Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

1877, December 15, Saturday 

Robert Austin called to say that he took his apprentice William Charles Webb to Shipston on Stour this morning and the Guardians on seeing him and having a report from their medical officer on the boy’s condition cancelled his indentures before a magistrate and sent him into the infirmary of the workhouse. Austin refunded half the premium he had received with him, ie £6.

1877, December 16, Sunday 

Taught in Sunday School this afternoon; 25 boys present in morning and I believe 27 in afternoon.

Having a cold I did not attend choir practice this evening.

1877, December 17, Monday

Called on Canon Payne to make arrangements for Feoffees’ meeting and wrote to Rev W S Miller asking whether Monday January 14 next at 2 pm would suit him.

Mr Sharp gave his lecture on Volcanoes this evening. There was a very good attendance of working people and children and many quakers. Receipts £1.3.

Press cutting from Banbury Guardian, 20 December 1877

LECTURE — On Thursday evening an interesting and instructive lecture on volcanoes was delivered in the schoolroom at Sibford Gower, by Mr Thomas Sharpe, of Ettington, who kindly gave his services for the benefit of the Sibford Lending Library. The Vicar occupied the chair, and the lecture was illustrated with excellent diagrams of the Working Men’s Educational Union. There was a large attendance of the parishioners, by whom the lecturer was warmly received and accorded a vote of thanks for his generous services.

1877, December 18, Tuesday  a

Commenced examination of children in school in respective standards marking passes of each.

Went to concert at Tadmarton this evening. Took Bell, Rosa and Annie Smith. Supper at the Rectory.

Hancox the mason of Tysoe brought two tombstones for churchyard. One to Ann and Temperance Colegrave; the other, a white marble one with gilt lettering to Thomas Edward Colegrave. I inspected the stones before allowing them to be set up. The first mentioned was unobjectionable. The inscription on the 2nd runs thus:— “In loving memory of Thomas Edward Colegrave of Newcastle-on-Tyne. Died at Middleton in Teesdale”, etc. I pointed out to Hancox that there should have been a “who” before “died”. He said that was how Mr Fox sent him the inscription. I told him the omission was not serious enough to induce me to reject the stone, but that he should always submit the inscription to the clergyman before writing it on the stone. He said he knew he ought, for his book told him so; but he thought Mr Fox had submitted it to me. I told him Mr Fox had not done so, and that it was his business to submit such a matter to the clergyman in all cases.

Visited Mrs Durham, removed with 2 sons from Winderton to Sibford Gower

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