Thomas Turner

…Dame Akehurst, a-washing for me all day, dined with me on some boiled salt fish. Paid Dame Akehurst 18d for her two days’ work. In the evening went into Mrs Weller’s, being invited to spend the evening there, which I did in company with Molly, Bett and Richard Fuller, Mr Long and Fanny Hicks. We played at brag in the evening and I won 11d. Came home about 12:40. I supped with the company on a piece of cold roast beef, a cold apple pie and bread and cheese.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day, but not very busy. In the afternoon busy a-writing.

Thomas Durrant dined with me on some boiled salt fish and parsnips. Mr Carman and Mrs Piper drank tea with me. At home all day and pretty busy. In the forenoon wrote out some bills.

I dined on a sparerib (made me a present of by James Marchant) roasted and apple sauce. About 5 o’clock I went up to Mr Fuller’s in order to pay them a regular and set visit in form. I drank tea there and stayed and played at brag in the evening; I lost 17½d. I supped with Mr Fuller’s family on some broiled sausages and pork bones broiled. Came home sober at 11:20.

But very little to do all day. A very wet afternoon. In the day read part of The Wars of the Jews.

…I then paid [Ben Shelley] in cash 7.7.0 in full for carriage as under:

Shelley Dr.
To a bill of goods in full to this day	2.3.11¾
To money paid John Piper for 2 qrs Crab grass seed	1.16.0
In cash today as before	7.17.0
	11.16.11¾
Per Contra Cr.
Rec’d by a bill or carriage from the 7th July, 1762 to the 22nd Dec., 1762, both days inclusive	11.16.10½

I then received of him in cash 26/- in full on account of Edward Foord, and which sum I gave Mr Foord’s account credit for with me.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, as did my brother, we came over just before. In the afternoon walked down to the Nursery to talk with Thomas German and to ask him for a small debt. He agreed for Mrs Browne to pay me out of the goods she had seized for rent. His debt was 5/6. Mrs Browne also agreed to pay it.

In my way home I went with my friend Mr Tipper, who was coming to see me, and we came home together. My brother stayed and took up some cloths and then went home. Mr Tipper drank tea with me, and we together with Sam Jenner spent the evening with Thomas Durrant. Mr Tipper took part of my bed…

Pretty busy all day. But oh, the loss I hourly find in that of my ever-to-be-remembered wife… [46 words omitted].

Paid Richard Fuller 21d for a shoulder of mutton bought of him today weighing 6 lbs at 3½d. Mr Tipper and myself not at church in the morning. Rec’d of Mr Tipper 23/6 in full to this day. Mr Tipper and Sam Jenner dined with me on a shoulder of mutton rousted.

After dinner I and Mr Tipper set out for Lewes, he on his journey home and I partly to accompany him and partly on business. We parted on horseback without once drinking together. I did my business and came home about 7:10…

I left with my brother Richard in cash £8 for him to pay Messrs Comber and Richards in part on my account. Sam Jenner, going to Framfield for me in the afternoon, sat with me some time in the evening, but neither ate nor drank with me.

Not at church all day, which I must own I think wrong, and I may almost with Shakespeare say it is my necessity and not my will consents to my being absent from church. And I think my present irregular way of living gives me a great deal of uneasiness.
 

…I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day. Mr Long, assisting me in marking some sacks in the afternoon, drank tea with me. In the evening wrote my London letters. Sam Jenner coming in the evening, I persuaded him to stay all night in order to help kill a hog for me tomorrow, which I am to have of Robert Hook.

Paid Mr Gilbert in Waldron 9/- for:

l dozen wooden hand dishes	0.6.6
1 dozen porridge do.	0.1.6
½ dozen flitting do.	1.0.0

received of him today.

Sent Mr John Crouch enclosed in a letter by Ben Shelley…£10. Sam Jenner breakfasted with me and stayed and assisted me in the killing of my hog.

Mary Durrant, buying some things in the shop, dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some hog’s liver fried. At home all day, but very little to do.

What shall I do? Which way to act, or what course to pursue I cannot think; my prudence is not sufficient to direct me in a proper method. Oh, may I have the virtue of fortitude to pursue that which shall be most agreeable to sedate and calm reason!

I dined on some hog’s liver and rashers of pork fried. In the afternoon Joseph Fuller Jr cut out my hog which weighed 25 stone 5 lbs, and which I am to give Master Hook per stone for.

Paid Joseph Fuller in cash 59.15.10 in full accordingly delivered to me tie notes I gave him when I received the said bills. Fanny Hicks drank tea with me. At home all day, but oh! hardly anything to do.

Jarvis Bexhill dined with me on some hog’s liver and kidneys fried. At home all day and pretty busy. In the evening went down to Jones’s in order to make a poor rate (there being a vestry held for the same intent at which there was Mr Porter, Joseph and James Fuller, Edward Foord, Richard Hope, Joseph Durrant and Mr Carman). We stayed till near 1 o’clock quarrelling and bickering about nothing; and in the end hardly did any business.

The design of our meeting was to have made a poor rate in which every one that was taxed was intended to be assessed to the revised rent, that everyone might pay his just quota (in proportion to his rent) of the money expended in maintaining and keeping the poor. But how do I blush to say what artifice and deceit, cunning and knavery there was used by some (who would think it cruel and unjust to be called dishonest) to conceal their rents, and who yet would pretend the justness of an equal taxation was their desire.

But however greet their outward zeal for justice appeared, that cankerworm of self interest lay so corroding in their hearts that it sullied the outward beauties of their would-be honesty. I say “would-be” honest because I look upon that man, be he who will, that endeavors to evade the payment of his just share of taxes to be a-robbing every other member of the community that contributes his quota, and also withholding from the poor what is their just right, and above all sinning against a positive command of our Savior of doing to others as we would be done unto.

How should such instances of frailty in mankind teach us to pray in the words of the psalmist, “Try me O God, and seek the ground of my heart: prove me and examine my thoughts. Look well if there be any way of wickedness in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. For who can tell how often he offendeth? O cleanse thou me from my secret faults.”