Thomas Turner

Sent Mr John Crouch… £10. Also sent Mr William Margesson…the banknote value £10 I received of Mr Thomas Ranger the 16th ult… In the morning my late servant Mary Martin came to see me, and she, together with Thomas Durrant, breakfasted with me. Sam Jenner came to cord up some wood for me, as did my brother William in the forenoon to see me, and all dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of a calf’s heart pudding and the liver, lights and mint boiled, a piece of pork and some spinach.

My brother went away very soon after dinner; my late servant stayed and drank tea with me and then went home about 7:30. Balanced accounts with Mr Thomas Carman today as follows: First paid him in cash 35.7.4 in full for the two bills I received of him the 20th day of December last, and for which I then gave him my note of hand (to pay the same when the said bills were paid) and which I have now taken again of Mr Carman and burnt it. I then paid him in cash 13/4 in full for wool had last year of him. Mr Carman then paid me in cash 3.16.0 in full for a book debt, as also 1.6.0 in full for half a year’s land tax due at Lady Day last, and 13/- in full for 1 year’s window tax due at Lady Day last. At home all day and thank God very busy.

Thomas Durrant breakfasted with me. Rec’d of a servant of Thomas Osborne’s in cash 2.6.0 for the two hogs he bought at Mr Vine’s sale the 8th instant. Paid John Elless, servant to Mr Vine, 2.2.6 in full for his wages due on Mr Vine’s account. Paid John Fielder in cash £4 in part of his wages due from Mr Vine.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a green salad. At home all day; in the afternoon wrote my London letters. Very little to do in the shop. In the evening read part of the 6th volume of Collins’s Peerage.

Mr Henry Dodson breakfasted with me and then set out for Lewes. Myself at church in the morning… I stayed the communion; gave 6d. I dined on a shoulder of lamb roasted, and green salad. Myself and servant at church in the afternoon…

Sam Jenner and Thomas Durrant drank tea with me and after tea we, together with Joseph Fuller Jr, walked over to Chiddingly to see a house which was a-repairing there. We walked into Mr Robert Turner’s, where we stayed and smoked two serious pipes, and then came home about 9:40. As pleasant an evening as I ever walked in my life.

Mr Long stayed and breakfasted with me and then went away. In the forenoon Mr Porter and myself went about the parish to collect the brief read on Sunday last, and we collected upon it 14/-.

I dined on a cold veal pie and green salad… In the evening Mr Dodson came back from Rye and took part of my bed. At home all day and not very busy. In the evening T. Durrant, Sam Jenner and Joseph Fuller Jr sat with me some time.

In the morning went up to Mr Vine’s, where I attended a sale of part of his effects; I wrote and took the cash. I dined there on a piece of pork, plain pudding and some greens. I came away about 3:30… (My servant at home today in my absence dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.) Sam Jenner drank tea with me. My old acquaintance Mr John Long (now an expectant in the excise) called on me in the evening and took part of my bed.

The goods sold of Mr Vine’s today And money received were as follows:

l cart mare to William Goldsmith, not paid	6.6.0
George Siggs at Waldron: 1 turn-wrist plow, paid.	1.0.0
Samuel Stace at Berwick: the grass in two fields till Michaelmas paid	2.2.0
Mr Ansell Day: 1 cow, and 1 calf, 1 twelve-monthing bull and heifer (paid)	10.15.0
John Piper: 1 collar (paid)	0.0.6
Robert Cornwell at Framfield: 1 skive, 1 piece of a wanty [both are leather harness  items] (paid)	0.0.6
Thomas Osborne at the Dicker: 2 hogs, not paid	2.6.0
John Lee at Ringmer: 1 court [probably cart] and hind horse harness (paid)	2.12.0
Mr Thomas Parker at Hellingly: 1 hind-harness (paid)	0.13.6
Samuel Stace at Berwick: 1 horse, 2 harnesses, 1 round plow (paid )	7.0.0
Do. 1 hog (paid)	1.0.0
	33.15.6
Not paid	8.12.0
Total of cash rec’d today	25.3.6

Mr Robert Turner at Chiddingly was salesman, but he is not paid for his work.

Rec’d of Edward Starnes 16/- in full. My servant very busy in my absence.

I dined on part of shoulder of veal boiled. In the day posted my day book. At home all day and but very little business. In the evening Thomas Durrant sat with me some time.

…I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a hot veal pie and green salad. Rec’d of the widow Page by the payment of her son Richard in cash 2.19.0 in full for half a year’s land tax (56/-) due at Lady Day last and 3/- in full for 1 year’s window tax, due at Lady Day last. At home all day and very little business in the shop. Busy part of the day in writing.

Paid Mr Will James in cash 3.14.6 in full for a parcel of hose bought of him today… I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day and very little business in the shop. I think I never knew trade so dull at this season of the year before. Sam Jenner and I played a few games of cribbage in the evening; I won 4d of him.

Mr Tipper stayed and breakfasted with me and then went away. Rec’d of Will Driver in cash 1.2.2,of which 4/- was in full for half a year’s land tax due at Lady Day last, -14/- in full for the same sum assessed on him by a poor rate made the 17^th day of April last, and 4/2 for a book debt.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. After dinner I rode to the sitting of the commissioners at Maresfield to get the land and window tax books signed and also the distress warrant for each. The books and warrants were signed by George Medley, Will Durrant and John Burgess. I also took out a distress warrant for poor tax. In my absence my brother came over to stand the shop for me and he, Mrs Ranger and Mrs Starnes, who bought some goods in my absence, drank tea at my house. Came home about 7:20. Spent today as under:

Myself	0.0.10
Horse	0.0.2
Turnpike	0.0.2
A lash in my whip	0.0.4
	0.1.6

In the evening wrote my London letters…

Myself at church in the morning… We had a brief read for rebuilding the parish church of Sittingbourne in Kent, burnt down by the carelessness of workmen, the expense of rebuilding which, exclusive of the old materials and the parson’s chancel, amounted to the sum of £2086 and upwards. The brief was to be gathered from house to house in the several counties of Kent, Surrey and Sussex.

My friend T. Tipper dined with me on a shoulder of mutton roasted, a plain bread pudding and green salad. In the afternoon my brother came over to measure Mr Tipper for a coat. He, Mr Tipper, myself and servant at church in the afternoon… After churchtime myself, brother and Mr Tipper walked home with Sam Jenner, where we stayed and smoked a pipe or two and then came home. My brother came back with me, and went away immediately. My friend Tipper stayed with me all night.