Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Holy Communion offertory 14/6½.

Visited Mr Barton, Thomas Sabin, Widow Henry Sabin, Mrs Shelswell, Sarah Young, Charles Coleman, no one at home, Misses Dix where I met Mr and Mrs Marshall, Mrs Way and a Miss Mawle of Banbury.

Some disorderly boys in road annoyed Miss Dix etc at Choir practice this evening.  I caught Amos Young in flagrante delicto and boxed his ear at which he seemed immensely astonished.

Miss Dix told me that the boy Joseph Robinson, age about 9, son of Widow Ann Robinson – born in America whither his father had emigrated from Sibford with his family – met Mrs Norris on May Day and asked her for some money. On her enquiring why she should give him money he said he had been to Dix’s for her once or twice. He was rude as she thought and said she could not give him anything as he had asked her – “What would you have given me, if I hadn’t asked you?” was his reply.

Drove Bell, Rosa and Frank to Swalcliffe, Tadmarton, Shutford and Epwell. Visited Montague. A very summer-like day.

Kirkland returned.

Trustees meeting let farm for 14 years at £150 to Mr Harry Hiorns of Sibford.

Harry returned to Derby.

Visited

Visited:

Rehearsal for Choral festival in my Church this evening – under Mr Wells’s conductorship. His manner and language were so strange that every one inferred he was the worse for liquor. He told the choirs he did not come there to waste his time and to be humbugged by them – several parishioners who were present appeared much distressed. I was almost boiling over with indignation – but allowed him to close – after having done very little real work. He left by conveyance he had come in immediately after practice. I feel that I cannot have him again.

Taught in Sunday School this morning. Preached at Christ Church, Banbury this evening – though it was very showery.

Fine day.

Mr Smith came this evening to enquire about Choral festival at Deddington tomorrow.

Visited William Holland and Mrs Bond.

Choral Festival at Deddington. I took a choir of 15 in Reuben Sabin and John Harris’s carts. I drove Bell, Rosa and Frank. Mr Smith and the girls from Brailes were there. Mr Duffield Falkner the coroner shewed us his collection of old oak furniture – some of it very handsome. We had pleasant journey there and back, but there was a good deal of rain in the afternoon.