Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Gave out coal tickets (Heath Charity) at the school at 9 o’clock this morning.

Cautioned Mrs Benjamin Messenger to send her little girl more regularly to school. Until this morning she has been absent ever since the holidays.

Mrs Thomas Coleman owed some school pence which she made some difficulty about paying. But she paid it and I told her that if she gave any trouble next time she would have to go without her ticket altogether.

Told George Messenger’s daughter that the Feoffees would take into consideration at their next meeting whether, seeing the allotment rent had not been paid, any further allowance should be given to him.

Called on Miss Dix this morning and learnt that Ezra Hillman came out on Saturday with Miss Mawle and that he is no better for his visit to Eastbourne.

Coal distribution commenced under supervision of James Barnes.

Visited Mr Woolgrove and Mrs Hitchcox with Mrs Stevens and Frank.

Ordered Poulton to make case for fontlet.

Thomas Aris’s wife of Burdrop and her mother in law wife of old Benjamin Aris came and asked for fresh coal tickets as they had lost theirs. I told them that if it turned out that through this carelessness some one else had taken their coals they would have to be the losers; the charity would not. I gave them new tickets quite with that understanding.

Ezra Hillman called to thank me for what I had done for him in sending him to Eastbourne and said that he had seen Lord Saye and Sele’s name in the list of governors of Brompton Hospital. I therefore wrote to him asking him if he could give me an in-patient’s letter and entrusted it to Hillmann to post.

Mr and Mrs Hitchcox and Mr and Mrs Woolgrove and Misses W and M Dix came to tea, etc.

The churchwardens and myself audited the accounts for the year ended easter last. A balance of £6.11 is due to Mr Woolgrove.

Visited Mary Weaver and Misses Dix (the latter not at home).

Visited the school. The Visiting officer of the Banbury School Attendance Committee called this morning both on me and at the school. He asked me for a list of inhabitants with number of children. I told him I had not one written out, but could get it done as I knew all the children in the parish.

Married Jesse Green of Sibford Gower to Lavina Jane Hillman of Shutford.

Visited school. Horsman who is at work putting a few new tiles on the roof shewed me the roof plate which has been drawn out of its place on both sides of the building cracking the plaster inside. Mr Elley thought it had been recently done. As it did not appear to me to be safe I ordered Horsman to get ???? two iron bars to draw the plates back to their places.

Visited school.