Thomas Turner

Rec’d of John Vine Jr by the payment of his son 10/- in full for ½ year’s land tax due St Michael last… Rec’d of Joseph Fuller 1 bullock’s cheek value 10d. Sam Jenner at work for me the whole day and dined with me on a bullock’s cheek stewed and the broth. Paid Mr Ben Shelley in cash 4.3.0 in full for the same sum he paid Mr Will Post in full on my account yesterday.

At home all day and pretty busy. Sam Jenner took part of my bed. In the evening Robert Hook and I played a few games of cribbage. I won 6d, but in lieu thereof gave him a supper of bullock’s cheek broth. Oh, how unpleasant is my present situation! What’s life without a sincere friend? And when that valuable thing happens in a wife, how great the blessing!

My brother stayed and breakfasted with me and then went home. Sam Jenner at work for me and dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a piece of pork boiled and some Savoy greens. At home all day and very little to do. Sam Jenner took part of my bed.

In the day read part of Nelson’s Law of Manors. A very fine day. My servant very ill. Oh, how different the scene now and in my wife’s life. Then all was calm and serene; now nought but tempest and irregularity.

…Thomas Durrant and my friend Sam Jenner breakfasted with me, and then we set out on our journey, there being a sale of condemned goods to be sold at the Custom House at Newhaven, some of which I went with an intent to purchase.

Thomas Durrant accompanied us as far as West Firle where we parted. Sam Jenner and I dined with my very worthy friend Mr Tipper on a knuckle of veal and a piece of bacon boiled and some greens. My brother, who came over in the morning to stand the shop in my absence, and my late servant dined at my house on a breast of mutton boiled and some greens.

I bought at the sale 56 lbs of currants at only 50/- per hundredweight (which I paid for) and came away from Newhaven immediately. We walked home by Lewes and stayed some time at Mr Madgwick’s and ate and drank with him. Thank God came home to my own house about 11:30, very a sober and not greatly fatigued. My late servant went away in the evening and my brother stayed all night. Spent today 12½d.

My late servant Mary Martin came to see the morning and breakfasted with me, as did Sam Jenner who went away immediately afterwards. Mr Vine at Heathfield, coming to consult me about some parish business, dined with me in company with Mary Martin on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a sheep’s heart pudding and some greens. My servant Mary Martin stayed with me all day and also took part of my servant’s bed.

About 5:20 myself, Joseph Fuller Jr, Thomas Durrant and Robert Hook set out for the Black Boy in order, to meet some more company there to spend the evening with our old acquaintance Mr Thornton, who was formerly excise officer in this place, but has lately relinquished the excise and taken the Black Boy. We accordingly arrived there about 6:50 where we supped on some cold boiled beef and bread and cheese in company with Mr Peters, John Jones, John Durrant of Waldron, Dr Stone, George Cornwell, James Martin, John Smith, Richard Savage of Framfield and Mr James Fuller of Hoathly. We spent 2/6 each; then myself and companions came away and came home about 12:20 very sober, where I found my worthy friend Sam Jenner, who was come to accompany me on a journey tomorrow and took part of my bed.

In the evening, before I went and after I came home, wrote my London letters and also wrote out a bill for my late servant.

Myself at church in the forenoon… My friend Sam Jenner dined with me on part of a sparerib (made me a present of by Dame Durrant) roasted and some applesauce. After dinner we walked over to Framfield where we stayed and drank tea with my brother and sister. Came home about 6:20.

In the evening I read to my friend a sermon preached at the last visitation held at Lewes, written by Mr Nicholl, Vicar of Westham in this county, and part of three discourses written by James Walder, a Baptist preacher, the last of which I esteem the best performance, it being in my judgment written with a true spirit of piety and in a pretty modest style. And I presume it proper for to be read by any sect whatsoever, there being nothing more in it than what is the duty of all Christians both to practise and believe.
 

Mr Long breakfasted with me and then went a-way. Jarvis Bexhill, buying some things in the shop, dined with me on a sheep’s lights, mint and head boiled and some greens. At home all day and very little to do.

In the evening my old acquaintance Sam Jenner came to see me, having just finished his business as cider assistant. He supped with me and took part of my bed. A very fine pleasant day. My servant taken very ill this afternoon. Oh, how unpleasant and irregular is my present state of life when compared to that in my dear Peggy’s lifetime.

Paid needle-maker 8/9 in full for needles and shirt buttons bought of him today… Mr John Long dined with me on some sheep’s liver and rashers of pork fried. Paid Mr Hook 20/3 in part of his bill on the parish account.

In the evening Mr Bannister gave myself, Joseph Fuller, T. Durrant and Mr Long a treat (at my house), he having lately made a seizure of some brandy from the smugglers. Mr Long took part of my bed.

Posted my day book today. This morning was married at our church by license Will Vinal of this parish to —— Heart at Buxted.

I dined on some cold beef (but not on the remains of yesterday’s dinner) for my servant through carelessness let the dogs get into the buttery and eat up all my beef.

At home all day and very little to do. My servant sat up with Mrs Hicks and Thomas Durrant took part of my bed.

My friend Mr Long breakfasted with me and then went away. I dined on a piece of beef roasted in the oven and a batter pudding under it. Mr Coates’s servant Molly Wheeler drank tea with me. At home all day and very little to do.

My old friend Mr Long breakfasted with me. Sent Mr Will Margesson, enclosed in a letter by Ben Shelley, delivered to himself, the bill, value 25.5.0, which I received yesterday of Mr Richard Stone…

My friend Mr Long dined with me on some beef bones boiled, a pea pudding and some eggs. In the afternoon we went to Will Eldridge’s, he being very ill, and had sent for me. Rec’d of Mr Porter in cash 6.16.6, which he received of Mr Dungate from Arthur Knight Sr and Jr on account of myself and the other executors and devisees in trust of Mr William Piper deceased.

Very little to do in the shop today. Mr Long spent the evening with me and took part of my bed.