Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Mr and Mrs Davies left for Hellidon this morning. Austin Gardner drove them in wagonette and pair. The snow is still rather thick on the ground.

Rev. F. Garrard of Brailes came about the girl Edith Lines. He quite understood the matter, but his wife took the girl’s word that she was qualified to leave school. They will take a sister of hers for a time. The mother of the child (Joshua Lines’s wife) came to me in the evening and I explained matters to her. She expressed herself as quite satisfied. I gave her a soldier’s overcoat for her husband.

Buried John Watts Ainge, aged 33.

Visited School. Only 60 children present, owing to the snow.

The Farm Committee consisting of Messrs Woolgrove, George Hall and Richard Page went over the farm with me to see what work was necessary to be done by the Trustees for Jesse Bishop who entered an occupation of the whole Farm last Michaelmas.

They returned here to tea at 5 o’clock, and at 7 we went up to the Schoolroom to receive, according to Notice under the Allotments Extension Act, applications for portions of the Fuel Land (10 acres) which Elijah Hancox wishes to give up. We let this in portions but no one cared to have any of the reserved furze field which we offered them for nothing till Michaelmas next and a rental of 2/6 an acre rising one or two shillings a year afterwards.

Very cold.

Visited Mr George Dix, and attended Choir practice this evening.

Visited School, Fanny Barnes, Hannah Simmons and John Adkins whose daughter, aged about 12 has a bad foot, diseased bone, produced by fall of a stone on it. She was a wonderfully active and nice little girl, and apparently in the most vigorous health. No one would have thought that a slight injury of that kind would have had such serious results.

Shrove Tuesday. Visited Hannah Simmons. Very cold.