Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Received ½ year’s stipend from New College. The amount should be £75 but £2. 10. was deducted for Income Tax 8d in the £. Last September it was only 5d.

George Messenger died, aged about 96. He remembered going to church on a donkey to be christened. Name entered February 9, 1792.

Attended Board of Guardians meeting at Banbury Workhouse.

A boy was birched by the Master in the presence of Mr. Cartwright, the Chairman, and several other Guardians including myself for absconding from the House.

…. Old James Hone tells me he is a teetotaller but “I takes no pledge” “I takes a pledge every mornin’ and evenin’ when I pray the blessed Lord to keep me from Sin and danger, and He does so.”

Attended School Attendance Committee at Banbury. One woman summoned before us from Hook Norton for not sending her daughter to School said the girl was nearly 13 and had nearly passed the 4th Standard. But having failed in one subject was discouraged and would not go to School. “She fannules me a’most, dear good genelmen, for hers taller not I be and a better woman too. I have tried my best to get her to school but – her won’t go, tho’ I’ve took her wi’ a card (cord) round her neck and swore as I’d hang her. I can’t do wi’ her no ways, dear good genelmen.”

“Well you had better give up talking about hanging her and try what reasoning with her kindly will do. Tell her her father will have to go before the Magistrates if she does not go to school. Will you do your best?”

“Yes, dear good genelmen, that I wool.”

Thank you Genelmen (curtsy) good day genelmen (curtsy repeated at the door.)

Thomas Webb, formerly postman here took to John Harris’s Carrying business today. The latter has been almost constantly getting drunk and neglecting his business for a long time.

…. Met Charles Lines who has just lost a horse from heart disease. I gave him a sovereign on Mr. Woolgrove’s recommendation from the Town Estate funds.

Mr. Bonner Relieving Officer and School attendance officer called and said he had communicated with Miss Shimmell respecting her “dame school”. She has closed for 3 months as some of the parents objected to pay for the half quarter and consequently would not send their children at all. She thought it not worth while to keep open for the rest and consequently the children are running about the roads, where they ought to be at School.