Thomas Turner

In the forenoon walked down to Halland where I received of Mr Coates 1.6.0 and of Mr Thomas Swaine by Mr Bridgman 4.1.0 in full for half a year’s land tax due at St Michael last… I dined on part of a neck of mutton boiled and turnips. Rec’d of Joseph Burgess 12/- and of Mr Thomas Reeve 2.16.0, both in full for half a year’s land tax due St Michael last.

In the afternoon went into Thomas Durrant’s, where I drank coffee in company with Mrs Shoesmith and Molly French and stayed and played at brag in the evening and supped on a shoulder of mutton roasted and apple pie in company with Molly and Sam French, Mr and Mrs Shoesmith, Joseph, Richard and Bett Fuller. I lost 6¾d at cards and came home about 10:10 very sober. Gave the maid 6d. Very little to do all day in the shop.

Sent Mr Will Margesson enclosed in a letter by Shelley, delivered to himself, the bill I received yesterday of Mr Thomas Carman and also the 2 bills I received of him the 20th ult. Sent Mr John Crouch…£10. Sent Mr Thomas Dyke & Son at Sarum one bill (enclosed in a letter by Shelley in order for him to put in the post) …value 11.4.0, which bill when paid is in full on my account with Mr Thomas Dyke & Son.

James Bull at Whitesmith, buying some goods in the shop, dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a light pudding and some turnips. This day by a warrant from George Courthope Esq we took up the man that was married yesterday in order to swear his parish. Mr Carman accordingly went with him to Uckfield where he swore himself on the parish of Beaumarais in the Isle of Anglesey. Paid Mr Carman 6/3 for his expenses attending the same.

At home all day. In the evening posted part of my London accounts. Quite ill with a cold. Rec’d of Edward Martin 17/7 in full.

In the forenoon were married at this parish church William Williams and Lucy Mepham, both living in this parish, and I was, as it’s commonly called, Father; that is, the person that gives the woman to the man. It being a parish job, I paid Mr Porter 5/- for his fee and the clerk 18d for his fee. I also gave the girl 1 guinea as a wedding portion.

I received of Mr Carman one bill drawn by Mr Corke at Brenchley payable to Mr Thomas Carman and endorsed by him, value £22, for which I gave him my note of hand to pay the same as soon as the said bill shall be paid.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day except for running to and fro after the wedding folks and about them. Rec’d of the widow Page by the payment of her son John 2.16.0; ditto of John Cayley 1.6.0; ditto of Mrs Piper 2.8.0; ditto of Mr Joseph Fuller by the payment of his son Joseph 1.12.0, all in full for ½ year’s land tax due at St Michael last. In the evening wrote my London letters.
 

Myself and servant at church in the morning. We had a brief read for rebuilding the chapel of Padiham in the parish of Whalley in the county of Lancaster, the expense of rebuilding which amounted to the sum of £1060 and upwards, upon which I collected 2/2½, and 1½d I gave myself makes 2/4 collected the whole on this brief.

After churchtime I went into Mr Porter’s and signed the brief. I dined on a leg of pork boiled and turnips. After dinner Thomas Durrant and I walked over to Framfield, but were too late for church. We drank tea at my brother’s in company with Fanny Smith. Came home about 6:30.

In the forenoon my brother Moses came over in order to carry some goods to Mrs Porter, who is now at Chailey. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day. In the evening read a sermon to T. Davy preached by the Rev Mr Nicholl, vicar of Westham, at the last visitation held by the Rev Thomas [Matthias] D’Oyly, Archdeacon of Lewes, against the execrable sin of simony.

Gave the carrier’s servant 12d as box money.

I dined on a loin of pork roasted and apple-sauce. At home all day and very little to do. Sent Mr John Madgwick by John Gasson the bill… which I received of my brother Moses the 21st instant. Posted my day book.

A very wet afternoon. This day paid my servant in cash 36/-, which is the balance of cash due to her for servitude due the 16^th instant. Rec’d of John Nutley 20/- in full for half a year’s land tax due at St Michael last.

Paid Joseph Fuller 3½d for a pound and ¼ of mutton bought of him today. I dined on the mutton boiled and some turnips. At home all day and thank God pretty busy.

