Thomas Turner

In the forenoon Mr French and I walked up again to Edward Hope’s, but could do nothing, the master insisting the servant should not leave his service, and the girl will not consent to swear the fact.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a light pudding and turnips. Rec’d of Mrs Atkins by Fanny Hicks 0.14.1. Rec’d of Mr John Purdue by Francis Gibbs Jr £8 in full for one year’s land tax due for [i-e., paid on] the officer of excise’s salary at Lady Day next.

Fanny Hicks, James Marchant, Fanny Weller and Bett Mepham drank tea with me, and they stayed and spent the evening with me and played at brag. They all met by accident, coming to buy goods in the shop, Fanny Weller excepted. I won at cards 2/2½.

…At home all day and but very little to do in the shop… In the evening Thomas Durrant and Joseph Fuller Jr sat about an hour with me chatting away time. The frost continues extreme sharp.

Oh, how melancholy a time is it for trade! Neither trade or money for me. Oh, could I but get in my own! That, that is all I require. Riches is what I do not covet.

Myself and servant at church in the morning… I dined on part of a neck of mutton boiled and turnips. Myself and servant at church in the afternoon…

This morning James Marchant and Elizabeth Mepham were asked in the church for the first time. Sam Jenner drank coffee with me, to whom in the evening I read 4 of Tillotson’s sermons.

Dame Akehurst, a-washing for me all day, dined with me on a piece of beef boiled, an apple pudding and turnips. Mrs Hicks of Chiddingly and her daughter Fanny drank tea with me. At home all day. A most prodigious cold day, the frost very severe.

Dame Akehurst, a-washing for me all day, dined with me on a chick pudding and potatoes. This day balanced accounts with James Fuller… Balanced accounts with John and Richard Page, sons of the widow Page…

Just as I was undressed and going [to bed], Mr Ed Shoesmith of Laughton and Mr Edward Stiles of Brighthelmstone called to see me and really we sat so long that I am go unhappy to say I went to bed very much in liquor. I have once more taken a resolution, and I hope that a firm one, which through divine grace I hope steadfastly to adhere to; that is, never to drink anything stronger than wine and water for the least quantity of anything so soon intoxicates my weak brains that I do as it were loathe myself upon the account of it.

At home all day and very little to do. Paid Dame Akehurst 18d for her 2 days’ work. A most melancholy time.

…Thomas Durrant drank tea with me. Sam Jenner, coming to my house in the evening, lodged at my house.

At home all day, but oh, my uneasy mind! Well might the wise man say, a wounded conscience who can bear? For was it not for our manifold crimes, the spirit of mankind would sustain his infirmities. But as we daily become obnoxious to the divine vengeance by our manifold and daily crimes, I think any thinking creature must be full of disquietudes.

Sam Jenner, being a-cleaving; of logs for me, dined with me on the remains of Tuesday’s dinner. Halland servants drank tea at my house, as did my worthy acquaintance Mr John Breeden of Pevensey and his daughter, who came to my house in the evening on their journey from Epsom to Pevensey, the latter [two] of whom supped and stayed at my house all night.

At home all day and pretty busy. But yet how insupportable is that load which hangs on my mind! who can tell? No, not anyone but they that freer the agonies of a troubled mind.

John Piper made me a present of a carp.

Mr Breeden and his daughter stayed and breakfasted with me and then went away. I dined on a piece of bacon boiled. At home all day, pretty busy…

In the evening my brother came over. He stayed and supped with me and gave me in cash £20 for the bill on Mr Margesson the 5th instant of the same value, which I let him have. A very severe frost, which has continued now very severe, and that without almost any even the least thaw for a month. The ice in many places is not less than 8 or 9 inches thick.

…Bett Mepham, a-ironing for me all day, dined with me on a boiled carp and light pudding… At home all day. In the evening, Sam Jenner came to my house. We played a few games of cribbage; I won 12d of him. He stayed all night. Paid Bett Mepham 6d for her day’s work. The frost continues very severe.

Sam Jenner went away immediately after he arose. Myself only at church in the morning… A brief was read for rebuilding the chapel of Illington in the parish of Halifax in the West Riding of York, the expense of which amounted to the sum of £1128 and upwards, to which collection I gave 1½d. I dined on a sheep’s heart pudding and turnips.

Myself and servant both at church in the afternoon; the text the same as in the morning, [Proverbs 16:3,4]. After churchtime I walked down to Halland in order to perform a little writing for him, which I did. I stayed and smoked a pipe or two with Mr Coates and came home about 6:20.

Sam Jenner, who had been at Framfield on some business for me, sat with me the evening, to whom I read one of Tillotson’s sermons. Sam Jenner stayed with me all night.