Thomas Turner

At home all day. My brother Moses dined with us on the remains of Sunday’s dinner. In the evening Mr French brought us for a present a sparerib. He and I sat down and played at cribbage about 2 hours; [he] beat me 12 games out of 16; I lost 9d. I gave Francis Smith in cash £6…which he…payed for me in London. My brother Moses stayed and drank tea with us.

At home all the morning. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. This day I received a fire-grate from Mr Roase’s, which was made me a present of by my father Slater. Paid William Eldridge and William Burrage 6d for cleaving of wood. About 5 o’clock I and Thomas Davy went over to Framfield. I talked to Charles again about it; he says he approves of it much. Came home about 12.

Mr Ormeroid breakfasted with us and dined, as did Charles Diggens, on a roast goose, a piece of bacon, plum batter pudding and broccoli. We smoked a pipe or two and then went down to Jones’s, where we drank one bowl of punch and two mugs of bumboo; Mr Ormeroid went away after the punch. I spent 12d and came home again in liquor. Oh, with what horrors does it fill my breast to think I should be guilty of doing so–and on a Sunday, too! Let me once more endeavor never, no, never to be guilty of the same again. I am certain it proceeds, not from the love of liquor, but from a too easy temper and want of resolution. Not at church all day. In the morning there was no churching, Mr Porter not being well, and in the afternoon Laughton curate preached here. I this day made an offer to Charles Diggens to take him in partnership with me in the Framfield shop, which he agreed to on my proposal; to wit, to bring in half the value of the stock and, if he had not money enough, to be bound with him to anybody so far as £100, he paying the interest, and if that was not enough, for him to pay me interest at 4 percent for enough to make up half the stock.

In the morning Thomas Daw gave my horse a drink, and Thomas Cornwell and he breakfasted with us on that account. We had for dinner the remains of yesterday’s. About 2 o’clock came in Messrs Hargrave and Standing’s rider, who dined with us on some rashers of bacon. I paid him 15.14.0 on account for Messrs Hargrave and Standing. Afterwards he and I spent the evening at Jones’s. I came home a little in liquor, and he laid at our house. Paid 6d for four lemons.e

At home all day and busy… Dined on a piece of pork, batter pudding and greens. Sarah and Lucy Mott, Dame Martin and son drank tea with us. Paid Thomas Braizer’s daughter 21d for a fat goose weighing 6 lbs. My brother Moses here a little while in the afternoon.

At home all day. We dined on the remains of Tuesday’s dinner. Dame Cornwell, Thomas and Peter Cornwell drank tea with us. Robert Diggens and Thomas Chatfield called in the evening and smoked one pipe–both in liquor… Paid John Jenner of Hailsham in money and goods 1.8.0, being in full for hats received of him today…

At home all day. In the morning Dame Shoesmith and her daughter bought many things in the shop and went in and breakfasted with us. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner… In the evening wrote out several bills.

Sent Francis Smith by Thomas Hemsley £6…which he… is to pay in London for me; see the next time we balance. Molly French dined with us on the fillet of that leg of veal bought on Saturday last, roasted in the oven, with a pudding under it. This day I entertained my scholars with the sight of a show which was at Jones’s; the man performed in my schoolroom. I think it a very good performance of the kind. He performed several very curious balances, ate fire and red-hot tobacco-pipes, brimstone etc. I gave him 12d. After schooltime I went down to Mr Jeremiah French’s to ask Mr Sam Virgoe whether it made any difference, or whether he insisted on my going out of his house at new Lady Day. He has given me leave to stay as long as I like, providing I will pay him 12d per week for rent. Stayed there till near 9 o’clock. When I came home, I found Mr Burgess, his wife and Mrs Virgoe in the shop a-buying of goods; [they] went in and stayed about 2 hours.

At home all day. Paid Thomas Burfield 21/- in full for 3 doz of beehives received by him today… We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. My brother Moses and Molly French dined with us. After dinner my brother went to collect in some small debts, but could not get one farthing. My brother came back and drank tea with us. In the evening I read a sermon preached by the Rev Mr Nathaniel Torriano M.D., curate of Hooe and Ninfield in this county, on the 6th Feb., being the day appointed for a public fast and humiliation on account of the earthquake which happened at Lisbon on the 1st day of Nov. last, from the 20th verse, 34th chapter of Job: “In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.”

No churching here in the morning, Mr Porter being not well. Our maid went over to Framfield and stayed all day. We had for dinner a knuckle of the leg of veal bought yesterday, a piece of bacon, batter and light pudding, with greens. Churching in the afternoon. I was at home all day, but not at church. Oh, fie! no just reason for not being there.