Thomas Turner

In the morning walked over to Framfield. Called as I went at Francis Gibbs’s and received of him 7/- in full for poor tax. After I had breakfasted at my mother’s, Mr Bray and Mr Holman of Chiddingly called on me to go to Maresfield in order to get our poor books signed. We accordingly set out together and arrived at Maresfield about 11:10. I paid Mr John Bannister for my mother (with money she gave me) 5/8 in full. We dined at the Chequer at the 2nd sitting… I got Mr Callaway’s certificate signed, Stephen Clinch coming, there, and made the proper oath for such occasions. We called at my mother’s in our way home… We came home about 7:10. Mr Holman and Mr Gray stayed and drank a bottle of beer with me. I spent this day as under:

On the parish account
To verifying the book, warrant and summons	0.6.0
Spent	0.0.11
	0.6.11

of which sum I have had but 2/- brought to account.

Spent on account of the certificate	[0.3.4]
Signing by George Courthope and Elfred Staples Esqs	0.2.0
Gave Clinch	0.1.0
Spent on him	0.0.4,

which is 4d more than the man left me. I verified my parish accounts on oath before Elfred Staples and George Courthope Esqs. There was a great concourse of people. I believe there were 60 or 70 dined at both sittings. In the evening read part of the newspaper.

Sent Messrs Margesson and Collison in cash by Mr Thomas Smith in a box £21. Gave Charles Jeffries, Smith’s carter, in cash 0.14.0. In the forenoon went up to Thomas Fowler’s for poor tax, but received none… Carried the new warrant to Mr Joseph Burgess, who received it without any objection. Rec’d of Thomas Fowler 2/7½ in full on a book debt. In the evening Mr Elless, Thomas Durrant and myself went down to Laughton, I to ask John Hugget for some money, and they for company, where I spent 4d. When I came back, I found my father Slater at my house, who supped with us and stayed all night. In the afternoon sent my maid to Mrs Read’s to get her debt, who accordingly paid her 2.11.7¾ in full.

At home all day. My father Slater stayed and dined with us… Rec’d of Mr John Clinch 10/6 in full for poor tax. Borrowed of my father Slater in cash 2.10.0. Balanced with Mr Richard Stone, apothecary, today and paid him 7.15.6 in full to this day…

After breakfast I walked over to Framfield where I balanced accounts with my mother, and there remains due to me on the account of goods between us 10.2.8½, exclusive of a bond, note, and interest, keeping of Philip, and a parcel of goods she had the 21st of March. I dined there on a piece of boiled beef, a pond butter pudding and some greens… I wrote out some bills for my mother and stayed and drank tea there and came home about 6:10… This day it snowed very hard for nearly an hour and a half while I was at Framfield and in my road home, Rec’d today of my mother in cash 9.4.6, which, with the £10 received before, makes 19.4.6, which I am to pay for goods with etc. on her account.

In the morning our servant went to see her friends. My wife only at church this morning (myself being ashamed to see anybody); she stayed the communion. While they were at church, Mr Tucker came to see me and brought me a present of some asparagrass. He dined with us on a piece of boiled beef, a suet pudding, a piece of pork and potatoes. My wife at church in the afternoon. Mr Tucker stayed and drank tea with us, as did Lucy and Charles Diggens, who came in just as we were going to drink tea. Mr Tucker stayed with us till about 6:50, Charles and Lucy Diggens going away as soon as tea was over.

Monday, Apr. 25: Rec’d of Thomas Fowler 1.9.9 in full for poor tax. Rec’d of Mr James Hutson 6.2.6 in full for poor tax… In the afternoon my wife, Mrs Fuller and her two daughters walked down to pay John Browne’s wife a visit. My mother’s servant came over in the afternoon about some business and stayed and drank tea at our house. In the evening Thomas Davy at our house. At home all day, being even ashamed to almost see the light.

Sent Messrs Margesson and Collison, in a bag made up into a parcel, by the team which goes in the denomination of Smith’s of Eastbourne, in cash 6.6.0… Scarce out of doors today. Gave a seaman, his wife and their son with a pass 12d on the parish account. Oh! what a change is there in my mind since Friday morning! Then was I all calm and serenity in my breast, but now all tumult and distraction. Oh! how pleasant are the ways of virtue, but how turbulent and rough are they of vice and wickedness! Well might the holy prophet say: “There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked”.

In the evening read the 1st Night of The Complaint. Today in reading of Read’s Weekly Journal, I find he attributes the present melancholy time to farmers’ etc. engrossing too much land in their hands, and he says that there is an act made in the 25th of Henry VIII whereby it is enacted if any person shall by any ways have more than two farms in his hands at one and the same time, and they to be both in the same parish, he shall forfeit 3/6 for each week that he shall so transgress the said statute.

This day paid Mr James Burfield by his servant John Hills in cash 2.7.6 in full for the note of hand I gave him the 9th of November last, for the said sum, being on account of rent due from Will Burrage to him, and which I agreed to on the parish account and did accordingly bring it to account in that account, which I made up with the parish at Easter…