Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Henry Bishop called and asked whether I could speak to some of the “rich” people in Sibford and get a subscription up for him to relieve him in some measure from embarrassment caused by the death of his cow worth £20. He lost one about four years ago in a similar manner. I told him I would give him £1 but that I did not think he would be able to get anything considerable from the parishioners as they had so recently subscribed for a horse for Henry Lines. But I promised to see what could be done.

Spoke to one of the policemen about bad conduct of George Aris, James Hone and other rough boys at the library last Monday evening. He said he would come up next Monday and would caution the disorderly ones.

Wrote to certain friends asking for testimonials to enable me to apply for Head Masterships of the Subordinate School at Rugby and the Borden Trust School near Faversham.

Thomas Cakebread came in to talk to me and said he should be glad if the “Feast” on Club day could be done away with as it cost a great deal of money and the young members’ conduct was very bad last year. Mr. Woolgrove having set him to work hedge cutting at the Heath Plantation for the Town Estate he asked me whether he would be allowed to work on Good Friday.  I said “No” – He then said he could not afford to lose his day’s wages. I told him that I understood the farmers paid their men for that day if they went to Church and that I should do the same.

Elizabeth Manning called and asked me to write a “paper” for her which she might carry around to collect money to purchase a sewing machine. I told her I could not do that and that she had better ask her own and her late husband’s relations to help her and if she raised nearly enough from them I would give her 10 or 12 shillings to make up the required sum.