Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Drove to Banbury. Called on George Harris, Draper Parson’s Street to speak about his brother John, carrier who disappeared suddenly from Sibford, having left Mary Ann Coleman Mrs Mawle’s servant enciente by him. It is said that two other girls are in same sad predicament. His brother had not seen him. I told him if he did call that the best thing for him to do would be to return to his business and marry the girl Coleman as soon as possible.

I saw old John Harris the father in Banbury – he was very much “cut up” – and told me John had been going wrong for some time; that he told him this morning he ought to marry the girl – but he replied that he would not. The old man asked me whether I would transfer my custom to a young man to whom he purposed selling the carrying business. I replied that I never made any promises of that kind, but that I had often much more business than one carrier could do.

St Simon and St Jude. Divine Service at 9.15 am.

Dined at Canon Payne’s. Mr Bigge-Wither an old New College Fellow and Mr Montagu were present. Handed over to Canon Payne an old Epwell Churchwarden’s Account Book which I had discovered in the Sibford Charity Estates Chest. The first entry was dated 1594 but there were entries of previous year. The last entry was 1713 – but that was forty or fifty years subsequent to the previous one.

Visited Dr Routh.

Attended Banbury Clerical Club meeting at Warmington Rectory – Rev J Taylor’s – we commenced the Septuagint.

Walked over to Brailes Church Missionary Society in the evening.

Distributed Clothing Club tickets.

Visited Sylvia Sabin, Widow William Keene and Miss Dix. The latter told me that Mr Elley was very uncivil to her sister Maria last Saturday morning when she called at his house for key to get some of the Church Choir books. Maria D. appeared to have been much hurt.

On my return home I learnt that Mr Elley was very unwell that morning with severe diarrhea and pains in his limbs so that he had to send for the doctor. I told Miss Dix the substance of this in a note saying I thought it palliated though it did not altogether excuse his rudeness. It appears Miss Maria had called at the house three times at very brief intervals for the keys – probably she spoke in a somewhat irritated and authoritative manner without intending it and Mr Elley who said the books were locked in class room the key of which was in his desk, on being asked for it declined to give her the key of his desk and added that he was not inclined just then to go and get it. I therefore took no further notice of the matter.