Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Dull / misty.

Fine, dry, bracing.

Sent votes to Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution as follows, viz:-

• Mrs Cooper 2 (elected
• Miss Hitchcox 3 (first appointment).

Visited George Payne. His eyesight is still bad, but he was out. His daughter Jane is at home from the Friends’ School (where she has been in service some time) with a scalded foot which does not seem to heal very well, though the accident happened several weeks ago.

Drove Bell and Frank to Brailes. Saw Mr Smith and Maude.

Visited School and taught.

Visited Mrs Dix (ill), Thomas Lively (ill), George Payne, Miss Somerton.

Showery cold and windy, with some sunshine in morning and afternoon.

Mr and Mrs Graham-Jones called this afternoon. Miss Maria Dix called. Charles Legges’s baby, Jane, died.

Very showery, with occasional bursts of bright sunshine.

Bell and I visited Fanny Barnes.

Mr Oddie called this evening. We walked round Pound Lane, Tyne Hill and Sibford Ferris together.

Attended Boys’ School this morning and choir practice this evening.

Miss Dix called this evening.

Visited Mr Ainge, senior.

Sam Woolgrove called about the arrangements for Club day. Sibford Brass Band is engaged at £2.10 and dinner. To escort clergy from Vicarage lawn after dinner, then go to Mr Woolgrove’s and thence to Mrs Hiorns’s where they can play and people can dance till supper time.

I buried Jane, daughter of Charles Legge, aged 15 months.

I went out for a short walk before going to bed and fell over shafts of two carts full of stones which were backed against the bank at Gaydon’s Farm house, with the shafts stretching across the road. It was very dark, so that I could not see them. My left knee was abraded and bruised and my right shin also, the latter rather severely. John Adkins of Sibford Ferris is contractor for the works going on – but he told me it was Gaydon, the tenant, who was responsible for the carts being left where they were. I took the first opportunity I could get of speaking to Adkins, and mentioned the matter to Richard Gaydon.

Visited William Hall, William Coleman.

Attended Brass Band practice and spoke to members about Church Choir.

Bell and I called on Mr and Mrs Wyatt at Broughton Rectory and then drove to Banbury.

Ascension Day. Divine Service at 9.15am with Holy Communion and at 7pm. Administered Sick Communion to Fanny Barnes. Her daughter and Mrs Stevens received with her.

My leg is very painful, especially right shin from bruise on Monday night.

Laid my right leg up as much as possible today. Applied wet compress with a little St Jacob’s oil dropped on it. It ought to prove a good remedy as it is a somewhat severe one being much more powerful than a mustard plaister.