thomas turner's diaries

Thomas Turner’s diaries provide a fascinating record of parish life in 18th century England. A shopkeeper and well-known figure in the town of East Hoathly, Sussex, Thomas Turner’s diaries are at once a journal, a ledger, and a todo-list. While the 113 volumes have never been fully transcribed, the existing, published partial transcriptions often focus on the more interesting parts of Thomas Turner’s life instead of his more quotidian notes.

In this transcription project, I have chosen to focus on Thomas Turner’s culinary world: in part because of how important it appeared to him. Turner records what he eats for dinner on a daily basis, as well as who he shared the food with. Turner’s purchases from his butcher, Joseph Fuller, are often the first thing he records in every diary entry. He ate at home and in other towns, alone and with others. The almost quotidian records of food purchased, cooked, and eaten provide a continuous, if not complete, insight into a moderately well-to-do Englishman’s diet in the 18th century.

It is unclear, however, how important Turner’s meals appeared to his biographers and the editors of his diaries. In the David Vaisey edition, for example, records of meals may not appear for days or months at a time, yet it is sometimes the only detail recorded for a day. In my transcriptions, I have chosen to transcribe any and all contents in his diaries pertaining to food from January to July 1765, the end of his diaries. During these dates, Thomas Turner was busy with shopkeeping and other duties around town, duly attended church every Sunday, and battled somewhat with alcoholism; but most importantly, he courted and married Molly Hicks. There are some interesting correspondences between the events in his life and his diet: although he rarely records his suppers, he notes on 28 March, 1765 that he supped on “some rashers of bacon” in the home of Molly Hicks’s father in Chiddingly.

Most days, Thomas Turner dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. It is assumed that his servant cooked for him. His purchases from the Butcher – Joseph Fuller, Richard Fuller, and Joseph Fuller Jr. – often appear in his diary a few days later as cooked meals. He ate meat every day: at an average of 12d–17d for 3 days worth of meat, this does not constitute a small expenditure for him. Thomas Turner’s meals were simple but hearty: a typical meal involves meat (often beef) boiled, with a vegetable and/or pudding. There were some familiar fares among the dishes he frequently consumed, such as roast beef, potatoes, and bacon; as well as more unusual dishes, such as plain suet pudding, bullock’s kidney pie, hog’s hasket roasted, and Savoy greens.

When Turner was out of town for business or visiting Molly Hicks in Lewes, he often dined at local inns. such as “The White Hart” in Lewes or “The Star” in East Grinstead, both of which are still extant today as hotels. These meals were often hearty affairs, featuring over 30-70 men and a large diversity of dishes: a typical meal recorded at The White Hart, for example, features “hog's haslet baked, a fillet of veal roasted, a ham boiled, a fore-quarter of lamb roasted, 2 hot pigeon pasties, 2 raisin and currant puddings, greens, potatoes and green salad.” At home, Thomas Turner often dined with those who were working for him: he dined with Dame Akehurst (washerwoman) 15 times, with Sam Jenner (worker, friend) 14 times, and with James Emery (gardener) 8 times between January and July 1765. The following charts provide a statistical summary into the characteristics of Thomas Turner’s diet:

No. 107 Fri. 11 Jan – Sat. 2 Feb

Fri. 11 Jan
Paid Joseph Fuller Junior 12d for part of a shin of beef as also 1¾lb of beef bought and received of him today. I dined on a beef pudding and turnips.

Sat. 12 Jan
Charles Diggins coming to take up clothes today at my shop dined with me on part of a shin of beef stewed and the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

Sun. 13 Jan
I dined on a beef pudding, part of a shin of beef stewed and turnips.

Mon. 14 Jan
I dined on part of a shin of beef stewed and potatoes.

Tue. 15 Jan
Paid Joseph Fuller Junior 13d for a bullock’s heart, 2 bullock’s kidneys and a piece of liver bought and received of him today. I dined on a bullock’s heart and kidney pie hot.

