Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

1881, November 21, Monday 

Sent notice to Sibford Ferris tenants who are in arrears and requested them to pay up this week.

Zilpah Rimell called in a little bit of ill temper to say her husband would not keep on his allotment and as he had paid his rent in advance. He did not give notice because I gave them all notice that they might have to give up their allotments at last Michaelmas. I told her I should not have said anything if he had come up at rent night and said so. But he is a dreadfully uncouth fellow and belongs to an uncouth family. His wife however ought to have taught him better manners by this time.

Thomas Priestman called to pay his S.F. allotment rent, and asked whether I could not give him something back as they had to pay rates etc. I told him the Charity was not for the assistance of the ratepayers. But I gave him a shilling with which he seemed much pleased and expressed himself grateful. It is rather a good sign when a Beershop Keeper is badly off. But perhaps his wife (late Widow Prophett) takes care of the purse.

1881, November 22, Tuesday 

Canon Payne, by invitation drove me to a meeting of the Church of England Temperance Society at the town hall Banbury. It was called a “Conference” – and a very good paper was read by a young tenant farmer from Witney way – who advocated the giving men in the hay and harvest field money instead of beer.

I took luncheon with Canon Payne in the morning and dined with him on our return.

1881, November 23, Wednesday 

Drove Bell and Frank to Brailes. Called on Mr Smith at the Vicarage.

Also called on Mr and Mrs Dodgson (curate) but they were out.

John Reason’s wife called this evening to pay her husband’s allotment rent.

1881, November 25, Friday

Joshua Lines called and I paid him £1.4 for 4 bushels less 1 peck of white oats and 5 bushels all but a gallon of black oats off his allotment and which he asked me to buy.

Widow Hillman called for certificate of baptism of her grandson Jesse, living in Birmingham.

A bushel is equal to 8 (imperial) gallons (about 36 litres), a peck 2 gallons.

Click on an entry date to view an image of the original diary page.

Read about the Rev Edward Stevens here.