Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Bright day – hard frost.

Wrote to Aunt Emma.

Mrs George Harris died at 4 am.

Buried William Brown. The funeral was 25 minutes late. Poulton who was the undertaker said it was the fault of the women – who on his telling them it was time to start said there was no hurry. I told him that as undertaker he must use his best endeavours to secure punctuality by telling persons in future that they must not expect me to wait at the Church after the time appointed as it was very cold up there – and I had other duties to attend to.

Visited
Edward Fox
George Harris, my tenant
Joseph Messenger
Ann Fox, W. Poulton.

Dr Routh came this evening to audit School and Charity accounts. Routh told story of his groom – a Tysoe man – very stupid. To Charlotte Webb, female servant

“Some oats be coom, when they be done, th’master ‘ll want to know when they com’d in. What day be’t Charlut?”

“Why, you silly, don’t you know it’s new year’s day?”

“Ay, I know that’s well as you do. What I wants to know is what day o’th month is it.”

William Golder, late Labourer and Agricultural Labourers’ Union agitator – now carrier – called to pay me his allotment rent. I spoke to him about his two children being unbaptized. He has some anti paedobaptist views – but laid the greatest stress on the fact that he did not know anyone who led such a Christian life as to justify him in asking them to become Sponsors.

He himself has ceased to attend either Church or Chapel because he finds so many who do attend are so very much behind their religious professions. He was very polite, but very foolish. I said what I thought right at the time, and added something about the claims of the Church as against Dissent. He said he valued the Clergyman very highly that the Clergy of the Church of England were a “pillar of learning” in every parish in the land.

Received note from David Ainge saying he would like to take the upper part of Sibford Heath Farm now or at a future time but not making any offer. I wrote that if he would make an offer I would bring it before the Trustees.

Miss S. Dix called to ask me about the School at Littlemore, late Mr Hurst’s, as they think of sending Henry Thame for a few months. I told her they had better refer to Mr Green, the Vicar.

Buried Zilpah Rimell’s baby.

Mr Harold Goad, upholsterer etc, 4 Crop Street, Barnstaple wrote to me about account Harry owes him. I replied, but did not pay it. Harry has had an iron bedstead and bedding and a tricycle etc of him. I spoke to Harry very strongly about his continued extravagance and folly.