Wed. 16 Jan
James Bull dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

Thu. 17 Jan
Paid Joseph Fuller Junior in cash £3s 11d in full for the following meat received by him today:
Beef 1st 3lb
Bullock’s tongue
£2s 9d
£1s 2d
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some bullock’s liver and kidney fried.

Fri. 18 Jan
After breakfast I set out on horseback for Lewes where I dined at Ms. Richard Combers some cold roast beef broiled and watercresses.

Sat. 19 Jan
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some pork bones broiled.

Sun. 20 Jan
Beth Carman dined with me on part of a spare rib roasted and applesauce.

Mon. 21 Jan
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

Tue. 22 Jan
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of part of a spare rib roasted and applesauce.

Wed. 23 Jan
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

Thu. 24 Jan
James Emery a-gardening for me all the forenoon dined with me on a cold bullock’s heart pie and plain suet pudding and potatoes.

Fri. 25 Jan
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

Sat. 26 Jan
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

Sun. 27 Jan
Sam Jenner dined with me on a chicken pudding, a piece of beef boiled and a few rasures of pork and potatoes.

Mon. 28 Jan
I dined at Mr. Porter's in company with himself, wife and two sons, Mrs. Atkins, John and Mrs. French, Mrs. Fuller, and Mr. and Mrs. Walls on a fine dish of carp, a green neat's tongue and turnips, a rump of beef a la daub, a hot chicken pasty, a roast turkey and bread puddings. My family at home dined on the remains of yesterday's dinner. We stayed and spent the afternoon there, and drank tea and coffee, and in the even played at cards... We also stayed and supped with Mr. Porter on 2 chickens boiled, 2 ducks roasted, the remains of the tongue and pasty left at dinner and gooseberry tart.

Tue. 29 Jan
I dined on part of a spare rib salted and boiled and some greens.

Wed. 30 Jan
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some applesauce.

Thu. 31 Jan
Paid Joseph Fuller Junior 14d for a bullock’s tongue[^1] and some beef bought of him today weighing 4¼lb.
I dined on a hot beef pie and the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

Fri. 1 Feb
I dined on a bullock’s tongue boiled, a batter pudding, and potatoes.

Sat. 2 Feb
Paid Joseph Fuller Junior 14d in full for part of neck of veal bought of him today weighing 4lb at 3½d for my sister…Paid Joseph Fuller 10 ½d in full for a loin of mutton 3lb bought of him today. My old acquaintance and friend Mr. Richardson came to see me in the forenoon and dined with me on some mutton chops broiled, and the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

No. 108 Sun. 3 Feb – Ash Wednesday. 20 Feb

Sun. 3 Feb
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a plain batter pudding and potatoes.

Mon. 4 Feb
Dame Akehurst, a-washing for me the whole day, dined with me on a piece of beef boiled, an apple pudding & potatoes.

Tue. 5 Feb
Dame Akehurst, a-washing for me all day, dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some parsnips and potatoes.

Wed. 6 Feb
Paid Mr. Joseph Fuller Junior 4s in full for two stone of beef bought and received of him today. I dined on a piece of pork boiled, an apple pudding, and some potatoes.

Thu. 7 Feb
I dined on a beef pudding and potatoes and parsnips.[^2]

Fri. 8 Feb
I dined on a beef pudding and potatoes and parsnips.

Sat. 9 Feb
I dined on a sausage batter pudding baked, which is this: a little flour & milk beat up into a batter with an egg & some salt, and a few sausages cut in pieces & put in it and then baked.

Sun. 10 Feb
I dined on a beef pudding, potatoes and parsnips.

Mon. 11 Feb
Sam Jenner stayed and dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a plain suet pudding.

Tue. 12 Feb
I dined on a sausage batter pudding baked.

Wed. 13 Feb
I dined on a hog’s flesh pudding and potatoes and parsnips.

Thu. 14 Feb
Dame Akehurst a-brewing for me all day dined with me on a piece of beef boiled, an apple pudding, parsnips, and potatoes.

Fri. 15 Feb
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

Sat. 16 Feb
Paid Joseph Fuller Junior 2s4d in full for a leg of mutton bought of him today weighing 8lb at 3 ½d. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

Sun. 17 Feb
We dined at my brother’s on a calf’s belly. My servant at home dining on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

Mon. 18 Feb
Sam Jenner being at work for me all day dined with me on a piece of beef roasted, a raisin suet pudding & potatoes.

