Who lies at rest in East Hoathly

Turner was a friend of the 18th century rector whose five children all died as little ones, but it was in vain that he listened for years to the sermons of good Thomas Porter, for this Sussex Pepys, left us a diary beginning in 1754, was greatly perturbed by his fall from grace.

He was the drunken schoolmaster of the village at threepence a week; he became undertaker, draper and many other things; he married Peggy Slater and Molly Hicks; he took in the Spectator and read Boyle's Lectures, Homer's Odyssey, and Paradise Lost twice, but he remained a sorrowful case.

In eleven years Turner filled 116 stout memorandum books with a full and sincere account of his daily life, his friendships, his anxieties, his social pleasures, his drunken orgies and their consequences in physical pain and spiritual remorse (to which are added good resolutions soon to be broken), and his quarrels and reconciliations with his wife.

 

With all his failings we cannot but be glad to have made his acquaintance, for he so obviously did try to do the right thing and shows no malice toward anyone, no, not even to the travelling hawker who appeared in the village and must have taken away much business from him.

 

But a diarist should speak for himself. Here are a few entries Mr Turner wrote in his quiet shop while Wolfe and Clive were winning an empire;

 

'February 8, 1754: As I by experience find how much more conducive it is to my health, as well as to the pleasantness and serenity of my mind, to live on a low, moderate rate of diet, and as I know I shall never be able to comply therewith in so strict a manner as I should choose, by the unstable and over-easiness of my temper, I draw up Rules of proper Regimen, which I hope I shall always have the strictest regard to follow.

 

I will never drink more than four glasses of strong beer. If there is either wine or punch, never on any terms or persuasion to drink more than eight glasses. I will always go to bed at or before ten. June 22 In the evening I read part of the fourth volume of the Tatler; the oftener I read it, the better I like it. I think I never found the vice of strong drinking so well exploded in my life'.

 

 

November 2: Oh! how transient is all mundane bliss! I who, on Sunday last, was all calm and serenity in my breast, am now nought but storm and tempest. Well might the wise man say it were better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a contentious woman in a wide house. August 5 Mr Blake's rider and I rode to Lewes, when I saw the finest horse-race that ever I saw. I came home about ten; but, to my shame do I say it, very much in liquor. August 6 Pretty bad all day, with the stings of a guilty and tormenting conscience'.

 

December 25: My wife and I at church in the morning. We stayed the communion; my wife gave 6d, but, they not asking me, I gave nothing. Oh, may we increase in faith and good works!'.

October 20: Read the Extraordinary Gazette for Wednesday, which gives an account of our army in America, under General Wolfe, beating the French army, under General Montcalm, wherein both the generals were killed. Oh, what pleasure is it to every true Briton to see how it pleases Almighty God to bless His Majesty's army, they having success at this time in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America'.

January 17: Oh, my poor wife is most prodigious bad! No, not one gleam of hope have I of her recovery. Oh, how does the thought distract my tumultuous soul! What will become of me?'.

 

Mrs Turner died six days later and is ever after referred to in the diary in endearing terms.

 

Then we come to his account of his courting and his candid comments on the lack of good looks (but expected future fortune) of Molly Hicks. Soon he is married again, apparently happy, and his intimate diaries end.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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