Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Visited Mrs Ellis. Did not see her husband. Mr Enoch and Mr Routh Senior having been there today to see him, on will business I inferred from what Mrs Ellis said.

Lewis Poulton called about Heath repairs. I paid him a small private account owing for last year.

Mr Hitchcox called this afternoon. he said the Farmers here ought to combine to withstand the demands of the labourers, but that Richard Lamb would not join. He said also that he feared the action of the union and the refusal to lend the club dinner things would cause the break-up of the club.

Taught in Boys’ Sunday School this morning.

Visited Mrs Hands, Widow Cakebread. (J. Sabin and A. Fox not at home). Widow Legge, who appears to be not far from her End. Humphrey Sabin, Mrs Ellis, the Misses Dix.

Attended the Choir practice.

I learnt this morning that Widow Legge died shortly after I left her last evening.

Received a notice from Mr W Rusher the Accountant of the Banbury Savings Bank saying that I had been elected a manager thereof and asking whether I would serve. Wrote and asked how often my attendance would be required.

Very wet.

Miss E. Dix called this afternoon and said that Mr Routh Senior having suggested that a subscription should be got up among the friends of the Rev. G. Eliot former Vicar of Sibford to assist him in sending his children to the seaside etc. and that they had collected £20. Would I think it a slight if Mr Routh sent the money? I replied “By no means” adding that I was glad to find that there was so much kindness and liberality among my people and the “Friends”: that I should be glad to contribute a guinea to the fund and only wished I could afford ten. I said also that as they knew more about Mr E and his circumstances than I, they would know better how to manage the matter without hurting his feelings.

Drove to Brailes this afternoon. Mr Smith told me that Miss Dix had sent him a copy of the last letter they had received from Mr Eliot in the hope that some at Brailes and Sutton who knew Mr Eliot when he was curate at the latter place would help. He told me that Mrs Eliot had no fortune, that she was daughter of the late Mr Watling, Rector of Tredington and formerly a fellow of Jesus College Oxford.

Mr ?Limson? of Stow-on-the-Wold, uncle to Mr Robert Braddell, drove over this afternoon – we were nearly all out when he came. He put up at Mrs Elley’s.

Service this evening. Barnes told me the funeral of Mrs Legge would take place on Friday at 3.30 if convenient to me.