Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Visited Sunday School this morning. Very stormy afternoon.

Visited Thomas Wilks and Jarvis. Saw Mr Hiorns’s servant boy staggering about the road, drunk – followed him home. I told him to go to bed. He said he got the beer at Bishop’s.

Mrs Turner assisted at Penny Bank. Very stormy. Bob and Minnie came.

Visited Widow James Barnes, Mary Wilks, Sam Lines (not in), Joseph Lines, R. Haynes, A. Hillman, Hannah Keene, John Padbury, Oliver Harris, Tailor Hale, J. Holton (not in), C. Holtom, Eli Webb, Job Harris, Widow Scruby, Edward Scruby, Ann Fox, Thomas Sabin, William Barton, Mrs Shelswell.

Very cold, wet and windy. My grass in Slinket was cut on Monday and yesterday by Ben Messenger. Drove to Hook Norton this afternoon. Mr Hiorns called for allowance for drainage of Heath Farm. I paid him £20 on production of voucher for labour which alone came to nearly that Amount.

Visited the Misses Dix.

Went to Brailes to tea and supper with Bell and Rosa and Maclean. Met Mr Capel H. M. Inspector of Schools there.

Visited School.

Dr Milburn and Mr Cox called this morning on way from Upton to Whichford.

Rainy.

Visited Ann Fox.

Holy Communion. 41 communicants – offertory 18.11½.

Drove Bell to Banbury on way to Weston Super Mare. Rev A. Spencer of Steeple Aston came on visit. Met Bob and Minnie at Banbury. They left for Spa.

Walked to Brailes this evening with Spencer and Montagu.

Mrs Shelswell called to speak with me about her son Harry whose brother Oscar has offered to article him to a solicitor. Harry will have to pass preliminary exam of Law Institution – but he has never done any Latin. She wants me to take him as a pupil.

Drove Mr Spencer to Banbury on way home – got to station in half a minute too late for train. As he wanted to be home for choir practice I drove him as far as Adderbury on the way. He telegraphed to Mrs Spencer to meet him with carriage.

Visited Ann Fox and Mrs Shelswell. Told the latter that most likely Harry would be able to get on without frequent assistance from me as a tutor. I promised to look after him and tell him what to do if he would come down to me tomorrow.

Annie, Miss Perks, Sophie and Hattie came.

Harry Shelswell came to me this morning. I examined him in one or two subjects and set him some Latin to learn.

Visited Mrs Bond. Walked to Epwell. My hay in Slinket was partly carried today.

Very wet. Paid Charles Barnes 3/6 for cutting hay in Churchyard.