Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Administered Holy Communion to John Hathaway and his wife who had been confirmed but never been communicants. Indeed they had almost never been to church.

Met Mr Leicester, surgeon, and told him to send to me for anything that Hathaway might need.

Visited Mrs Horsman. Mary Lively called on me to speak about her daughter Elizabeth Manning whose allowance of 2/6 per week has been discontinued by the Guardians because she has three unmarried sons doing well and able to assist her, and because the Doctor certifies that though not able-bodied she can do light work and assist in the maintenance of herself and child. I told Mary Lively that I had nothing to say in the matter, but that her daughter was able to go to Banbury last Saturday and consequently she was able to go before the Guardians and state her case if she wished to do so.

Elizabeth Manning sent for me to go and see her a few days ago saying she was ill in bed. I imagine she had gone to bed to excite my sympathy. But as she is strongly suspected in the parish of being a loose woman, my wife strongly advised me not to go, and as she has forsaken the church and removed her children from the Sunday School to send them to the Methodists, or the quakers, under Miss Capper’s influence, I declined to go. The next day she told Mrs Elley she wanted to see me about the Guardians taking off her allowance which quite determined me in my refusal to go to her. I therefore sent word that she must apply to the Guardians either personally or through Bonner.

Drove Bell and Katie to Hook Norton. Called on Mr Coxe at the Rectory and on Miss Godson – all were out.

John Lively called this evening to thank me for getting him a two acre allotment. I told him he might have the one held by Jesse Bishop.

Went to the Heath Farm and saw Jesse Bishop about the arrangements between himself and Robert Austin, as they do not get on well together. Bishop wishes matters to remain as they are, and says he objects to the division of the farm proposed by Austin in the presence of Messrs Mann, Woolgrove and Page because the Farm Committee could not promise that the Trustees would accept them as separate tenants. The proposition was that all land and buildings on the right hand side of the Brailes Turnpike should be Bishop’s, and that on the left Austin’s. He says Austin has 10 acres more land than he at the same rent. But I reminded him that the division of the farm between them was made by themselves and that the Trustees had nothing to do with it.

Mrs and Miss Shelswell and Miss Sarah Dix called this evening.