Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Fine. Taught in School this morning. Thomas Aris’s wife came for some wine for her husband. I spoke to her about the boy Albert Young (son of late Widow Sarah Young who was her husband’s sister). She said he was very troublesome. Her husband told him he should not live with him unless he kept better hours. He gets very little work to do, and stays out till very late at night.

Visited Thomas Holland, W. Barton, Mary Hone. Miss Dix called. Mrs Shelswell stayed all night with Rosa.

Buried Fox’s baby. Very stormy in Church yard.

Received Notice of Inspection on 10th and 13th January. Visited School.

St Thomas’s Day. Fine and cold. Divine Service at 9.15 am when Austin Hillman’s wife was churched. Drove to Banbury this evening and preached at Christ Church. Only 30 present. Took supper afterwards with Mr Henderson who is very unwell, and has been for some months, with a bad cough. Cold, bright, frosty night.

My dear mother has been buried 38 years today. And 28 years ago today I was married.

Went over Sibford Ferris allotments to give instructions respecting temporary stopping of gaps in hedges made by felling trees, Coles of the Elm having sent boy Scruby to say that his cattle were getting in. I found ten or a dozen enjoying a pleasant luncheon of turnip tops, savoys and cabbage. Gave old William Harris 1/- to stop up the gaps.

Met Blind Keene and had a long talk with him. He has killed a bullock this week and I therefore bought 37 lbs of beef of him for £1.7.9.