Tue. 19 Feb
I dined at Mr. Coates’s on a shoulder of mutton roasted and pancakes and fritters. I stayed and chatted after dinner with Mr. Coates some time, my family at home dining on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

Ash Wednesday, 20 Feb.
After breakfast I at the request of Mr. Joseph Burges walked with him to Lewes where we dined at The White Hart on a hog's haslet baked.

No. 109 Thu. 21 Feb – Mon. 18 Mar

Thu. 21 Feb
Sam. Jenner assisted me in bottling out a cask of raisin wine in the forenoon, dined with me on a piece of beef boiled, a light pudding (heavy) and[^3] potatoes. Received of Joseph Fuller 2 bullock’s kidneys valued 3d.

Fri. 22 Feb
I dined on a hot bullock’s kidney pie.

Sat. 23 Feb
I stayed with my brother Moses, who was also in town, till I was really quite in liquor and took up my lodging at The Cats. I abominate and loathe myself for not having a more firm resolution, as a very trifle makes me drunk. Therefore I am determined once for all to refrain from drinking.[^4]

Sun. 24 Feb
My family dined on some boiled tripe.

Mon. 25 Feb
Master Piper, coming to my house in the forenoon he bought a coat of me and dined with me on a leg of mutton boiled and potatoes.

Tue. 26 Feb
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some boiled tripe.

Wed. 27 Feb
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

Thu. 28 Feb
Sam Jenner at work for me all the forenoon dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some boiled potatoes.

Fri. 1 Mar
Paid Joseph Fuller 8d in full for a bullock’s cheek bought of him today. My brother William came to see me in the forenoon and dined with me on the bullock’s cheek boiled and some potatoes.

Sat. 2 Mar
My brother stayed and dined with me on a piece of pork boiled an apple pudding and some potatoes. Received of Joseph Fuller 1 leg of mutton & some mutton chops weighing together 10 ½lb at 3 ½d a pound.

Sun. 3 Mar
Beth Carman dined with me on some boiled salt fish and egg sauce, parsnips, and potatoes.

Mon. 4 Mar
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

Tue. 5 Mar
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a few chuck bones stewed.

Wed. 6 Mar
Sam Jenner dined with me on a hot pork bone pie.

Thu. 7 Mar
I dined on a cold mutton pie.

Fri. 8 Mar
I dined with my brother on part of a cold leg of mutton broiled and some cold pork. My family at home dining on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

Sat. 9 Mar
I dined on a sausage pudding and watercresses.

Sun. 10 Mar
Mrs. Carman dined with me on a neat's tongue boiled and greens.

Mon. 11 Mar
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a few rasures of pork boiled & potatoes.

Tue. 12 Mar
James Emery, a-gardening for me part of the day, dined with me on a piece of beef boiled, a hard pudding, and some greens.

Wed. 13 Mar
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some onion sauce.

Thu. 14 Mar
I dined at Mn. Madgwick’s[^5] on a slit rump of beef, turnips, and parsnips. My family at home dining on a sausage pudding.

Fri. 15 Mar
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s and Wednesday’s dinner.

Sat. 16 Mar
I dined on a leg of mutton roasted and potatoes and some venison sauce.

Sun. 17 Mar
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

Mon. 18 Mar
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

No. 110 Tue. 19 Mar – Mon. 8 Apr

Tue. 19 Mar
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a cold mutton pie.

Wed. 20 Mar
My family at home dined on some cold mutton pie, myself eating no dinner.

Thu. 21 Mar
I dined on a hot beef pie.

Fri. 22 Mar
I dined on some salt fish, egg sauce, parsnips & potatoes.

Sat. 23 Mar
Charles Diggens coming over to take up a suit of clothes for Mr. Porter, he stayed and dined with me on the remains of yesterday's, Thursday's and Wednesday's dinner.

Sun. 24 Mar
I dined on a beef pudding and potatoes.

