Thomas Turner

In the morning myself and servants at church… We had a proclamation read for a general fast and humiliation of our sins before Almighty God and to implore His blessings on our fleets and armies, to be held Friday the 12th day of March next. The banns of marriage for the 1st time were published between John Thomson of the parish of Framfield and Mary Oliver of this parish.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of some sausages. After dinner myself and Thomas Davy walked to Little Horsted Church, where we heard a sermon preached by the Rev Mr Philips, curate of that parish and Maresfield, from the 40th verse of the 14th chapter 1st Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians: “Let all things be done decently and in order.” After church (I having some business with my uncle Hill) we walked down to his house, where we stayed and drank tea and came home about 7:50. In the evening one of my servants went to sit up with Molly French, who is very ill. A very windy evening and a severe storm of hail about 9:20. In the evening read part of Young’s Night Thoughts.

This morning about 1:30 died (very suddenly, though after a long and lingering illness) Thomas Fuller, aged 58 years …

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day. In the evening about 6:30 I walked down to Thomas Davy’s (by whom I had been earnestly solicited to come), his infant daughter being baptized in the afternoon. I stayed and spent the evening there in company with Thomas Durrant, Ann Dallaway, James Marchant, Elizabeth Mepham and Mr John Long. I supped there on some bread, cheese and plumcake.

Came home about 12:30, sober. I gave the nurse 6d. Thomas Durrant stayed and laid at my house; the people being all abed in his house. Oh, melancholy and dismal time: trade dull and money more so. How does such misfortune break a person’s temper and render him too often an unsociable creature.

My friend Mr John Madgwick called on me and dined with me on a sparerib roasted and applesauce. At home all day and really very little to do. Oh, how melancholy is my present situation!…

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of some pork bones broiled. At home all day. Rec’d of Thomas Tester in cash 6/- on account.

After breakfast I rode to Lewes, where I went for to get some things for Mrs Porter; I came home about 2:20. My brother stayed and dined with me… A truly melancholy time; hardly anything to do, and it is impossible to get any money owing to me, so great a state of poverty abounds among us. I think there is too great reason to fear that it proceeds from a too free indulgence of that bane of private property LUXURY.

We both breakfasted at my brother’s and then took leave of him, Mr Hill setting out to prosecute his journey back to Yalden and I to Hoathly. I called on my aunt Ovendean at Boarshead Street, where I dined on some pork boiled, turnips and sausages. Came home about 5:20. Mr Coates’s cook and my brother drank tea with me; my brother stayed all night…

I breakfasted with Mr Hill and spent the forenoon with him and also dined with him… After dinner I set out on my journey home, Mr Hill accompanying me so far as Tunbridge Wells. We stayed and baited ourselves and horses at Tunbridge and supped and spent the evening with my brother at the Wells, at whose house we lodged (both) all night…

After breakfasting with my brother and family I set out on my journey for Yalden, where I dined with Mr Hill on a piece of boiled beef, a piece of pork, apple pudding and turnips. We drank tea with a gentleman and his family in the place (an acquaintance of Mr Hill’s). We came home about 7:20, but neither of us quite sober. I stayed at Mr Hill’s all night… Paid to a man to lead me a road through the fields, the water being out in the high road very deep 0.0.6…

Rec’d of Thomas Darby half a hog weighing 9 stone. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. After dinner I set out for Yalden, in order to see my cousin Charles Hill. I called at Framfield to see my brother to stand in the shop for me during my absence. I called at my brother’s at Tunbridge Wells, with whom I stayed and supped, and also lodged all night (my brother Moses came over in the evening and stayed with my servants).

In the forenoon walked down to see Mrs Browne, who is very ill. I gave Edmund Elphick the 5/- I received for his father on Sunday. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Dame Watford and Sam Jenner drank tea with me. One of my servants sat up with Mrs Browne. In the evening copied a letter for Mr Thornton to send into Kent to a gentleman who seems to espouse the part of a fellow now confined in jail for clandestinely taking several things from him some time ago.