Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Visited Mr Elley, T. Aris and William Poulton.

Buried Thomas Messenger.

Met George Aris (Bastard grandson of Anna Aris and brother of Tom Aris). He was a very good lad here and a member of the Church Choir two or three years ago. he went to London to seek his fortune and got behind the bar of a public house. He has returned in a delicate state of health, having been obliged to give up his situation. He wishes very much to get out of that mode of earning his living. The work is very hard and the hours long, and holidays few. The stench of the bar etc in the morning is “something frightful and enough to make one sick.” he has been getting 12/- to 15/- per week and board etc.

Dr Routh and Mr Woolgrove had their dance party in the Schoolroom; but it was a very wet night. All was very quietly managed and the company left a little before 12.

Mr Adkins commenced work at the pond.

Visited Sunday School this morning.

Visited John Lively and Thomas Wilks, H Keene, Ann West (not at home), Charles Legge, Ben Messenger (whose wife desires to be confirmed) and Mrs Shelswell.

Paid Solicitor’s account for Harry 10/- for suing him for £4 due to Askew & Gabbitas, agents, for the situation he now holds, which amount I also paid some weeks ago.

Fine but cold.

Drove Bell and Frank to Banbury to get some paper for the ceilings and passages of my house.

Received telegram from Rev. H. Powell, St Paul’s House, Upper Maze Hill, St Leonard’s, asking whether I was still searching. I replied that I was. A letter I afterwards received from him showed that he had nothing special to offer and that he had found another reason for wanting to dispose of his place, so that I did not encourage him to reopen the correspondence.

John West called and I paid him 26/- for 13 days work cleaning the Plantation at Sibford Heath.

Arthur Lamb and Isaac Padbury, overseer, objected to work at pond because of expense and Vestry had not been consulted. They came to me, and were very angry. Adkins consented at their request to suspend his work for a few days till a Vestry could be held to consider the matter.

Visited Mr Mann.

Visited Mr Woolgrove. Mr R. Lamb came in  whilst I was there – I told him about the pond – he had not heard anything about it. Mr Woolgrove thought the Rural Sanitary Authority would carry out the work and that the Vestry had nothing whatever to do with it.

There was a fall of snow at night.