Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Drove to Banbury. Roads muddier and softer than I ever knew them before.

Paid Davis’s account for tiles for school, also Jarvis for insurance of school buildings and farm in County Fire office.

Taught in Sunday School this afternoon. 27 boys present.

Woodgate alias “Jack Tar” spoke to me in Shepherd’s Close this evening about giving half-a-crown for one child’s attendance in school and not for the sister who had not made the 250 attendances. I reproved him for interfering with my business and recommended him very strongly to attend to his own. On enquiry of Mr Elley I inferred that the child alluded to was a girl of Geydon’s the farmer at the cross.

I saw Mrs Geydon afterwards at her mother’s (Widow Cakebread) who had learnt from her daughter (Miss Cakebread, schoolmistress at a little distance from here) that I had been making enquiries about the matter. Mrs Geydon made ample apologies and seemed rather frightened – saying that it was not her wish that Woodgate should interfere at all. Robert Austin who was present said it was just like him to do so. I told Mrs Geydon that the 2/6 which was given her was given in mistake, as it was not intended for farmers at all. But I would not ask her to return it, though she must not expect it next year. She said she would rather give it me back – I told her I would mark it off in the book and give it her out of my own pocket to divide among her children.

Her brother Thomas Cakebread was there and I asked him whether he thought labouring men could manage more than ¼ acre of land, as a rule if they had it. He said he thought not many would but was chary of giving an opinion. I told him if he would like more to apply to feoffees at the next meeting. He said he would think over it.

Attended choir practice for a short time this afternoon.

Miss Maria Dix had laid banners and other decorations on floor of Sacrarium. I thought they were merely old ones that had been taken down and inadvertently left there. As they had not been removed when I went into church in afternoon I told some choir boys to bring them into the vestry. Whilst they were doing this Miss Dix came in in quite a fluster saying they were new decorations and would be spoilt if roughly handled. I told her I should be very sorry if they were injured at all, but that they should not have been left where I found them.

Visited Dr Routh this evening. His brother was there, and his father came in afterwards.

Visited Thomas Sabin.