Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Bright and frosty.

Mr Smith, of Brailes, sent his man over with a note asking me to go to the Clerical Meeting to be held at his house tomorrow and to take Mr Davies, if he would go. I sought for Mr Davies, and after a time found him. At first he declined, as Mr Smith had not called on him, but afterwards he consented to go.

Visited School, Mrs Hewings, George Green, Eliza Lamb, George Payne, Widow Humphrey Sabin, John Coleman, Thomas Henry Tarver, Thomas Coleman.

Richard Wilson, father in law of G. Harris, pensioner, residing at the Friends Mission Room cottages, died suddenly this afternoon, age 70.

Bright and frosty.

Pensioner Harris called this morning to make arrangements about his father in law’s funeral.

I lunched with Mr Davies and then we walked to Brailes to the South Kineton Clerical Meeting. We had an interesting discussion, and a good dinner at 5 o’clock.

Mrs Davies took tea with Bell and Rosa this afternoon.

Bright and frosty.

Miss S. Dix called this morning to say that she had been asked to lend her house at Swalcliffe, lately occupied by Mr Robertson, as a Committee Room for the Radical Candidate, Sir B Samuelson. I suggested that she should offer it to the Conservatives – which she said she would do.

I drove Bell to Banbury to see her dentist, “Heygate Brooks”.

Called on Mr Fortescue at the Conservative Club and told him about the application which the Radicals had made to Miss Dix. He said the Conservatives had got a room – used as the Reading Room, lent them by Mr Norris. It afterwards turned out that they were unable to use this room for the purpose, as tea and coffee were sold there, and as Miss Dix or her uncle or both, declined to lend her house to the Radicals the Conservatives were glad to have it.

Sent a pair of some skates to Harry.

Miss S. Dix called this morning and showed me a letter from Stockton of Banbury, Solicitor, and agent for the Radicals asking her to lend her house for the use of the political party to which she is strongly opposed, (Samuelson being a Liberationist) and quoting scripture in the most disgustingly hypocritical way in support of his application.

Visited W. Holland, Joshua Dale, Thomas Holland (not in), Widow Hancox (not in), George Hone, Thomas Green, Thomas Henry Hone, John West, William Hall, Sarah Hone, Edward Fox, Benjamin Messenger, George Spicer and Anna Young.

Visited Sibford Ferris allotments where the road mending goes on slowly.

Frost gone – cold and raw – some rain.

Webb drove Mrs Stevens and Mrs Davies to Shenington to call on Mrs Daniel Shelswell who was not at home.

I wrote to my brother Richard at Chesterfield, MacCoupin County, Illinois, U.S.A. Also to Aunt Emma, 4 Clephane Road, Canonbury.