Thomas Turner

Paid Joseph Fuller 3½d for a pound and ¼ of mutton bought of him today. I dined on the mutton boiled and some turnips. At home all day and thank God pretty busy.

Rec’d of Richard Hope 1.12.0 and of James Hutson 0.10.0, both in full for half a year’s land tax due St Michael last. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the afternoon balanced accounts with James Fuller and paid him in cash 13.16.0 in full as follows:

James Fuller Dr.
To sundry goods and cash from the 11th day of Feb., 1763 to the 20th day of Dec., 1763, both days inclusive	5.13.0½
In cash	13.16.3¾
	19.9.4¼
Per Contra Cr.
To soap and candles received from the 26th day of January, 1763 to the 28th of Dec., 1763, both days inclusive	17.12.6
Rec’d by wool in 1763	1.16.9¾
	19.9.4¼

In the evening Joseph Fuller Jr, Mr Bannister and myself walked down to Mr Carman’s to take out a bet of a bowl of punch won of Mr Carman by Joseph Fuller. We stayed and supped at Mr Carman’s on some sausages broiled, a few pork bones broiled, apple pie and mince pies. Came home about 12:20. Very little to do all day.

I and Robert Hook today signed and sealed two bonds as security to the government for Sam Jenner and John Long, both new employed as cider-assistants. The obligation of each bond was £200 and the condition the good behavior etc. of the two assistants. The bonds were witnessed by Thomas Pepper, supervisor, and George Bannister, officer.

My brother William called on me today in his road home and dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the afternoon I stood godfather for a daughter of Thomas Cornwell’s, in company with Mrs Browne and Mrs Davy. The child was baptized by the name of Elizabeth. After the infant was baptized, we went to Thomas Cornwell’s, where we drank tea and stayed an hour or two. I gave the nurse 12d and the maid 6d.

In the evening I went to Mr Porter’s, where I balanced accounts with him and received of him in cash 20.3.6 and a bank note, value £20, No. B 58, payable to Messrs Castells and Whately… Also received another bank bill, value £15, No. K 88, payable to Mr Daniel Race… These two bills and the cash make together the sum of 55.3.6 and is in full as follows:

Mr Porter Dr.
To sundry goods from the 30th Dec. 1762  to the 24th day of Dec. 1763, both days  inclusive	55.14.1¼
To a bill for goods delivered for Mr Michael Baker	1.5.6
To half a year’s land tax due at St  Micheal last	4.8.0
	61.7.7¼
Per Contra Cr.
Rec’d by ¾ lbs tea	0.9.0
Do. 50 wool at 7½	1.11.3
Do. 3 cord wood for myself at 14/6	2.3.6
Do. 275 faggots for the parish 14/6	1.19.10½
Do. two bank bills and cash rec’d today	55.3.6
	61.7.1½

I stayed and supped at Mr Porter’s and stayed till about 11:00. Gave the miller’s daughter 6d to her box.

A very unpleasant day, the wind very high and a good deal of small rain in the evening. Very little to do in the shop all day.

My brother Will called on me in the forenoon in his way to Herstmonceux, but did not stay. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. I rec’d of Thomas Cornwell the bills I delivered to him yesterday, he not finding my brother Richard at home.

In the evening went down to Jones’s, there being a public vestry to choose surveyors for the ensuing year and also to pass and balance the accounts of the last surveyors. Upon balancing the same there was due to the parish the sum of 0.11.7½. We then we chose the two old surveyors and the two electioners; viz., Thomas Carman and James Fuller surveyors and John Vine and Edward Hope electioners. And I think had we tried all Sussex, or even England, for to have found two such, we could not have done it. These people are very improper to serve the office of surveyors, being litigious to the extremest degree and withal very ill-natured, executing law to the utmost. But in the midst of law they quite forget justice, equity or charity, and in permitting those two to continue their office I think the parish has and will sustain a very great injury, as well to the parish in general as also to every individual thereof.

Gave the following boys as under for box money:

John Gasson	0.0.6
Will Burrage	0.0.6
Thomas Fuller	0.0.6
Isaac Turner	0.0.3
Robert Hook	0.0.3
T. Vine	0.0.3
The Post Boy	0.0.6
	0.2.9

 We stayed at the vestry and spent 6d each and came home about 3:20, not very sober. Oh! liquor, what extravagances does it make us commit! Sure man is stupid that transgresses the rule of moderation.

