Thomas Turner

In the morning my brother came over for my mother’s salt sacks and breakfasted with us, he being a-going to Lewes. This day balanced accounts with Francis Smith and paid him…in full for money he has paid in London for me…[including] 25 Sept. to Messrs Barlow and Wigginton for the 1/16 shares of the 2 lottery tickets they bought for me,1.12.0. By examination I find I have made a mistake of 20/- to my prejudice, and which I have made Francis Smith Dr. for in the post book. This day wrote a letter to Bancroft and Nixon for Thomas Fuller, another for John Mugridge to Tomlin, with hops, and another to Swainstone and Hedges, with hops, for Mr French. Just before dinner my father and mother Slater, Mrs Elliot and son came in and dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Soon after dinner Mrs Elliot and her son went for Hailsham, and I, out of complaisance to my father Slater, walked with him to Eason’s Green to see a cricket match; viz., Lindfield against Framfield and Maresfield, which was not played out, but was like to be won with great ease by Lindfield, they most of ‘em running out designedly, or striking up their wickets in the 2nd innings. Came home about 7 o’clock and spent the evening at my house. Paid John Streeter 3d for 1 oz spinach seed…

In the morning my wife and self went to church, and soon after we were at church, my brother Moses and sister Sally came to us… Surely, as we expected my brother and sister, nothing could be more rude than for not one of us to stay at home besides a servant. But however their good nature overlooked it and they came home and dined with us on 2 roast ducks and gravy sauce, a piece of beef boiled with turnips and carrots and a suet plum pudding. My whole family at church in the afternoon, and also my brother and sister… My brother and sister stayed and drank tea with us and went away about 6 o’clock. About 9 in the evening we were all alarmed by a drunken travelling woman, swearing and rolling about the street. In the evening read 3 of Tillotson’s sermons.

Master Braizer at work for me again today. Paid Joseph Fuller 6d for a sheep’s bell. Dined on the sheep’s head and bell, a piece of pork and turnips. …Rec’d by Richard Page 10 sacks of salt. At home all day; paid Dame Trill 3/- for keeping Ann Braizer, due the 22nd instant.

Richard Braizer at work for me a-gardening… I now owe [Mrs Virgoe] for 1 bottle of white wine and one 13 quart glass bottle… Did a little work in the garden. In the forenoon my brother came over to borrow 4 ½ ells rolls but did not stay. In the evening Mr Elless and I walked over to Framfield. Came home about 9 o’clock and read one of Tillotson’s sermons. Rec’d of the gardener at Halland ½ bushel onions.

Very busy all the forenoon… Rec’d of John Vine Jr 10/3½ in full for 2 shirts etc. for Joseph Fitness… My eyes very bad… In the afternoon my wife paid a visit to Mrs Atkins; stayed about 2 hours. This day there was a cricket match played on the common between the tradesmen and farmers of our parish, which was won with great ease by the latter. In the evenings Halland hop-pickers bought their pole-puller’s neckcloth and, poor wretches, many of ’em very unsensible. At home all day. In the evening my wife read me one of Tillotson’s sermons.

…Very busy in the forenoon… Remarkably wet in the afternoon. At home all day and busy. In the evening read part of Hervey’s Theron and Aspasio and 1 of Tillotson’s sermons.

…In the morning wrote my London Letters. Finished laying up Barlow and Wigginton’s parcel. In the evening read Tillotson’s sermons. Mr Vine’s hop-pickers bought their pole-puller’s neckcloth. At home all day and pretty busy.

In the morning my brother Moses and Mr Will Bennett called on me in their way to Lewes, but did not stay… We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Wrote a letter for Mr Will Piper to Mr George Tomlin with 2 pockets of hops marked “W.P. No. 1, 2.” Also wrote another for Mr James Hutson to Mr George Tomlin with 1 pocket of hops marked “J.H., No. 3;” and also a letter for Mr Jeremiah French to Messrs Swainstone and Hedges with 1 pocket of hops, marked “J.F., No. 3.” In the evening Mr Porter’s hoppers bought their pole-puller’s neckcloth

[for these and other hop-picking details, see George Sturt, A Small Boy in the Sixties, Chap. VII, “Hops”.]

… Posted my day book and wrote out several bills…

This morning about 3:30 my wife was taken very ill with the colic, which did not continue above 1 hour and ½ so very violent as at first. Just before churchtime my brother Will came in, and he, myself and maid were at church in the morning… My brother dined with us on a chick pudding, a damson batter pudding, a piece of pork, turnips and carrots. My wife and maid at church in the afternoon. My brother stayed and drank tea with us and went away about 5:30. Thomas Davy spent the evening with us. I read to him 2 of Tillotson’s sermons. There was a brief read in the forenoon for Heathfield church, to which I gave 2d.

At home all day. My brother came over about 10 o’clock for some rolls, and as he heard by Smith’s man, being at our house, that my mother had some come, he stayed and went to Smith for to know if he knew anything of my wool. His answer was he did not. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some pear pie and a cucumber. My brother came back about 5 o’clock. This day Richard Page brought me from Lewes 13 sacks of salt etc…. Marked up part of the parcel that came today from Messrs Barlow and Wigginton… Rec’d from Barlow and Wigginton 1/16th part of 2 lottery tickets which they bought for me, and for which I am to send them 32/- (16/- for each 16th share). In the evening T. Davy brought a pair of shoes for my nephew, and stayed and supped with us. I read to him the 47th of Tillotson’s sermons. Very busy all day.