Thomas Turner

In the morning went to church, and about 2 o’clock I went to Mr Porter’s tithe feast where I dined (in company with Mr Porter, Mr Coates, Mr Piper, Mr Burgess, Joseph Fuller, Joseph Durrant, Francis Turner, Richard Bridgman, Edmund Elphick, Mr Jenner and John Vine Jr) on a buttock and brisket of beef boiled, 5 or 6 ribs of beef roasted, 3 boiled plum puddings, carrots and turnips. I paid Mr Porter 8/- for 1 year’s tithe due at St Michael last… I came away about 11:10 when the company all broke up. Mr John Mugridge was remarkably drunk, but I think all the others were very sober, some few excepted.

There was in the evening a very strong argument between Mr Porter and Mr Adams concerning the unhappy affair of poor Elizabeth Elless. I think it must astonish almost any thinking person to see with what audaciousness the poor hardened wretch behaves, for he seems to glory in and give encouragement to crimes of the deepest dye. And his chiefest discourse consists in obscene words and oaths. Oh, may the poor unhappy creature think upon his vicious course of life and the Almighty Disposer of all events mar graciously grant him divine grace that he may repent and be converted and return unto the Lord his God.

N.B.: My family at home dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Mrs Piper was this day about 1 o’clock delivered of a fine girl, but the poor old man her husband sat with us very easy both before and after the news was brought to him of his wife’s delivery, contenting himself with saying he should get home soon enough to kiss the old woman, for they were no starters.

Query: Did the old man’s actions show he felt any inward pleasure at his wife’s safe delivery or his being blessed with a fine daughter?

In the morning Mr Jeremiah French and I signed the certificate for James Simonds and Ann his wife and Ann his daughter to the parish of Chart Sutton in the County of Kent. It was dated, I think, the 15th September and attested today by Mr Will Piper and John Streeter Jr. I paid John Streeter l/- for the said certificate, being what I received of Simonds on Sunday last… About 2 o’clock my wife went down to Whyly to pay Mrs French a visit, and I drank tea at Mrs Weller’s and talked with her about my leaving the shop. About 6:30 I went down to walk home with my wife, I stayed until near 9 o’clock and had the good fortune to get away indifferently sober. While we were at Mr French’s, Mr Piper came to call Mrs French to his wife, who, it seems, had sent for the midwife and many more good women now–the poor old creature’s purse!

Very wet all the forenoon. We dined on the whiting sent me yesterday from my brother, a few rashers of bacon and some pea broth for my dinner, Paid Francis Smith in cash 1.12.7 as under:

For 20¾ lbs bacon	0.8.2
Carriage of do.	0.0.7
For 1 white wine pipe	0.10.6
For 1 pk. gin for myself	0.5.0
For 2 gals brandy for Will Eldridge	0.8.4

At home all day, and in the afternoon read part of Chesselden’s Anatomy. In the evening read a sermon written by the Rev Robert Warren D.D. entitled, “The Churchman’s Daily Companion”, being the second sermon on this subject, and which I think a very good one; he fully explains the necessity and usefulness of frequenting public prayer.

…We dined on the remains of Sunday’s dinner with the addition of some pea broth. In the afternoon sent my maid to Framfield, and my brother sent me a present of 5 fine whiting. Paid Dame Trill 3/- in full for keeping Ann Braizer, due yesterday. At home all day. My wife and I papered up 24 lbs tobacco. In the evening wrote out several bills and also read a sermon written by the Rev Robert Jarren D.D. entitled, “The Churchman’s Daily Companion”, which I think an excellent one, on the subject of constantly frequenting public prayers.

My brother Moses came over in the forenoon and dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some boiled tripe. Sent my mother by my brother the £3 borrowed of her the 27^th Oct. wrote to Mr Soundy to beg him to send me his answer as soon as possible, whether he [would] like to take my mother’s shop or not. Wrote a letter for Mr Jeremiah French to Arnold Nesbitt Esq with 1 hare, 2 woodcocks and 2 snipes. At home all day and busy. In the evening my wife and I read part of a sermon preached oy Bishop Beveridge at the opening of St Peter’s Cornhill, 1681.

