Thomas Turner

Rec’d of Joseph Fuller 1 loin of mutton weighing 5½ lbs at 3½ d a pound. My brother-in-law Sam Slater called on me in his road to Lewes Races, dined with me on some mutton chops broiled, a cold lamb’s heart and cucumbers, and at his desire after dinner I went with him to Lewes Races.

The give-and-take plate of fifty pounds was run for on Lewes Downs. The 5 following started for the same: Mr Wildman’s horse Gift, Mr Sparrow’s horse Venture, Lord Grosvenor’s mare Slammerkin, Mr Adams’s horse Cleveland and Mr Smith’s mare a Smiling Molly, which was won by Gift, he winning the 2nd and 3rd heats. Venture won the first, therefore was entitled to the stakes. Smiling Molly drew after the first heat, as did Cleveland and Slammerkin after the second, so that the third in heat was contested only by Venture and Gift, which was run nine minutes, and won very easily by Gift.

Meeting with my friend Mr Tipper on the hill, he and my brother Slater came home with me about 9:30, very sober. Spent today under:

Turnpike	0.0.2
Myself	0.0.2

My brother and Mr Tipper stayed all night. Rec’d of John Nutley the four guineas I lent him the 18th instant.

Myself at church in the morning…My brother and Mr Tipper dined with me on a loin of mutton. My brother went away immediately after dinner, and Thomas Durrant and myself took a ride with our friend Tipper to bring him on his Road, and in coming back we called in at Mr Shoesmith’s, where we stayed and drank tea and supped and came home about 11:50, our horses having got away, or we should have been at home sooner.

Joseph Fuller Jr took part of my bed, they having company at home. A very fine pleasant day, but oh, the disquietude of my mind! What would I gave (were it possible to buy it) for the same serene, tranquil and regular course of life as in my dear Peggy’s time!

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. After dinner I rode to Chiddingstone (my brother in my absence came over to stand the shop for me). I arrived at Chiddingstone parish about 7:30 and lodged at James Knight’s, the person who uses the farm belonging to my brothers and myself.

After breakfast Master Knight and myself walked to Chiddingstone Town, where there was a court [-baron] held for the manor of Chiddingstone Burghurst, a manor in which part of our lands are situated.

We dined at Mr Whapham’s at the Castle, where the court was adjourned to, on a buttock of beef boiled, a quarter of lamb roasted, carrots, cabbage, a currant pond pudding and a currant bread pudding. After dinner we proceeded to business, when myself and several more were sworn upon the homage [a jury of men with local knowledge], and I was admitted to a fourth part of the land, and paid the steward all quitrents etc. up to St Michael last.

We came back to Mr Knight’s about 7:20, where I supped on a piece of bacon, a piece of beef and plum puddings, carrots and cabbage. I stayed and took another night at Master Knight’s. As this supper was my friend James Knight’s harvest supper we drank rather too much cider.

After breakfast I set out for home, but after drinking too much elderberry wine I rode several miles out of my road, and my surcingle breaking I lost my bags from under me, but however thank God I arrived at home about 6:30, and in the evening after I came home my brother went home.

My brother and servant dined today on a shoulder of lamb roasted and cucumbers. Gave our tenant’s servant 12d and his son a silk handkerchief. Oh, my unhappy temper, that a few glasses of liquor intoxicates me, and yet I am so stupidly foolish as not to absolutely refrain from drinking anything.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. My late servant Ellen Pierce and Ann Goldsmith, who bought some things in the shop, drank tea with me. At home all day, and pretty busy. But oh, the effect of intemperance — my head, my conscience!

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Paid Benjamin Shelley in cash 0.12.2 in full… At home all day but sadly out of order with my folly. Oh, may the grace of God for the future direct my steps, that I may never more sin in so great a measure, and that my crimes may be those of the frailty of human nature only, and not those of the will.

Lent Mr George Bannister in cash 3 guineas, for which he gave me his note of hand payable to me or order on demand. Paid Mr Edward Heaver in cash 9/9. Today Mr Thomas Calverley called on me and I balanced accounts with him and paid him one bill on Mr William Margesson…value 53.9.0, which bill when paid is in full on my account with Mr Thomas Calverley.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some cucumbers. Paid Dame Vinal and her daughter in goods 1.1.0 in full for work done at Mr John Vine’s and she and her daughter drank tea at my house. Paid Mr Henry Pocock at Ringmer in cash 0.16.0 in full. Rec’d of Henry at Laughton in cash 1.6.0 and by receipts for 2 years land tax due at Lady Day last mak[ing] together the sum of 2.10.0, which is in full for half a year’s rent due from him to Mr John Vine for a house in Laughton at Lady Day last.

At home all day and thank God very busy. Paid Will Sinden 5/- on account of Mr John Vine.

In the morning my brother came over and breakfasted at my house and then went away. Myself at church in the morning… I dined at Master Durrant’s on a piece of pork boiled, a leg of mutton roasted, French beans, cabbage and an apple pudding (my servant at home dining on a buttered pudding cake). Myself and servant at church in the afternoon… I drank tea with Thomas Durrant and then took a serious walk.

…Dame Akehurst, a-washing for me all day, dined with me on a leg of lamb boiled and some carrots. At home all day and thank God very busy. In the afternoon Mr Long came to my house and drank tea with me, and stayed and took part of my bed, as did Dame Akehurst part of my servant’s. In the evening wrote my London letters. A very fine pleasant day.