Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Attended Board of Guardians at Banbury. Took Webb and Frank.

Called on Canon Payne who has not left his bed since last Friday, but is somewhat better today.

Visited Jane Legge and Thomas Green.

John Holtom paid me his allotment rent for 3 years to Michaelmas next.

Wrote to Thomas Brown Solicitor and to Harry about the latter’s liabilities as he cannot possibly pay his debts out of his income and live on the balance – and I have paid them so many times that it has done a great deal towards impoverishing me. He is constantly getting county court summonses and appealing to me at the last extremity when the law charges have to be paid as well as the debt.

Visited Sibford Ferris allotments.

Henry Meadows, of Epwell, formerly of Sibford called about a letter he had received from the War Office concerning his late brother George. I wrote a reply for him.

William Hall called to settle up for work at Hedge round Plantation at Sibford Heath Farm.

Snow last night. Ground covered. Fine day.

Attended Choir practice this evening.

Farmer Gaydon called on me for my advice, saying he was in a difficulty. He had dealings with Mr Mark Walker, a substantial Corn dealer of Tysoe, and going down to him to receive payment for some corn. Mr Walker deducted £10. Gaydon asked for an explanation. Walker said it was the £10 he had borrowed. Gaydon declared there must be some mistake as he had not borrowed anything of Mr Walker. So the latter showed him a note signed “J. Jaydon” asking for loan of £10 saying it was brought by a young man a few weeks ago to whom he gave the money and would have let him have more if he had wanted it, but he said that was sufficient.

I pointed out to Gaydon that it was not a forgery as the name written was not the name of anyone in Sibford and that if it were a forgery it would be Mr Walker’s loss and not his. Gaydon’s fear was lest one of his own sons should have been tempted to such wickedness, but when I afterwards called on Mrs Gaydon, she said she had not the shadow of a suspicion of either of her boys. Neither had I, for none of them can write nearly so well as the note was written, and there were some mistakes as to facts which they would not have made. I cannot recognise the writing at all, neither can Elley.

Visited Gaydon, Miss Dix, Jane Legge, School.

Boys Confirmation Class at 7 pm.

Jane Legge died early this morning.

Held my Girls’ and married women Confirmation Classes at the Vestry from 3 to 5.

A Vestry meeting was held in the Schoolroom at 7.