Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

1885, December 16, Wednesday 

Gave out Charity Clothing tickets at School this evening. Elizabeth Holland told me she had paid C. Barnes for digging grave for her child in the summer, and so I gave her her ticket. I told her in November when I gave her coal ticket that she should have done so before. She then said she would pay him all before the clothing was given out. So I went to C. Barnes and asked him about it. He said she had not paid him anything.

Ellen Hone came and asked for her clothing ticket. I refused to give it her whilst she was living an immoral life with a man to whom she was not married. She was a little demonstrative and rude, but not very, considering.

Anna Aris called and said she was going to London to nurse the wife of one of her sons who was ill, and asked me to give her her charity in money. I gave her 5/- which was the amount of her clothing ticket.

Lewis Poulton called this evening to pay me Major Goddard’s subscription of £2 to Sibford Charities.

He spoke about the School fees and said it was rather hard that he should have to pay 3d per week for his children, whilst Thomas Adkins, whose wages were higher than his, paid only 1d.

Mrs Davies and their son Lloyd called this afternoon.

Mr Davies preached for me this evening.

1885, December 17, Thursday 

Visited Thomas Wilks, Widow Thomas Lamb, Ezra Green, Elizabeth Holland whom I accused of falsehood to me last night. She said she had given 2/- to her husband a week or two ago and told him to pay it to Charles Barnes, and thought he had done so. She was huddled up over the fire and seemed very unwell and very miserable. She said tomorrow would be pay night and she would pay him the whole sum due. As a fact however, she paid him only one half of it, i.e. 2/-.

Visited Canon Payne and paid him Loggins rent.

1885, December 18, Friday 

Damp. Thick fog.

Visited Joseph Messenger. He was not at home, but I found his wife at Mrs Lamb’s. They have left the cottage which they have occupied so many years and taken one of Mrs Turner’s where James Hancox has been living. It appears that Joe has been somewhat “off his head” of late – and has an idea that he is being robbed, that his wife gives away his goods and that she is guilty of infidelity with other men. Now he is pretty well and denies that he ever said anything of the sort. She told me this with tears in her eyes. They both sleep at old Mrs Lamb’s, as she is not fit to be left alone.

Visited Hannah Keen, Hannah Simmonds, John Adkins, John West, Thomas Henry Hone, David Hone.

Thomason brought Charity Clothing, which was sold in the School room as usual.

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