Thomas Turner

My sister dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some onion sauce. At home all day and pretty busy. My sister stayed with me all day.

My sister went home about 11 o’clock. I dined on part of a neck of mutton boiled and turnips. In the afternoon, it being an extreme fine day, I and Joseph Fuller took a walk to Blackboys Fair. I spent 15d and came home about 7:20 not thoroughly sober, though I drank very little indeed.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some mutton broth. Mrs Carman, Dame Roase and Dame Tester drank tea with me. At home all day and very busy. In the evening Joseph Fuller Jr. smoked a pipe with me.

…I dined on some mutton steaks broiled. At home all day and very busy. A very windy and wet day. Mrs Carman, not Mr Carman, made me a present of a fine duck. Let not this, my readers, be a matter of speculation. There is no criminality in it. For I never kissed the woman but once, and, that was the day I stood sponsor or godfather for her daughter. So I presume her kindness (though I believe unknown to Mr Carman) proceeds from a spirit of gratitude.

Myself at church in the morning… I stayed the communion and gave 6d. When I returned home I found my brother Richard at my house, who came during churchtime to consult about his staying with Mr Madgwick another year. He stayed and dined with me on a roasted duck and part of a neck of mutton roasted and then went away.

Myself and servant at church in the afternoon… After churchtime I went up to Joseph Fuller’s (being invited), where I drank tea in company with Thomas Fuller and his wife (newly married and come to pay their friends a wedding visit), John Fuller and his wife, Mr Shoesmith and his wife, Miss Hammond, Thomas Hammond, Bett Fuller and their own family. I also stayed and supped there and came home about 10:10, sober.

I received of my brother today the bill, value £60, which I sent him the 6th instant by the post to get me cash for, he not having the opportunity to get it exchanged. I must acknowledge I was entertained this evening in a very polite and elegant manner at Mr Fuller’s.

…Dame Akehurst a-washing for me all day and dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some boiled mutton and carrots, as did also James Bull…

Dame Cornwell, buying some things in the shop, drank tea with my servant. At home all day and very little to do. In the evening wrote my London letters. Sent John Elliot at Ringmer by Joseph Martin 1 guinea for Samuel Jenner and which he is debtor to me for.

…Sent Mr Ben Shelley by his servant one bill on Mr George Tomlin, hop factor in Southwark, dated today, value 6.17.6 in full for the same sum Mr Tomlin sold the hops belonging to myself and the other executors etc. of Mr Piper deceased.

Dame Akehurst a-washing for me all day and dined with me on a piece of pork boiled, an apple pudding and greens. Dame Merricks and Dame Wrothwell, buying some goods in the shop, drank tea at my house. At home all day and not at all busy.

Paid Dame Akehurst 18d for her 2 days’ work. In the evening Joseph Fuller Jr smoked a pipe or 2 with me.

…In the evening my brother came over to stand the shop for me, I being a-going to Lewes. Accordingly about 6:10 I set out for Lewes where I arrived about 7:50. I paid Mr John Lambert in cash 3.6.9 in full on my account. Also paid Mrs Mary Roase one bill on Mr William Margesson… value 20.6.0, which bill when paid is in full on my account to this day.

I spent the evening at the Cats [i.e., Dorset Arms] in company with my brother, whom I went almost on purpose to see. I also lodged at the Cats all night.

In the morning I paid Mr Faulkner Bristow in cash 2.1.4 in full. Breakfasted with Mr John Madgwick. Came home about 12:20. Spent upon myself, horse, ostler and turnpike 3/11. My brother dined with me on a piece of beef boiled, an apple pudding and carrots.

In the afternoon rode a to Laughton with some goods and stayed and chatted too long with the clergyman who is lately come there, for I cannot with truth say I came home sober. My brother in my absence received of Mrs Bridgman today 1.6.8½ in full. My servant’s father, coming to see her, lodged at my house.

Rec’d from the parish of Ticehurst a certificate for James Marchant, Elizabeth his wife and Hannah their child, allowing them their [i.e., Ticehurst’s] inhabitants legally settled in their said parish. The certificate was properly signed by John Clifton and Robert Fuller, churchwardens, Richard Austine and Gabriel Jarvis, overseers, and allowed by J. Nicholl and Stephen Fuller, two of his Majesty’s justices of the peace in and for the county of Sussex.
 

[Vol. 91 of Thomas Turner’s diary is missing.]