Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Walked to Swalcliffe and took wedding for Canon Payne.

Took Girls’ Confirmation Class in vestry this afternoon at 3.

Mr Woolgrove called this evening and told me of the disgraceful goings on at Burdrop. Edward Scruby’s wife and W. Barton’s wife being very immoral women. He said he had caught the former and James Hone one Sunday morning on the Hook Norton road in flagrante delicto. The latter has Charles Holtom constantly there.

Received Government Grant for School £50.4.4.

Taught School this morning.

Drove Bell and Frank to Banbury. Paid £152.2.6 to London & County Bank there for my account at Oxford.

School Attendance Committee at Banbury.

Drove Miss Maria Dix in and out.

Taught in School all the morning.

Ellen Hone came  and asked for coal ticket which I refused to give her as she has still the man Mumford living with her, and I decline to encourage such conduct in any way and told her so.

Visited Heath allotments where Ewings is laying the hedge on the north side. Also the Plantation where William Hall and John West are laying the hedge.

Charles Barnes called to settle coal distribution.

Drove Bell, Frank and Willie Thame to Brailes and Winderton.

At 11 o’clock this evening Joseph Pettipher came and asked me to go baptize his baby the survivor of twins born 10 or 12 days ago. I went and baptized the child. It was so dark I was obliged to take my lantern. The baby is a very tiny thing and does not seem likely to live.

Mrs Pettipher senior was there and evidently in a queer state of mind. She said she had agreed to let me be sent for because she wanted the funeral service read over the child if it died, but she did not believe in what some people said etc etc but she was not going to argue. I told her that the Church did not teach anything about the condition of those who die unbaptized. But she would scarcely let me get that out. She did not want to argue – etc etc.

Mrs Salmon, mother of Mrs Pettipher junior was there. I baptized the infant in the bedroom where the mother was. It was almost crowded with the 5 or 6 people in it and dreadfully hot. The young mother looked very frail.

Bell and I visited widow of Thomas Manning and John Manning’s wife.

Attended Choir Practice this evening. The two boys of Ellen Hone looked so halfstarved that I brought them down here and gave them a good supper.

Miss Dix called to see Rosa.

Taught in School this morning.

Held Boys’ Conformation Class in School Room this evening. The Tarvers did not let the boy Sabin (orphan son of Humphrey) come. They give him 1/- a week and his victuals, except on Sundays. He sleeps at home and works for them from early morning till long after dark.