Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Harry sent two cases of pictures and rubbish from Barnstaple which have been at Cave’s at Banbury for some time. I sent for them today and had to pay 15/6 for them; viz:

Drove Bell and Mrs Davies to Wigginton Rectory – no one at home.

Miss Knight, Miss Shelswell and Henry Shelswell were here to tea.

William Henry Norris sent me a brace of partridges. I sent one brace to Mr Mountain and one to Aunt Emma.

Robert Austin called; and in answer to his request I gave him permission to cut 20 dead and poor larch out of the Spinney to repair his mounds; and to take the hard wood lying by the hedges and cut last spring for the purpose if needed.

Visited Charles Legge. Bell and I visited Mr and Mrs Morris who were not at home, but we saw her daughter, Louisa Harris. We visited the Misses Lamb.

Mr Davies called this evening. We went for a walk. I attended the Band practice.

Harvest Thanksgiving services –
Holy Communion at 8 am
Morning Prayer with sermon and H.C. at 10.30 am.
Evening Prayer with sermon at 3 pm.
Evening Prayer at 6.30 with sermon by Mr Davies.

The church was extremely well decorated and lighted and crowded with people but I was taken unwell and had to ask Mr Davies to finish the prayers. I returned for his sermon.

The collections amounted to £6.8.3.

One of John Lamb’s daughters who married a man named Lovell (her master) a farmer of Chipping Warden – a man whom I am told was given to drink – called this evening to beg something to get food for her children. After her husband gave up the farm at Chipping Warden? he was a candidate for Sibford Heath Farm, when Hiorns took it; but as his character was pretty well known, we paid no attention to his offer. Then he took Mr Macdermot’s farm at the Manor House, Tadmarton where he did very badly indeed. I am told that he and his wife used both to drink with the labourers in the public house. Of course McDermott was glad to get rid of them and forgive them the rent. Then they went to live at Grimsbury in Mr Henderson’s (Christ Chursh) parish where they were almost destitute. The wife said this evening that he had never given way to drink – that for two or three years he had had nothing to do and could get nothing, and she could not find employment. I talked to her as well as I knew how and gave her 5/-.

The Misses E. and L. Mann, Bessie Rimell and Polly Hiorns were here all the afternoon and evening making a triumphal arch to be put on the church gate tomorrow on the occasion of Marion Shelswell’s wedding.

Visited Charles Barnes.