Mon. 25 Mar
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

Tue. 26 Mar
Mary Martin came over to see me and breakfasted with me and dined with me on a wild duck roasted and the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

Wed. 27 Mar
Paid Joseph Fuller 12d for 1 breast of mutton 3lb at 4d per lb. Sam Jenner being a pack of bags for me, and Dame Akehurst a-washing for me all day, dined with me together with my late servant Mary Martin on some salt fish, a breast of mutton boiled, egg sauce, potatoes and parnips.

Thu. 28 Mar
Paid Joseph Fuller 14d for loin of mutton bought of him today at 3 ½lb at 4d. Dame Akehurst a-washing for me all day, dined with me on a loin of mutton boiled and turnips…I also supped there[^6] on some rashers of bacon.

Fri. 29 Mar
In the forenoon my brother came over and dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a piece of salt fish boiled, some parsnips & potatoes, & egg sauce.

Sat. 30 Mar
Dame Akehurst a-ironing for me all day, and dined with me on some calf’s liver & rasures of pork fried.

Sun. 31 Mar
Mr. Carman dined with me on a calf’s heart pudding and some potatoes.

Mon. 1 Apr
I dined on part of a calf’s belly boiled and minced & some greens.

Tue. 2 Apr
James Emery a-gardening for me today dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some turnip greens and a plain batter pudding.

Wed. 3 Apr
I dined on some salt fish, potatoes, parsnips, and egg sauce.

Thu. 4 Apr
Paid Joseph Fuller Junior in cash 4s7d in full for meat bought of him today (beef, 2 stone 1lb, at 2s2d – 4s7d.) Dame Akehurst a-brewing for me all day dined with me on a beef pudding & greens & potatoes.

Good Friday. 5 Apr
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a plain suet pudding and greens.

Sat. 6 Apr
I dined on a bullock’s kidney pie.

Easter Sunday. 7 Apr
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a knuckle of a shoulder veal boiled & greens.

Mon. 8 Apr
I dined on a shoulder of veal roasted & stuffed and some watercresses.

No. 111 Tue. 9 Apr – Thu. 25 Apr

Tue. 9 Apr
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

Wed. 10 Apr
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

Thu. 11 Apr
After breakfast Mr. Carman called on me to walk with him to Sam Washers in order to take the house for his nephew. We dined there on some rasures of bacon boiled. (My family at home dining on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.)

Fri. 12 Apr
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of beef boiled & greens.

Sat. 13 Apr
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Paid Joseph Fuller 14d in full for a calf’s head bought of him today.

Sun. 14 Apr
Joseph Burges dined with me on part of a calf’s head boiled, a piece of bacon & greens.

Mon. 15 Apr
I dined at the Second Table[^7] on part of a buttock of beef boiled, a peice of beef roasted, a ham and greens, in company with my Father Slater and near 30 more.

Tue. 16 Apr
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

Wed. 17 Apr
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a sausage pudding.

Thu. 18 Apr
I dined on a piece of beef boiled and some greens.

Fri. 19 Apr
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a hot beef pie.

Sat. 20 Apr
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some sallading.

Sun. 21 Apr
I dined on a piece of beef boiled, a plain suet pudding and greens.

Mon. 22 Apr
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

Tue. 23 Apr
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some Savoy greens.

Wed. 24 Apr
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some turnip & Savoy greens.

Thu. 25 Apr
I dined on part of a root of a tongue boiled and a raisin sweet pudding and greens.

No. 112 Fri. 26 Apr – Thu. 24 May

Fri. 26 Apr
We dined at The Star[^8] (where our stewards had provided[^9] a dinner suitable to the customs and company of the society) in company with about 48 members more of the society (the whole number being 71) on two buttocks of beef, 2 pieces of roast beef, 2 fillets of veal, pond, currant, and raisin suet puddings, greens, butter etc.

Sat. 27 Apr
Paid Mr. Rich Fuller 6d in full for 1 ¾lb of veal bought of him today. Dame Alcorn dined with me on a veal pudding & greens.

