Thomas Turner

Dame Akehurst a-brewing for me today… Dame Akehurst and Sam Jenner dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with a breast of mutton boiled and broiled and a light pudding and greens. Paid Mrs Elizabeth Browne by servant Henry Godley in cash 35/- in full for 1 year’s rent due from Will Starks at Lady Day last on the parish account. Paid Mr Ben Shelley in cash 3.10.0, which is in full for the same sum he paid Mrs Elizabeth Middleton & Son in full on my account the 11th instant, and upon examining the account I find him to have paid 23/- more than I owe Mrs Elizabeth Middleton & Son. Therefore by their mistake they are now debtors the said sum of 23/-, which I have written them to repay Mr Shelley the next return.

At home all day and thank God very busy. In the afternoon Sam Jenner went over to Framfield with a parcel to Charles Diggens. Paid Dame Akehurst 9d for a day’s work.

Sam Jenner at work for me all day and dined with me on part of a shoulder of veal roasted and stuffed.

In the afternoon Thomas Durrant and I walked to Uckfield to pay my friend Mr Elless a visit, with whom we drank tea and spent the evening. Came home very safe and well and pretty sober about 1:10, and I think I was never entertained in so polite and genteel a manner by any one person I ever paid a visit to, everything being conducted with the greatest politeness imaginable, and yet with the greatest freedom and friendship. Sam Jenner, staying with my servant during my absence, took part of my bed.

Sam Jenner at work for me all day and dined with me on a veal pudding and greens. In the afternoon Mr Robert Cleaver, a woollen draper in London, called on me and drank tea with me. I gave him an order. At home all day and but little to do. Sam Jenner took part of my bed.

Sent Mr Will Lee, hosier in Nottingham, enclosed in a letter, which letter was also enclosed in one to Mr John Crouch in order for him to put Mr Lee’s letter in the post (delivered to Shelley), 1 bill on Mr William Margesson… value 8.16.0, which bill when paid is in full on my account with Mr Will Lee. Sam Jenner at work for me all day and dined with me on part of the knuckle of a shoulder of veal stewed and some greens. At home all day and thank God very busy.

In the evening went down to Jones’s, there being a public vestry held to make a poor rate. But what through the ignorance of some and the avaricious views of others, we [made] none, notwithstanding this being the second vestry called for that purpose. I am sorry to say it, my partner Mr Carman was the chief, nay only instrument of its not being made, and that for no other reason than to serve his own private ends and to be assessed lower according to the law than anyone else–a sad principle for an overseer or any other person who is concerned in a public office. For I think whenever the public good and that thing, self-interest, stand in competition with each other, the last should always submit and give way to the former. For in all communities I presume were the public good more studied and practised, the consequences which would ensue must be that of the private interest of every individual.

Came home about 10:20 and spent 6d for drinking once. Sam Jenner keeping my servant company during my absence, he took part of my bed. After I came home, I played a few games of cribbage with Sam Jenner, but neither of us got any advantage.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. After dinner walked up to Mr John Vine’s in order to have some talk with him relating to his affairs. Came home about 4:07.

Dame Cornwell the younger and her daughter (my god-daughter) drank tea with me. In the evening wrote my London letters. But very little to do in the shop all day. Sam Jenner, calling upon me in the evening, took part of my bed. In the day read part of The English Peerage by Collins.
 

Myself and servant at church in the morning… Sam Jenner dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Myself and servant at church in the afternoon… Sam Jenner and Thomas Durrant drank tea with me.

After tea we took a walk to see a house building for Mr Porter, where we met with Joseph Fuller Jr. We all came back together to Joseph Durrant’s, where we stayed and spent the evening, it being excessive wet weather. How different is this from the usual custom of spending a Sunday evening in the lifetime of my dear Peggy. Then did we use spend it in a proper and suitable manner. But how far contrary is this to the duty we owe to the Almighty as our Creator and continual Preserver!

Paid Messrs Marwicks and Wrothwell in cash 2.13.8 in full on the parish account… I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day and thank God pretty busy. My friend Mr Elless at Uckfield drank tea with me.

Rec’d of Mr Will Sturt 27/6 in full. Rec’d of Mary Rich 13/- in full. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of part of a leg of mutton boiled and greens. Paid Mr Thomas Carman in cash £1, which, with the £21 paid him yesterday makes £22 and is in full for a bill of the same value on Mr Thomas Hooker which I received of him the 2nd of January last, and for which I then gave him my note of hand, but have now taken it up.

Paid Mrs French by her son Sam in cash and by a book debt 3.9.4½ in full on the parish account. Paid Ben Shelley by his servant in cash 5/- in full for the same sum he paid Mr Daniel Mecham in full on my account the 4th instant. In the evening went down to Jones’s to a public vestry in order to make a poor rate, but Mr Carman, the other overseer, not being there, we were obliged to postpone it till Tuesday next.

…I dined on part of a leg of mutton boiled. Paid Mr Thomas Carman in cash £21 on account. Paid Mrs Browne by Henry Godley 4/9½ in full on the parish account. Paid Mr Basset 24/- in full for repairing our church clock on the parish account.

Dame Henly and her niece, buying some things in the shop, drank tea with me. At home all day and thank God very busy. In the evening making up the parish account. Today I sold a bed etc. to Mr Vinal for Thomas Davy for 50/-.

Sam Jenner at work for me and dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a plain suet pudding and greens. At home all day and really very little to do. Busy in making up the parish accounts and writing. Sam Jenner took part of my bed.