Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

St John the Evangelist’s Day. Divine Service at 9.15 am.

Thomas Hone’s goods, such as they are – are still by the roadside.

Received note from Mr Hiorns asking to be allowed to defer paying his rent till Thursday January 12th as some cattle he had to sell were not quite ready. I wrote to say I was willing to wait but pressing on him the importance of keeping to the time appointed. He is ill with erysipelas in the head and the doctor attends him almost every day.

Innocents’ day. Divine Service at 9.15 am.

Visited David Hone senior, George Payne, Mr James Rimell.

Married T. Busby and Mary Jane Barnes.

Saw the eldest of T. Hone’s boys in the road. he is a tall fellow of about 18, his father and mother being finely built people, but looked very dirty and half starved as he had had no work for some time.

I gave him a good basin of soup and bread with which he seemed much gratified.

I afterwards saw the father who said they  were sleeping in the hovel at Bilberry cottage. I told him that if he could get any one to let him a cottage and would promise to pay his rent every week, I would be responsible for the first fortnight’s rent. I went into Mrs. Hewings’ shop and bought bread and meat etc. to amount of 4/8 and told him to take it to his wife. The old man seems half starved and very unwell besides. Indeed he has been unable to work for some weeks.

Gave Webb a holiday to go to Oxford till Monday telling him I would pay Charles Barnes to do his necessary work during his absence.

Visited Humphrey Sabin to look at a rick of hay he wants to sell me. He thinks there is a ton and a quarter. I do not, and am only willing to buy it of him by weight, made up into trusses and delivered.

We held a Library Committee Meeting this evening and resolved to have the annual tea and entertainment on Tuesday next.

The Doctor called this evening when I had a long and interesting talk with him on Church principles.

Gave the postman and the policeman their usual Christmas box of 2/6 each.

Busy printing notices of Library tea-meeting and entertainment.