Sun. 28 Apr
My friend Tipper dined with me on a piece of boiled beef and greens and a plain rice pudding.

Mon. 29 Apr
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

Tue. 30 Apr
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of some veal broth.

Wed. 1 May
I dined on a piece of beef boiled and Savoy greens. Molly French spent the afternoon and drank coffee with me.

Thu. 2 May
Received of Joseph Fuller 3lb of mutton at 12d. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of some boiled mutton and pickles.

Fri. 3 May
Paid Mr. Joseph Fuller 2s 4 ½d in full for a neck of veal worth 8 ¼ lb at 3 ¼ d and 12 d for the mutton bought yesterday.

Dame Akehurst a-scowering for me all day & she & Sam Jenner who stayed to keep me company dined with me on a piece of beef boiled & greens & part of the scrag end of a neck of veal boiled.

Sat. 4 May
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of some veal boiled.

Sun. 5 May
Mr. Breeden stayed and dined with me on part of a neck of veal roasted, a plain rice pudding and green salad.

Mon. 6 May
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

Tue. 7 May
Paid Mr. Joseph Fuller 2s 10 ½d in full for a leg of veal bought of him today weighing 11 ½ lb at 3d. My brother came over in the morn to cut out a bed for me and dined with me on a knuckle of boiled, a piece of pork and Savoy Greens.

Wed. 8 May
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

Thu. 9 May
I dined on a fillet of veal roasted and stuffed and green salad.

Fri. 10 May
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of some green salad.

Sat. 11 May
Received of Joseph Fuller part of a shoulder of veal weighing 6 ½ lb at 3d per lb.
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner minced.

Sun. 12 May
Took some salts today. Sam Jenner dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner & the addition of part of the knuckle of veal boiled.

Mon. 13 May
I dined on a veal pudding.

Tue. 14 May
James Emery a-gardening for me dined with me on part of a shoulder of veal roasted.

Wed. 15 May
Dame Akehurst a-washing for me all day dined with me on a bullock’s kidney boiled a piece of pork and greens. Received today of Joseph Fuller a bullock’s kidney val. 1 ½ d.

Thu. 16 May
Dame Akehurst a-washing for me all day dined with me on a beef pudding & greens.

Fri. 17 May
Paid Rich Fuller 10d for 1 pound of veal bought of him today. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a piece of veal boiled.

Sat. 18 May
Paid Joseph Fuller Junior 11d for half a calf’s head and 1 ¼ lb of veal bought of him today. Dame Akehurst a-ironing for me today dined with me as did James Emery who was a-gardening for me on a beef pudding a piece of veal boiled and some greens.

Sun. 19 May
I dined on part of calf’s head boiled and greens.

Mon. 20 May
I dined on some hog’s liver & caul fried. (See picture)

Tue. 21 May
I dined on some hog’s liver & pork fried.

Wed. 22 May
I dined on a Hog’s hasket roasted.

Thu. 23 May
I dined on a few pork bones roasted.

No. 113 Fri. 24 May – Wed. 31 July

Fri. 24 May
I dined on a hog’s flesh pudding.

Sat. 25 May
Sam Jenner a drawing off a cask of cyder for me dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some hog’s feet & ear.

Sun. 26 May
My Brother at Church in the forenoon, lent Mr. Carman my Horse in the forenoon, I dined on a sparerib roasted, and just as I had dined, Mr. Read came to dress my leg. He dined on the remains. In the afternoon took a ride to Lewes to pay my intended wife a visit, with whom I drank tea and spent the afternoon and indeed part of the night.

Mon. 27 May
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

Tue. 28 May
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

Wed. 29 May
I dined on some pork bones boiled and greens.

Thu. 30 May
Mr. Tipper… gone at Lewes. I dined with [Mr. Tipper’s] sister on a part of a shoulder of mutton roasted and green salad.

Fri. 31 May.
I dined on some pork bones boiled.

Sat. 1 June
Paid Joseph Fuller Junior 18d for part of a loin of veal bought of him today weighing 5lb. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

Sun. 2 June.
Beth Carman dined with me on part of a loin of veal roasted.