My friend Sam Jenner went away as soon as he had breakfasted. I received of him £5 which I lent him the 30th October and accordingly gave him his note of hand.

Myself at church in the morning; the text in the 1st verse of the 60th chapter of the prophet Isaiah: “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” Just after we came from church, my old and worthy acquaintance Sam Jenner came to see me and dined with me, as did also the widow and James Marchant and his wife and child and Joseph Burgess. Jr, on part of a rump of beef roasted, a raisin suet pudding and gooseberry pie.

After dinner Sam Jenner and I walked down to his old lodgings at Terrible Down where we spent the afternoon (James Marchant, his wife and Joseph Burgess drinking tea with my servant in my absence). We came home about 6:20. Sam Jenner spent the evening with me and stayed all night. A very wet afternoon most part of it. Not at church in the afternoon.

Delivered to Thomas Cornwell the bill value 14.17.6 which I received of my brother the 21st instant in order for him to pay to my brother Richard for me.
 

Balanced accounts with John Jenner, hatter at Hailsham, by his son and paid him 19/10 in full to this day. I then gave the boy 6d for box money. He and a man with him dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

At home all day and pretty busy. Paid John Piper 2.10.0 in full for the same sum I received of John Hartley for butter. Rec’d of Richard Braizer 4/4 in full. A very wet afternoon. Paid John Piper 14d for a hind quarter of pork bought of him today, weighing 4¼ lbs.

…I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day and but little to do. Posted part of my day book. In the evening Joseph Fuller Jr sat with me some time.

…Paid Thomas Tulley 9/3 for 9 pair cloth pattens and 3 pair hair do. received by him today. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day and very little to do.

In the morning about 2:40 we began our work, Mr Coates paying the money and I taking down the names and parishes of the people. About 11:20 we completed our work, having given away about 8.6.0, 4 bushels of wheat made into bread and I imagine not less than 100 gallons of beer.

I breakfasted with Mr Coates and received my groat and then came home about 11:40. My brother went away immediately. In my absence today my brother and servant relieved the following poor inhabitants of this parish with a penny each and a draught of ale:

1.	Will Bristow	9.	Thomas Ling
2.	Francis Turner	10.	Ann Wood
3.	Widow Trill	11.	Edward Babcock
4.	Richard Brazier	12.	Widow Cain [No. 8 again?]
5.	Will St[l]arkes	13.	Widow Day, certificate
6.	Will Eldridge	14.	Thomas German
7.	Master Hesman, certificate	15.	Peter Adams
8.	Widow Cain	16.	Sam Jenner

17.	Will Henly, certificate	25.	Susan Swift
18.	Richard Heath	26.	Thomas Dallaway
19.	Thomas Tester	27.	Ben Brinkhurst
20.	John Thomsett	28.	Richard Prall
21.	Thomas Roase	29.	John Durrant
22.	John Streeter	30.	Richard Vinal
23.	Roger Vallow, certificate	31.	Will Sinden
24.	James Emery	32.	Dame Cornwell

I dined on a piece of beef boiled and potatoes. A very wet afternoon. In the evening Joseph Fuller sat with me some time. Gave my brother cash for the following bill:

“Gentlemen:              No. the 15th, 1763, Framfield
 
Fourteen days after date pay to Mr John Stretfield or order the sum of fourteen pounds seventeen shillings and sixpence and place it to the account of your humble servant,
 
     14.17.6                                 John Fletcher
 
To Messrs Lashbrook and West at The Spur Inn,
Southwark. Endorsed by: John Stretfield [Streatfeild]”

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some apple pie and cheese. Rec’d of Mr Thomas Carman the two following bills:

“Sir, fifteen days after date please to pay to Mr Thomas Turner or his order the sum of six pounds one shilling, and place the same to the account of your humble servant, 86.1.0
 
Thomas Carman

To Mr Edward Aiskell at Sunderland in the county of Durham. December the 20th, 1763 East Hoathly.”

[and one on the same, for 29.6.4]

My brother came over in the evening in order to stand the shop for me while I assist Mr Coates tomorrow in distributing a gift left by some of the ancestors of the Pelham family to be distributed yearly on St Thomas’s day to every poor man or woman that comes for it, 4d each, and to every child 2d, and piece of bread to each and a draught of beer.

I went down to Halland in the evening and supped with Mr Coates and lodged there, my brother and Thomas Durrant keeping house for me at home.