Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

1879, May 4, Sunday 

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.

1879, May 5, Monday 

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

1879, May 6, Tuesday

Kirkland returned.

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

1879, May 7, Wednesday

Harry returned to Derby.

Visited

Joshua Lines 10  
S Woolgrove 2  
Thomas Rimell 2  
Reaven 3  
Sam Lines 3 not at home
John Lines 5  
Widow Hillman 1  
  26  

1879, May 8, Thursday

Visited:

Mr and Mrs Woolgrove 3
Widow Reason 1
Edward Scruby 7
Widow R Scruby 1
Job Harris 6
Widow H Keene 1
John Padbury 2
  21

1879, May 9, Friday 

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.

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Read about the Rev Edward Stevens here.