Rec’d of Richard Hope 1.12.0 and of James Hutson 0.10.0, both in full for half a year’s land tax due St Michael last. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the afternoon balanced accounts with James Fuller and paid him in cash 13.16.0 in full as follows:

James Fuller Dr.
To sundry goods and cash from the 11th day of Feb., 1763 to the 20th day of Dec., 1763, both days inclusive	5.13.0½
In cash	13.16.3¾
	19.9.4¼
Per Contra Cr.
To soap and candles received from the 26th day of January, 1763 to the 28th of Dec., 1763, both days inclusive	17.12.6
Rec’d by wool in 1763	1.16.9¾
	19.9.4¼

In the evening Joseph Fuller Jr, Mr Bannister and myself walked down to Mr Carman’s to take out a bet of a bowl of punch won of Mr Carman by Joseph Fuller. We stayed and supped at Mr Carman’s on some sausages broiled, a few pork bones broiled, apple pie and mince pies. Came home about 12:20. Very little to do all day.

I and Robert Hook today signed and sealed two bonds as security to the government for Sam Jenner and John Long, both new employed as cider-assistants. The obligation of each bond was £200 and the condition the good behavior etc. of the two assistants. The bonds were witnessed by Thomas Pepper, supervisor, and George Bannister, officer.

My brother William called on me today in his road home and dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the afternoon I stood godfather for a daughter of Thomas Cornwell’s, in company with Mrs Browne and Mrs Davy. The child was baptized by the name of Elizabeth. After the infant was baptized, we went to Thomas Cornwell’s, where we drank tea and stayed an hour or two. I gave the nurse 12d and the maid 6d.

In the evening I went to Mr Porter’s, where I balanced accounts with him and received of him in cash 20.3.6 and a bank note, value £20, No. B 58, payable to Messrs Castells and Whately… Also received another bank bill, value £15, No. K 88, payable to Mr Daniel Race… These two bills and the cash make together the sum of 55.3.6 and is in full as follows:

Mr Porter Dr.
To sundry goods from the 30th Dec. 1762  to the 24th day of Dec. 1763, both days  inclusive	55.14.1¼
To a bill for goods delivered for Mr Michael Baker	1.5.6
To half a year’s land tax due at St  Micheal last	4.8.0
	61.7.7¼
Per Contra Cr.
Rec’d by ¾ lbs tea	0.9.0
Do. 50 wool at 7½	1.11.3
Do. 3 cord wood for myself at 14/6	2.3.6
Do. 275 faggots for the parish 14/6	1.19.10½
Do. two bank bills and cash rec’d today	55.3.6
	61.7.1½

I stayed and supped at Mr Porter’s and stayed till about 11:00. Gave the miller’s daughter 6d to her box.

A very unpleasant day, the wind very high and a good deal of small rain in the evening. Very little to do in the shop all day.

My brother Will called on me in the forenoon in his way to Herstmonceux, but did not stay. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. I rec’d of Thomas Cornwell the bills I delivered to him yesterday, he not finding my brother Richard at home.

In the evening went down to Jones’s, there being a public vestry to choose surveyors for the ensuing year and also to pass and balance the accounts of the last surveyors. Upon balancing the same there was due to the parish the sum of 0.11.7½. We then we chose the two old surveyors and the two electioners; viz., Thomas Carman and James Fuller surveyors and John Vine and Edward Hope electioners. And I think had we tried all Sussex, or even England, for to have found two such, we could not have done it. These people are very improper to serve the office of surveyors, being litigious to the extremest degree and withal very ill-natured, executing law to the utmost. But in the midst of law they quite forget justice, equity or charity, and in permitting those two to continue their office I think the parish has and will sustain a very great injury, as well to the parish in general as also to every individual thereof.

Gave the following boys as under for box money:

John Gasson	0.0.6
Will Burrage	0.0.6
Thomas Fuller	0.0.6
Isaac Turner	0.0.3
Robert Hook	0.0.3
T. Vine	0.0.3
The Post Boy	0.0.6
	0.2.9

 We stayed at the vestry and spent 6d each and came home about 3:20, not very sober. Oh! liquor, what extravagances does it make us commit! Sure man is stupid that transgresses the rule of moderation.

My friend Sam Jenner went away as soon as he had breakfasted. I received of him £5 which I lent him the 30th October and accordingly gave him his note of hand.