Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Visited school. Called on William Holland’s wife about age of her eldest bastard child.

Took Penny Bank (Mrs Turner helping). Visited Mr Hitchcox. He was not at home, but Mrs H was.

The Sibford Benefit Club held their Quarterly Meeting in School room this evening. It appears they have been in the habit of providing a pint of beer for each member on those occasions – each paying his share whether he drank it or not. This evening, I hear, the teetotal members proposed the abolition of this rule or custom. They were defeated by a not very large majority. They took the beer, however, and going out into the road poured it all on to the ground.

No one came to deposit in the Penny Bank this evening.

The sale of Larch trees by Mr Fowler Auctioneer of Banbury took place at the Heath today. Anna Wilks came and asked me to fill up an application to the Board of Guardians for relief for her daughter Mary who has had two or three more fits.

Joshua Lamb, son of Richard Lamb called for Rates of £1. 10. for Loggin Land. He told me that the Total Abstinence members of the Sibford Benefit Club wished me to write a letter to the Secretary in support of their views which might be read at the next meeting. I told him they should come and ask me themselves.

Visited Mr Woolgrove and handed him 1/6 for Church which Miss Dix had sent me as given her by someone since Sunday for that purpose. Mr Woolgrove said some persons had told him that if they had known of the collection for that purpose they would have put some (or more than they did) into the offertory bag. I told him they might send it now. He said he told them he would be very happy to receive all they were prepared to give. I added that the idea of giving the offertory for that purpose did not enter my mind till that morning and that was too late to give any more notice than I did.

Mr. Woolgrove told me the timber fetched from £60 to £70 which was not quite so much as they had hoped. The timber merchants had apparently conspired to have the sale all in their own hands. But he told Joseph Manning to bid against them and that the Trustees would indemnify him against any loss. Had this not been done he thinks the amount realized would have come much short of what it is.

Visited Richard Haines whose baby is still very bad – wasting away with its cough. Visited Richard Scruby and Widow Ann Lines.

Service at 6.30 this evening.