A seasonal and succinct entry from the mid-18th century diary of Thomas Turner, as explored in Mathew Clayton‘s monthly column. With illustration by author and artist Peter Chrisp.

Monday 24 December 1765
Mr. Bannister, our officer of excise, having lately made a seizure of brandy, brought two bottles of it to my house, and myself, Sam. Jenner, Tho Durrant and Joseph Fuller Jr. clubbed* for lemons and sugar, and we had an agreeable bowl of punch in the even, and spent the even till near 12 o’clock.

*as in ‘clubbed together’