Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Taught in Boys’ School this morning, and attended Choir practice this evening.

Visited Mr and Mrs Davies. The doctor visited Harry for 3rd time. He is better, but did not go out today.

Visited School: attendance very low and irregular.

Visited Mrs Shelswell. She has Mrs John Shelswell (her sister, and step mother of Mr Daniel Shelswell) and a Miss Clarke to live with her.

Mr Davies and I took a walk this evening.

Visited William Henry Sabin who returned from Horton Infirmary last week, “well” as the Doctor there told him, after being there 2 or 3 weeks, but he has had a relapse. The grandmother sent for me today, and I had a long talk with her.

He appears to be very violent when the fits are on him, so that it takes two or three to hold him. I gave her 5/- to use as she thought best for him.

The first account viz:- that he fell off a ladder whilst at work and was picked up by the foreman, seems to have been purely imaginary on the boys’ part as John Adkins and his men deny all knowledge of any such circumstance. It appears probable that the boy was very much frightened at having to come home through a thunderstorm – a few weeks ago – and he may have been affected by the lightning. He was 2 or 3 hours late that night – was covered with mud and very much dazed – complaining of his head on the following days.

Visited Eliza Lamb. Matthew Barnes, the Bone setter, has set her leg, but it does not appear to make very good progress. She says he put her knee “in” which the Doctor (Routh) put out when he set her thigh. But she is a woman who evidently has very little respect for medical men generally. She says she always loved her Church. But certainly, since I have been here, she and her family (except the 3 youngest ones) have shown it in a curious manner, viz:- by absenting themselves from it. She says her health has been too bad to allow of her sitting out the service.

Visited William Payne and Mrs Dix. Miss Summerton is away on a visit.