very day of our marriage, but I hope I may now say, with the holy Psalmist, “It is good for us that we have been afflicted,” for thanks be to God we now begin to live happy, and I am thoroughly persuaded if I know my own mind that if I were single again and at liberty to make another choice, I should do the same, I mean, make her my wife who is so now.

At home all day… After dinner sent my maid to Framfield. The 2 Master Watfords a-gathering of apples for me all the afternoon, and stayed to beat out some apples for me in the evening to make some cider with, as did also Thomas Durrant, who came in to cut my wife’s and nephew’s hair. Paid Mr James Hutson… 6/- in full for goods brought from Lewes for me, and… accounts between us to this day. In the afternoon Dame Smith of Laughton drank tea with us.

At home all day. My brother here in the morning, but did not stay… Mr John Jenner of Hailsham and his son dined with us on a bullock’s heart pudding and some heart fried… Rec’d of Elizabeth Paris in cash 3/6… for Will Burrage’s schooling. Mrs Piper and Mrs Fuller the chandler’s wife drank tea at our house. In the evening read one of Tillotson’s sermons.

At home all day… Mrs Weller and her daughter Fanny, with young Mrs Vine, drank tea with us… After dinner sent my maid to Uckfield with a letter to Mr Charles Thornton, attorney at law, ([following] his calling at my house yesterday in my absence) to acquaint him that I am ready and willing at any time to give my security as overseer to Messrs John and Richard Savage for Tester’s debt, which is due to them and shall be payable next Easter, but if they reject my offer, to beg of him to stop further prosecution till after the 20th instant, when he should know the parish’s further resolutions, but, he being not at home, I had no answer. Gave Richard Fuller 12d for cleaning etc. of their mare I borrowed yesterday.

In the morning my brother brought our horse over, which I had engaged to lend Master Weller, though I could very ill spare it, but as Master Weller is so civil as to let me have the use of his cellar I could do no less in gratitude than oblige him with the use of my horse… Mr Piper breakfasted with us, as did my brother. After breakfast borrowed a horse of Joseph Fuller to ride to Lewes upon to have my temple dressed. I got there about 12 o’clock, where I found Mr John Snelling in bed; he arose and dressed my temple with a pea in the same nature as an issue, and did, in a manner, ask me to dine with him, but his behavior was such as gave my imperious temper disgust, so I did not dine with him, but went and spent an hour or two at the White Horse with Mr Tucker. I came home about 6 o’clock, and, with eating nothing all day and drinking but little, yet I was somewhat in liquor. My brother stayed at my house until I came back, and dined with my family on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. My wife in my absence paid John Streeter 10d for 1 pair pattens received this day by him from Thomas Freeman. Spent in my whole journey 22d.

In the morning Dr Snelling came and ate some breakfast with us and afterwards opened one of the capillary arteries of my temple for the benefit of my eyes. I asked several people to assist Mr Snelling in doing it, but could get none till I asked Dame Durrant, who assisted in doing it. The artery lying deep, the operation was obliged to be performed with a dissecting knife. The first cut did not hurt greatly, but the incision not being big enough at the 1st cut, he was obliged to cut a second time, which hurt me very much. Mr Snelling did not stay, but went away very soon. Only our maid at church in the forenoon, who stayed the communion. My wife very ill. We dined on a leg of lamb boiled, a bouillis pudding, spinach and turnips. Our maid and my nephew at church in the afternoon, but neither myself nor wife. Thomas Davy spent the evening and supped at our house and read 2 of Tillotson’s sermons to us.

…Read part of Chesselden’s Anatomy.

Paid Mr Jeremiah French in cash 12/- and, by 12 lbs sugar, 5/-, which together make 17/- in full for the money paid to the poor on Sunday last…. Dr Snelling called on me, but did not stay… Mr Elless drank tea with us. At home all day and but very little to a do. In the evening read one of Tillotson’s sermons, which I think a very good one. Oh! may the God of all goodness give me grace to mind what I read, that the same may sink deep into my heart and mind, and that I may every day become a better Christian. Oh! how weak and feeble are my best resolutions –[35 words omitted]… Daily and hourly do I sin, my own righteousness being but filthy rags–[50 words omitted]…and may the God of all goodness pour into my heart his holy spirit that I may live by faith and not rely on my own works, which are vain, and that I may work out my salvation with fear and trembling.