Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Visited Widow Cakebread, John Harris’s wife, Mrs Meadhurst was there, and the School.

The report of Mr Arch’s speech at the Labourer’s Union Meeting here represents him as inciting the men to poaching. He was even more violent at Greatworth during the past week.

From the Banbury Guardian, Mar 22/77:

TO CHURCHMEN and CHURCHWOMEN. – The Vicar of a scattered country parsh will be very thankful for CONTRIBUTIONS towards the fund being raised for building a parsonage house. The living (£230 per annum) is in public patronage. Population about 800, all poor. Amount already received £381. Subscriptions may be paid to the Sibford-parsonage account, London and County Bank, Oxford; or sent to the Vicar, Rev. E. T. Stevens, Sibford Gower, Banbury, who will thankfully acknowledge all donations.

Miss S. Dix called.

Vestry Meeting this evening for election of Guardian, overseers and Way warden. I took the Chair. Present Messrs Hitchcox, Herbert, Turner, F Manning, Hiorns, Coles, Richard Lamb.

The loss of the “Award” of Sibford Gower was spoken of. F. Manning told me that Alfred Pettipher brought it from Mr Thomas Rymill to a certain meeting of Feoffees some years ago, that Mr Payne said it ought not to be in private hands and that the Feoffees retained it.

Mr Hitchcox gave me a note from Davenport the Bishop’s Secretary demanding £2.14 for Expenses of Sequestration of the Benefice after Mr Bourchier’s resignation.

Visited Mr Payne. He paid me the Loggin money Sibford Gower, Burdrop, Sibford Ferris, also £2.1 referring dividend for Church. He knows nothing of the Award and does not remember the circumstance told me by F. Manning.

Visited Hands. He has not secured the services of anyone to attend to his wife.

Visited Widow Cakebread, Mrs Joseph Dix. Mentioning quite incidentally the “Award” to James Barnes, my clerk and saying I supposed he had never seen it, he said he thought he had, and on further thought and enquiry he brought it to me from his house, saying Mr Bourchier gave it to him some years ago to take care of and he had almost forgotten that he had, as no one had asked him for it.

Preached at Brailes this evening for Mr Smith who was unwell.