In the morning Fielder brought our herrings, and one hundred over for Mr Vine, but could get no pandles. I paid him for the 1100 herrings 33/-; viz., 16/6 the herring cost on the sea beach and 16/6 his charge of bringing, with Mr Vine’s. They were parted in the manner as under:

Mr Porter	213	0.5.0
Mr Coates	213	0.5.0
Mr Gibbs	213	o.5.0
Mr French	213	0.5.0
Mr John Vine	64	0.1.6
Do Jr	64	0.1.6
Mr Peckham	96	0.2.3
R. Hook	32	0.09
Joseph Fuller	32	0.0.9
Joseph Durrant	32	0.0.9
Myself	24	0.0.6
	1196	1.8.0
Thomas Fuller	213	0.5.0
	1409	1.13.0

Just as I was a-going to church, my brother Will came to see me, and he, my wife and self were at church in the morning… After churchtime I had a vestry called to consult again whether we should grant a certificate to James Simonds and Ann his wife and Ann his daughter, the man being here himself. It was unanimously agreed to grant them one to the parish of Chart Sutton in Kent, and I accordingly wrote by him to the churchwardens and overseers of the said parish to acquaint them of our owning him as an inhabitant until such time as his certificate can be signed. I received of him 4/- for the certificate.

We dined on a piece of boiled beef, bacon, suet pudding and turnips… My wife and maid alone at church in the afternoon. My brother and Thomas Davy drank tea with us. My brother stayed till about 8 o’clock, as did Thomas Davy till 10, to whom I read 2 of Tillotson’s sermons. Paid James Fuller 3/3 for 3 night-caps he bought at Mr Friend’s for me yesterday.

After breakfast Mr Sewell of Littlehampton came to talk with me concerning hiring my shop. I agreed to let him know my further resolutions in about 5 weeks, He did not stay dinner. We dined on a cold beef pie. Paid Dame Gower 18d for 1 quart honey received today… My brother came over in the afternoon, but did not stay. Thomas Davy spent the evening and supped with us. I read one of Tillotson’s sermons to him. Mr French, Mr Thomas Fuller and Mr Gibbs here in the afternoon a-waiting for their herrings, which did not come.

…Dame Martin, buying many things, came in and dined with us… Gave a woman with a pass 3d. At home all day and busy, thanks be to God for it. Read in the evening 2 of Tillotson’s sermons.

In the morning went down to the butcher’s and bought 3 stone of beef, value 5/-, 2 bullocks’ kidneys, value 3d, but did not pay for any of it… We dined on one kidney fried, a few rashers of bacon and cider toast. About 5 o’clock I went to the audit at Mr Vine’s and received of him 2.15.0 for goods delivered for the audit and 0.6.0 for nails etc.

Stayed till near 9 o’clock and came home very sober in company with Mr Porter, Joseph Fuller, Sam Gibbs, Joseph Durrant, Mr French and Thomas Cushman. Came away without having an opportunity to give the servant anything. Mr Porter, for himself and also for Mr Coates, Thomas Fuller, Mr French, Mr Gibbs and myself–in all 6–agreed with John Fielder to bring us from Hastings on Saturday next 1 thousand herrings, Hastings tale, and one thousand of pandles [a type of shrimp], for the doing of which we are to give him 15/6 and also to pay what the herrings and pandles cost on the beach. Then we are to share the herrings and pandles between us in equal shares. Mr Millward has promised us to take care we shall have good fish and as cheap as if we bought a last [12 barrels]. Very busy all day.

We breakfasted at Framfield, and about 10:10 Mr Soundy and I set out on our intended journey. We arrived at Chailey about 12:05 where, after talking to my mother about 40 minutes, Mr Soundy proceeded on his journey to Horsham. The proposals I made to him are as under:

To let him the shop with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging yearly, or for any term of years, for £8 a year; and for him to take the whole stock at the appraisement of 2 persons indifferently to be chosen betwixt him and my mother; and also for him to take all the fixtures, and to pay one half of the money down and the remaining at 6 months’ end, and to enter upon it at Lady Day next.

He has agreed to consider of it and let me know his further resolutions soon. I dined at Mr Beard’s on part of a leg of mutton hashed (but spoiled in doing), a pigeon pudding and cold plum pudding, but all in very bad order… Were I to speak my sentiments freely, I think Mr Beard seems not happy in his choice. And really Mrs Beard appears to me to be a very indifferent partner.

About 3:50 my mother and I came from Mr Beard’s, my mother riding behind me. We came to Framfield about 6:15 where I stayed about 30 minutes. I borrowed of my mother in cash £3, but gave her no note. My brother came with me (to have the mare home tomorrow) and spent the evening with me and stayed all night. I think I never came home with more pleasure in my life than tonight. Not that it proceeded from any material business I had done in my journey, but to find my wife well and also myself sober and not to have spent any money in my journey. Oh, the reflection is pleasure immense! My wife in my absence paid Mr John Gosling in cash 3.4.1½, being on account of the parish and for what is called jail money. Thomas Davy at our house about an hour in the evening, but I believe did not stay a-setting [long?] time.