Thomas Turner

…after dinner rode to Lewes. Paid Messrs Richards and Comber 2.8.0 in full and smoked a pipe or two with them… Came home about 8:20, sober…

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day. Joseph Fuller Jr smoked a pipe with me in the evening. Oh, the intolerable burthen of a heavy and guilty conscience!

At home all day. Dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. My brother, Mrs Funnell. and Elizabeth Henly drank tea with me. In the evening my brother, Joseph Fuller and myself drank some cider in at Joseph Durrant’s, where we smoked a pipe or two.

After breakfast my brother and Thomas Durrant and myself walked down to Halland to see the gardens… My brother, Thomas Durrant and Mr Long dined with me today… My brother went away soon after dinner.

Oh, how I blush to mention what I would for ever wish to conceal; that is, from going about from house to house today with my brother I got really very drunk. Oh, that hateful and to me truly odious name–that I can ever be so foolish! Sure I am the most irresoluteless creature breathing, a thing I am sure I sincerely detest and yet have been so foolish as to be guilty of it… [58 words omitted].

Dame Akehurst a-washing for me all day, and she together with my brother Sam Slater dined with me… In the afternoon all Halland servants and Thomas Emery and his wife drank tea with me and stayed and spent the evening. My brother Slater stayed all night. Very busy all day.

A very remarkable fine day. In the evening wrote my London letters. In the morning Mr Stone’s apprentice bleeded me.

Myself and both servants at church in the morning… We had a brief read for the rebuilding of the parish church of Coverton in Nottinghamshire, the expense of which amounts to the sum of £1646 and upwards, to which collection I gave 2d.

After dinner my old acquaintance Mr Tucker came to see me and dined with me on half a calf’s head boiled and a piece of pork boiled and some turnip greens. He stayed till we went to church and then went home. Myself and both servants at church in the afternoon…

In the evening my brother Moses came over, and he together with Sam Jenner drank tea with me. In the evening read 3 of Sterne’s sermons…

In the afternoon put out Anne Thomas Vinal to her mother Mary, the wife of Richard Parkes, to keep at 9d a week, her husband beings present and agreed thereto.

Dined or the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a rasher of pork boiled and some turnip greens. Paid Joseph Fuller Jr 7d for half a calf’s head bought of him today. At home all day and very busy.

Rec’d of Robert Hook in cash 8/-, which is in full for 1 year’s land tax for the manor [of Foxhunt][probably Heighton St Clere] in this parish belonging to the Lord Viscount Gage, due at Lady Day last, and which Master Hook received of the steward for me…

My late servant Mary Martin and her sister came to see me in the forenoon and dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some mutton steaks broiled. They stayed and drank tea with me and then went away…

At home all day and thank God pretty busy. In the evening Thomas Davy sat chatting with me until near 11 o’clock… We had today a great many claps of thunder, though not very near, it thundering almost the whole afternoon.

In the morning John Piper and I rode to Heathfield in order to buy some boards for repairs. We came home about 11:10. My brother came over in my absence and stayed and dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

In the afternoon I went to bring my brother going on his road home. We went into Mr French’s, where we stayed and drank tea. I came home about 5:20. Lent my brother in cash 12/-.

In the evening I took a walk with Mr Elless as far as the park. Came back about 7:30. Rec’d of Mr James Bristed by the payment of Joseph Durrant 1.4.0 in full for 1 year’s land tax due at Lady Day last. Rec’d from Will Pennington Esq by James Fuller in cash £8, which is in full for 1 year’s land tax due for Mr Thornton’s salary for the year 1761.

A remarkable hot day–I think uncommonly so for the season of the year. Pretty busy in the afternoon.

This morning were married at our parish church Thomas Emery and Mary Geal, as was also Ben Brinkhurst and Dame Dallaway.

Sam Jenner breakfasted with me and then went home… At home all day. Not very busy. Paid Joseph Fuller Jr in cash 35.12.0 in full for the same paid per his order by Mr Bristow the 12th instant to Mr Will Margesson on my account. Very seasonable weather for the season; everything wears the prospect of approaching spring.