Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Ethel Hole left Banbury for London by the 1.19 train. I drove her in.

Visited Anna Aris who had asked me about the age of her grandson Tom (Mullin’s filius) who was christened Thomas Henry Parish. He tells her he has enlisted for a soldier but the authorities are in doubt about his age. He was born in the workhouse at Banbury and baptized at Sibford when he was 3 or 4 years old, i.e. in 1871, so the Certificate of Baptism is useless for the purpose.

Bell and I visited Fanny Barnes at New Barn Farm.

Attended Choir Practice this evening. Visited Rev Mr White and the Misses Dix.

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.