Thomas Turner

Dame Akehurst a-washing for me all day and dined with me on a piece of beef roasted and some potatoes. Dame Novice, Dame Nutley and her daughter, buying some things in the shop, drank tea with me. In the evening Mr Carman, Thomas Durrant and Joseph Fuller Jr coming in, we walked down to John Jones’s, where we stayed chatting and smoking our pipes till 11:30. We spent 7d apiece and came home very sober.

Dame Akehurst, a-washing for me half the day, dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day and pretty busy. In the evening Master Hook and I played a few games of cribbage (after having written my London letters), but neither of us won or lost. Dame Akehurst took part of my servant’s bed. In the first part of the day we had a very fine sunshine weather, but in the evening more rain.

Myself at church in the morning; the text in the 3rd verse 9th chapter of the prophet Jeremiah: “And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the Lord.” In the time of singing the second time I went out and searched Jones’s but found no persons proper for reproof.

I dined with Mr Porter on a sparerib roasted and applesauce (my servant at home dining on some beef bones boiled and a pea pudding). Myself and servant at church in the afternoon; the text in the 3rd verse of the 31st chapter of the book of Job: “Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?” After churchtime I sat some time with Master Durrant.

Oh, how do I lament and mourn in secret the loss of my dear Peggy! My life that was once regular and I should hope in a manner religious is now quite the reverse. O God, most holy, most righteous and most merciful Father, give thy Holy Spirit and pour into my benighted and earthly mind the gift of peace. Grant that I my see the errors of my ways and amend my past follies that I may sincerely repent and become thy servant by obedience. And grant that thy grace may in all things direct and rule my mind, that I may always fear und obey Thee, the only God, through Jesus Christ, my ever blessed savior, in whose merits alone I hope forgiveness. Amen.

Paid Benjamin Shelley in cash 5.12.1 in full for the same sum he paid in London for me… I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day and pretty busy. Rec’d of the Rt Hon Lord Viscount Gage per the payment of Robert Hook 4/- in full for half a year’s land tax due at St Michael last.

My sister dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the evening my brother sent David Brooker for my sister, who both drank tea and then went home. At home all day and very little to do.

My uncle Hill called on me in the forenoon and dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner and went away immediately after dinner. In the afternoon my sister went to Whyly to pay Mrs and Molly French a visit, and in the evening Thomas Durrant and myself walked down there to fetch her home…

We played loo in the evening. I lost 12d. We stayed and supped with Mrs French on a duck and rabbit roasted, gooseberry and damson pies, and came home about 12:30.

Molly French and my sister dined with me on a turkey roasted and a plain rice pudding, and both drank tea with me.

In the evening they, Sam French, Thomas Durrant and Richard Fuller played a few hours at loo. I won 3d. We broke up about 9:50. In the morning we had several claps of thunder, and in the evening from about 4:30 to 11:30 we had several flashes of lightning and a good deal of rain.

Paid Joseph Fuller Jr 2/3 for 11 lbs of beef bought of him today.
 

Paid Mrs Browne by her servant Henry Godley in cash 8/6 for the coffin had for Will Lidlow. In the forenoon Mr William Goldsmith the constable, Mr Thomas Carman and myself assisted John Watford in distraining the goods of Sarah Thunder for three pounds for three years rent due the 5th instant. Mr Goldsmith as constable swore Mr Carman and me to appraise the said goods, which we did at 46/-. John Watford delivered her a list of the same and a notice to either pay the rent or replevy the said goods or he would at the expiration of 5 days sell the same.

My sister dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the evening Mr Bannister, myself and Richard Fuller walked down to Mrs Browne’s agreeable to an invitation given us. We played at brag in the evening; I won 12d. We supped there on some pork bones fried and came home very sober about 2:10, my sister keeping house for me during my absence. A very wet afternoon and continued raining excessive hard till near 1 o’clock. In the morning we had several claps of thunder. My brother Moses sent me a present of a turkey.
 

Paid Mr Clymson, a glover at Willingdon, 18/10 for goods received and bought of him this day, and in full of all other demands. My sister dined with me on part of a leg of mutton roasted and potatoes. Paid John Braizer and William Starks 8/- for their trouble laying out etc. of William Lidlow found dead in our parish the 11th instant.

At home all day and but very little to do in the shop. In the evening wrote my London letters. I think to the best of my memory I never remember so wet a time as the present there having been hardly 48 hours of fine weather together for this 2 to 3 months past, it raining almost continually.

 
In the morning my old acquaintance and friend Dr Hill called on me, and sat down to breakfast with me, that being all, for he neither ate nor drank anything. I lent him, in cash £30, for which he gave me his note of hand payable to me or order on demand for the same sum, which said note was witnessed by Mr George Bannister. Mr Hill stayed with me till about 12:20 and then set out for Yalden.

I went down to Mr Coates’s, where I dined on a buttock of beef boiled, a roast duck and mince pie, carrots, turnips and greens (my servant at home dining on the remains of yesterday’s dinner). I stayed and spent the afternoon with Mr Coates, and in the evening Mr Porter coming in, we stayed and supped with Mr Coates and came home about 9:20. During my absence my brother and sister came to see me. My brother was gone home, but my sister came to stay with me some few days.