Mon. 3 June
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

Tue. 4 June
My brother Moses came over in the forenoon and dined with me on some calf’s liver fried and rasures of bacon.

Wed. 5 June
I dined on part of a calf’s belly boiled & some greens.

Thu. 6 June.
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

Fri. 7 June
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

Sat. 8 June
I dined on some beef roasted in the oven and green salad.

Sun. 9 June
Beth Carman dined with me on some cold roast beef and green salad.

Mon. 10 June
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Master Baker drank coffee with me or at least treated me with a dash of coffee at my house.

Tue. 11 June.
Dame Akehurst a-washing for me all day dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s diner.

Wed. 12 June
Paid Joseph Fuller Junior 3 ½d for 1lb of mutton bought of him today. Dame Akehurst a-washing for me all day dined with me on a piece of mutton boiled & a veal pudding.

Thur. 13 June
Paid Mr. Joseph Fuller 5d for 2lb of veal bought of him today. Dame Akehurst brewing for me today dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a piece of veal boiled.

Fri. 14 June
In the morn my late servant Mary Martin came to see me & dined with me on a Leg of mutton boiled and greens. Paid Joseph Fuller Junior 2s3d in full for a leg of mutton bought of him today weighing 7 ¾lb at 3 ½ p/lb.

Sat. 15 June
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with some green salad.

Sun. 16 June
My late servant dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner and then went away.

Weds. 31 July[^10]
From the day last mentioned, I have been so embarrassed with a multiplicity of business that I was not able to continue my journal, being on the 19th day of June married at our church (to Mary Hicks, servant to Luke Spence Esq. of South Mailing) by the Rev. Mr. Porter, and for about 14 days was very ill with a tertian ague, or rather an intermitting fever. Then the ceremony of receiving visitors and again the returning of them has indeed, together with the business in my trade, taken up so much of my time that I was obliged to omit that which would have given me the greatest pleasure imaginable to have continued. But however thank God I begin once more to be a little settled and am happy in my choice. I have, it's true, not married a learned lady, nor is she a gay one, but I trust she is goodnatured, and one that will use her utmost endeavour to make me happy, which perhaps is as much as it is in the power of a wife to do. As to her fortune, I shall one day have something considerable, and there seems to be rather a flowing stream. Well, here let us drop the subject and begin a new one.[^11]

Works Cited

Turner, Thomas, 1729-1793. “Thomas Turner Papers.” Vol. 107-113: Box 3, no. Series 1. DIARY, 1754-1765 (n.d.). Sterling Library, Manuscripts & Archives.

Turner, T. (1984). The diary of Thomas Turner, 1754-1765 D. Vaisey (Ed.). Oxford: CTR . Oxford Scholarly Editions Online (2014). doi:10.1093/actrade/9780192117823.book.1

[^1]: “Heart” was crossed out.

[^2]: Interestingly, this is one of Turner’s more emotional days, where he expresses grief for his wife: Oh! How do I lament & mourn inward by my present irregularity of life, and which way to prevent it I know not. I have, I dare say, no friend in the world that I could confide in with the swearing assurance of fidelity, and upon the whole I may with the most stridest truth say I know not what it has been to have one minute's free pleasure since I lost my wife for when I am in possession of my reason I am always reflecting upon the pleasure I then enjoyed in a calm, sedate, and regular course of life. Everything serene & home of all places was the most delightful & pleasant and particularly so if no one but my wife & self together but now alas! I am all tempest & storm within.

[^3]: “Turnips” is crossed out.

[^4]: No record of food from this day.

[^5]: In Lewes.

[^6]: At Chiddingly, Molly Hicks’ father’s house.

[^7]: In Maresfield.

[^8]: East Grinstead.

[^9]: “Entertainment” was browned and crossed out.

[^10]: I transcribed this final entry although its contents are not to do with Turner’s meals. Here he discusses his marriage to Molly Hicks and his hopes for the future. This is both the final entry in his diaries, as well as one of the few entries that does not mention anything quotidian.

[^11]: On the back cover of this diary, Turner wrote a to-do item: “Put every article at Lewes a Price.”