Thomas Turner

…Gave Mr Richard Stone, surgeon and apothecary, in cash 23.5.0, which is in full: for a bill of the same value received of him today, drawn by himself on Mr Edward Nash hop factor in Southwark, dated Framfield this day, and payable to myself or order 6 days after date, and which was said to be the balance of cash in Mr Nash’s hands for 8 pockets of hops sold by him, mark: “E.H.”

Mary Durrant, buying some things in the shop, dined with me on a beef pudding and greens. In the afternoon myself, Richard Fuller and Mr Long (my late customer) and our writing master (Wheeler) drank tea at Joseph Durrant’s, and Mr Long took part of my bed. In the evening wrote my London letters.

Myself and servant at church in the morning. Mr Carman’s daughter Bett dined with me on a beef pudding, rashers of pork and some Savoy greens. Myself and servant at Church in the afternoon… After churchtime my servant stood godmother for a child of Thomas Jarman’s, which was baptized after the evening service.

I went up to the butcher’s, where I drank tea and stayed and smoked several pipes. Came home about 7:20, but finding my servant was not at home, I walked in to Joseph Durrant’s, where I stayed about an hour and came home 8:30.

I dined on some beefsteaks fried. At home all day, and very little to do in the shop. My servant sat up with Mrs Hicks, and Thomas Durrant took part of my bed…

My brother and I busy about settling some accounts… My brother stayed and dined with me today on some beefsteaks fried and then went away. At home all day, and very little to do.

Mr Pepper, the supervisor of excise for this district, coming to survey with our officer, and it being in the evening and our public house affording no entertainment either for man or horse, he took part of my bed and his horse a part of Mr Bannister’s horse’s.

All the forenoon I was endeavoring to make up the affair between Mr Bannister and Mr Prall, and both of them being very headstrong, I could not prevail. Mr Carman being headborough served the summons on Mr Bannister and dined with me, as did Dame Akehurst, who was a-brewing for me all day, on a piece of pork, a light pudding and greens.

After dinner they set out for to appear before the justice in order to abide by his determination. As I heard it, Mr Bannister desired me to accompany him as an evidence, which I did. Upon their appearing before Luke Spence Esq, the justice who granted the summons, he seemed to think it a very great breach of the peace and told them the best way for the mutual interest of both parties was to agree it up, which they agreed upon. Accordingly we went to the Cats where we made it up. After three or four hours squabbling and wrangling about nothing, Mr Bannister gave him a guinea and was to pay the horse hire of Prall’s horse to Lewes. We came home very sober about 1:30. I spent nothing, Mr Bannister paying my expenses.

Paid Mr John Madgwick 19/- in full. In my absence my brother came over and stood the shop for me and also stayed all night. My servant in my absence paid Dame Akehurst 9d for her day’s work…

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Walked up to Mr John Vine’s twice today, I being apprehensive that he is a-going to abscond for debt. A young woman from Laughton, buying some things in the shop, drank tea with me.

In the evening Thomas Durrant and his father, Joseph Fuller and Robert Hook sat with me some time, I being a-reconciling Joseph Durrant and Roger Vallow, they having had a few words about the letting of a house, which I had the good fortune to complete.

Sent Mr Thomas Neatby & Son enclosed in a letter by Shelley…£9. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some sausages boiled. Rec’d of Thomas Prall 16/- in full for half a year’s land tax due at St Michael last. At home all day, and very little to do.

In the evening Richard Prall came to Mr Banister’s end of the house, he being in bed, and called him all the knaves, villains etc. he possibly could think of, which so far enraged Mr Bannister as to occasion him to come down into the street and indiscreetly enough give him the discipline of the horse-whip. I cannot but own Prall very justly deserved what he had a pretty sufficient dose of, but at the same time I dare say as it’s a breach of the peace it will cost my neighbor Bannister some money.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day, and but very little to do. In the evening wrote my London letters.

Mr Wheeler, the gentleman who came to take the school, went away in the morning. Thomas Durrant breakfasted with me. Myself only at church in the morning… Thomas Durrant dined with me on a breast of veal roasted. Myself and servant a at church in the afternoon; the text in the 1st verse 52nd Psalm: “The goodness of God endureth continually,” from which words we had an excellent sermon.

Joseph Fuller drank tea with me, and to him and Thomas Davy in the evening I read a sermon preached by the Rev Mr Courtail, Rector and Vicar of Burwash, at a visitation of the Rev Thomas D’Oyly, Archdeacon of Lewes. In the morning the banns of marriage for the first time were published between Will Osborne of this parish and Mary Wortson of Buxted.

…Paid Mr Benjamin Shelley in cash 3.2.9 in full for the same sum he paid for me this week… I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some pork bones. A person coming after the school could not get any lodging at our public houses; so I permitted him to take my servant’s bed, she a-sitting up with Mrs Elizabeth Hicks, and Thomas Durrant took part of mine.

At home all day and but very little to do. In the evening down at Mr Porter’s about a half-hour.