Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Very wet.

Mr Brown returned home. I drove him to Banbury.

Received letter from W H Pym, stonemason Shipston on Stour asking whether he might erect plain head stone in churchyard in memory of late Jesse Baldwin. I wrote to effect that he might on payment of usual fees. That the proposed inscription was unobjectionable but that he must let me see the stone before taking it into the churchyard.

Visited

• Elizabeth Gibbs, worse
• Widow Cakebread, who wished to receive H.C. and I have appointed Friday next at 12.

Visited Mr Joseph Dix whose very last moments are almost come. Mr George Dix of Swalcliffe, his brother, Mrs Dix and Miss Elizabeth Dix were present.

Went to Brailes this afternoon. Mr Smith very unwell.

On enquiry at 9 o’clock this evening Mr Dix was still sinking, Elizabeth Gibbs about the same.

Mr Joseph Dix died last night.

Misses Martin left today.

Jane Besant left.

Visited Mrs Gibbs. Weaker.

Miss S Dix called and arranged for funeral of Mr Joseph Dix to take place at 2 pm on Tuesday next.

Administered H.C. to Widow Cakebread and her granddaughter the school mistress.

Sent brandy to Reuben Sabin’s wife who is about to be confined and is very ill.

Holy Communion 37 communicants, offertories for Indian Famine Relief Fund, morning £1.4.8, evening £2.2.8, total £3.7.4.

Someone put a sovereign into the bag this evening, and the number of small coins was very great.

Visited Elizabeth Gibbs; gave her wine, also James Barnes who still seems very feeble, but attends his duties.

Visited Mrs Mawle this evening.

Wrote to Rev J V Mummery, Book Society, 28 Paternoster Row asking him to recommend us to Miss Wollaston of Tunbridge Wells for a grant towards the cost of establishing a Lending Library.

Applied for grant from Rebecca Hussey’s Book Charity to J M Clabon Esq, 21 Great George Street, Westminster.

Extremely wet all day.

Frederick George Howe died at sea Lat 28.20 N, Long 21:30 W, age 24 on voyage to Sydney.

Mr Joseph Dix buried at 2 pm on north side of church. Deep grave leaving room for a second coffin. The subsoil is whitish sand. It fell in last night bringing down the head and foot stone from the late Mrs Shelswell’s grave.

Visited Mr and Mrs Routh junior, Buckingham, the allotments at Little Sibford, Widow Keene, Mrs S Woolgrove. Conversed with Joseph Manning and Richard Scruby and Hathaway the ??? about their allotments. The latter says he has a very good piece of corn. The swedes seem to have been a failure.

Conversed with Holthom; Baker, Widow Lines and John Roberts.

Visited Joshua Lines’s wife. She is better.

Visited Widow Keene. Met Mr and Mrs Nettleship of Barton on the Heath in road between “gate hangs high” and “Wigginton Heath”. Their carriage had broken down and I rendered them what help I could.