Thomas Turner (diarist and shopkeeper)
| Thomas Turner | |
|---|---|
| Born |
9 June 1729 Groombridge, Speldhurst, Kent, England |
| Died | 6 February 1793 (aged 63) East Hoathly, East Sussex |
| Resting place | East Hoathly church 50°55′30″N 0°09′43″E / 50.924977°N 0.161812°E |
| Residence | 50°55′32″N 0°09′54″E / 50.925595°N 0.164878°E |
| Occupation | Shopkeeper |
| Known for | Diary |
| Spouse(s) | Margaret 'Peggy' Slater (15 October 1753 – 23 June 1761) Mary Hicks (19 June 1765 – 6 February 1793) |
| Children | Peter (1754–1755) Margaret (1766–1791) Peter (1768–1786) Philip (1769–1829) Frederick (1771–1774) Michael (1773–1810) Frederick (b. & d. 1775) Frederick (b. & d. 1776) |
Thomas Turner (9 June 1729 [OS] – 6 February 1793) was a shopkeeper in East Hoathly, Sussex, England. He is now most widely known for his diary.
Turner was born at Groombridge in the parish of Speldhurst, Kent. In 1735 Turner's father took a shop in Framfield, Sussex. Little is known about Turner's schooling, but his clear handwriting, practical mathematical abilities and wide intellectual interests suggest a reasonable level of education. By the age of 21, in 1750, he had taken his shop in East Hoathly.
Turner married his first wife, Margaret ('Peggy') Slater (1733–1761) on 15 October 1753. They had one child together, Peter, who was born on 19 August 1754. On 16 January 1755 Turner wrote that "This morning about 1 o'clock I had the misfortune to lose my little boy Peter, aged 21 weeks, 3 days."
Turner kept a diary for eleven years of his life, the first surviving entry of which is 21 February 1754. The diary served a number of purposes, including as an accounting book, a record of legal and property dealings, a place for religious reflection and as a means of describing Turner's everyday life. The failure of his marriage to live up to Turner's expectations is a frequent cause of low mood.
Turner was an important figure in the community of East Hoathly. As well as keeping a shop, he served as an undertaker, schoolmaster, surveyor and overseer of the poor. He helped people write wills, manage accounts and collect taxes. He was a regular participant at vestry meetings and an occasional visitor to the Duke of Newcastle's Halland House.
Aside from socialising and playing cricket, Turner was a keen reader. As well as religious texts, he read works by William Shakespeare, John Locke, Joseph Addison and Samuel Richardson, among many others. Aside from consuming medical treatises, newspapers, periodicals and jestbooks, his interests included farriery, politics and travel. Turner sometimes read alone, but frequently read books aloud with his wife or his friends.
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