Thomas Turner

In the morning I walked home with Sam Jenner, with whom I breakfasted, and then we set off for Alfriston, I wanting to talk with a person whom I have some thoughts of putting my nephew Philip out an apprentice to. We dined at William Wrothfield’s, an acquaintance of Samuel Jenner’s, on as fine a roast pig as I ever saw.

We came home about 8:20, but not thoroughly sober, though I think never so fatigued in all my life. Spent today 21d. What with my fatigue and drinking but little, it got up in my head. But as I have so weak a brain and have so often set a resolution not to be guilty any more of this vice, a vice I really detest, I hope yet to have a resolution strong enough to refrain from drinking anything strong for the future. Oh, may I have strength of mind and resolution firm enough to make good my real and designed intention!… [110 words omitted].

Paid Mr Joseph Burgess the 2/8 received for him yesterday… I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day, but not at all busy. Sam Jenner, coming in to my house in the evening, and it being very wet weather, he stayed all night. The frost began to thaw today after having continued very severe for 5 weeks.

Oh, how melancholy a time is it! My situation is really very melancholy, more so than can be imagined by any except myself.

My sister stayed and dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a beef pudding. She stayed and drank tea with me and then went home… Rec’d of Mrs Judith Hook by the payment of John Martin in cash 7/2 in full for poor tax as follows:

Myself 1 book	0.1.9
Joseph Burgess 1 do.	0.1.4
Do.            [1] do.	0.1.4
Thomas Fuller  l do.	0.1.9
Jeremiah French [1] do.	0.0.3
myself do.	0.0.9

At home all day, but not at all busy.

Molly French stayed and dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner and then went home. My sister stayed with me all day and also stayed all night. At home all day and but very little to do. A very severe frost continues.

Molly French came to pay my sister a visit and dined with me, together with T. Durrant, on a leg of mutton boiled and caper sauce, 2 chickens roasted, a raisin pond butter pudding and turnips. Molly French stayed and drank tea with me, as did Thomas Durrant, and they together with Fanny Hicks stayed and spent the evening with me and played at loo; I won l6½ d. They all stayed and ate a bit of bread and cheese with me and gooseberry pie. Molly French stayed and lodged with my sister…

Sent Mr John Crouch…£10. In the forenoon finished the squaring of the dimensions of the church work and paid the measurer Mr Jarvis at Chailey 12/6 for his time. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Thomas Durrant drank tea with me.

In the evening my sister Sally came to see me. At home all day and really very little to do. The frost continues very severe, and this day there was such a time as I hardly ever knew. Rec’d of my brother per my sister in cash 9.2.0 in full for the bill I sent Messrs Jordan and Davis on Monday last. My sister stayed all night. Delivered to Mr Shelley the cash received of Thomas Diplock yesterday.

I dined on a sheep’s lights boiled and minced and a few rashers of pork boiled. Sent Messrs Jordan and Davis in Shepton Mallet enclosed in a letter by the post one bill on Mr Will Margesson, dated tomorrow, 30 days’ date, No. 544, value 9.2.0, which bill when paid is in full on my account. This was for a piece of cloth charged to me, but my brother had it; so he is now indebted to me the sum of 9.2.0.

In the evening extreme busy a-casting up the measurements of the church as given me by a person employed to measure the same on behalf of the parish. Also wrote my London letters. At home all day and but very little to do. A very severe time. Rec’d of Thomas Diplock 12 guineas in order to deliver to the carrier for him to pay to Mr Matthew Blake, his landlord in London.
 

Sam Jenner went away immediately after he arose. Myself only at church in the morning… A brief was read for rebuilding the chapel of Illington in the parish of Halifax in the West Riding of York, the expense of which amounted to the sum of £1128 and upwards, to which collection I gave 1½d. I dined on a sheep’s heart pudding and turnips.

Myself and servant both at church in the afternoon; the text the same as in the morning, [Proverbs 16:3,4]. After churchtime I walked down to Halland in order to perform a little writing for him, which I did. I stayed and smoked a pipe or two with Mr Coates and came home about 6:20.

Sam Jenner, who had been at Framfield on some business for me, sat with me the evening, to whom I read one of Tillotson’s sermons. Sam Jenner stayed with me all night.

…Bett Mepham, a-ironing for me all day, dined with me on a boiled carp and light pudding… At home all day. In the evening, Sam Jenner came to my house. We played a few games of cribbage; I won 12d of him. He stayed all night. Paid Bett Mepham 6d for her day’s work. The frost continues very severe.

Mr Breeden and his daughter stayed and breakfasted with me and then went away. I dined on a piece of bacon boiled. At home all day, pretty busy…

In the evening my brother came over. He stayed and supped with me and gave me in cash £20 for the bill on Mr Margesson the 5th instant of the same value, which I let him have. A very severe frost, which has continued now very severe, and that without almost any even the least thaw for a month. The ice in many places is not less than 8 or 9 inches thick.