Thomas Turner

Not at church in the morning, on account of my looking for Mr Tucker while the people were at church. Mrs Virgoe sent for me to acquaint me that she that morning had received a letter from Mr Dungate, wherein he told her he had orders from Mrs Edwards to prosecute her unless she paid the money due from her late husband to Mrs Edwards in 4 weeks time, upon which, after dinner, Mr Joseph Burgess and myself went to talk with Mr John Burgess of Rotherfield about it and came home about 7 o’clock. When I came home I found word sent from Framfield to acquaint me my mother was very ill. I got Master Durrant’s man to walk over to Framfield with me, where I found my mother better, but I thought still very dangerously ill. We came home about 10:45.

Mr Minifie called on me again in the morning; I gave him orders for 2 half-pieces of napped rug at 4/3. Before the Reformation ⅓ of the best benefices in England were appropriated to abbeys and other religious houses, 190 of which were dissolved by Henry VIII, whose yearly revenue amounted to 2,653,000 pounds per annum, a great part of which went to Rome, the governors and governesses of several of the richest of them being foreigners residing in Italy. Paid Halland gardener 3/5 in full. At home all day. A remarkable quantity of rain fell today and in the night. Paid for milk ½d. In the evening read Tournefort’s Voyage into the Levant, where I find the Turks think the dead are relieved by prayer. There is yearly spent in the Seraglio 40,000 beeves, besides the purveyors are to, furnish daily 200 muttons, 100 lambs or goats, according to the season, 10 veals, 200 hens, 200 prs of pullets, 100 pr of pigeons, 50 green geese.

At home all day. Paid for bread 1d. Rec’d of William Sinden ½ bushel wheat. Rec’d of Joseph Fuller 1 leg of mutton 6¼ lbs, value 18½d. My brother Moses breakfasted with us. Paid for baking 1d. Mr Bulcock, Messrs Masfen’s rider, called on me. I paid him 7.9.0 by bill I drew on Messrs Margesson and Collison… in full except 1 parcel. I spent the evening at Jones’s in company with Mr Bulcock and Mr Minifie, partner with Mr James Jordan. Gave Mr Bulcock an order for 1 piece of yard wide at 31/-. Came home about 10:30. My uncle Hill called and stayed about 1 hour at my house. He was in liquor. Appointed with us to dine with him on Sunday the 23rd instant.

At home all day and busy… Paid for butter and milk 9½d. Rec’d of Halland gardener 2 gallons of potatoes.

At home all day. Paid for 32 herrings 8d. Paid for bread 1d. Mr Madgwick and my brother Moses drank tea here. Gave the boys powder to the value of 3d [for Guy Fawkes Day?]…

At home all day. My brother came over and drank tea at our house. Rec’d of him 2/1 in full for the money I paid Mr Joseph Attersall the 1st instant for my mother. Paid Mrs Virgoe in cash 2.11.9 in full for money I received of Mr John Plumer for her use the 1st instant. Paid for 14 fresh herrings 4d.

My brother and I got up about 5:30 and set out for Wadhurst. Called at Francis Smith’s; paid him… in full… We went forward for Wadhurst Fair; dined at Mr William Noakes’s and received of him 9.1.0 in full for the money he received for my rags, which I weighed of the 20th October; to wit,6 cwt O qr 18 lbs at. 29/6 per cwt. Paid him for carriage 12/6. We went from thence to Wadhurst. Called on Mr Samuel and Will Plasted and on Mr William Gurrs. Paid for beer and oats for my horse 5d; gave the ostler 1d. Came from Wadhurst about 3:20. Called at Mayfield; paid 3d for my quota in half a pint of wine. Came home about 7:10. Paid my mother by my brother in cash £6, which I borrowed of her the 1st instant.

We breakfasted and dined at Mr Roase’s; called on Mr Madgwick, Mr Scrase, Mr Hook and Mr Tucker. Gave 2/- between Mr Roase’s man and 2 maids for my wife and myself. Paid for my horse’s hay and oats 12d. Gave the ostler 3d. Paid for half pint wine 6d. Paid for the turnpike 2d. Came home about 5:45 very sober. Found my brother at my house; he stayed all night. N.B.: We had Joseph Fuller’s horse. Paid Mr Will Kemp 2/- for cleaning my watch etc.

My brother Moses came over and dined with us and stayed and kept shop while my wife and I went to Lewes. We set out about 2 o’clock; got there about 3:45. I paid Mr Thomas Friend 9.11.0 in full to this day… I received of Mr John Plumer 2.11.9 in full for the use of Mrs Mary Virgoe, which money he received of Mr Nicholas Shepherd, it being the balance of an account between Mr Shepherd and Mr Isaac Virgoe deceased. I paid Mr Joseph Attersall in cash 6/3 in full to this day; paid him 2/1 in cash in full for my mother. I paid Mr Edward Verral in cash 0.11.10½ in full to this day. Paid Mr William Roase in cash 1.19.9½ in full to the 8th August last. We spent the evening at Mr Roase’s and lay there. Paid the turnpike 2d. I insured Mrs Mary Virgoe’s house in Lewes in the Sun Fire Insurance for £300, which will cost her the annual sum of 9/-, it being 3/- per cent per annum, on account of its being deemed hazardous insurance, or otherwise it would have been but 2/- per cent per annum; the policy and carriage etc. will cost about 8/-. Borrowed of my mother, by my brother, £6.

Rec’d of William Sinden ½ bushel wheat. Sent John Jenner (by Clark’s wagon) the 13½ lbs of lamb’s wool which I was paid for the 13th instant. At home all day.