Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Much rain. St Luke’s Day. Divine Service at 9.15.

Visited Mary Lively (out). W. Poulton, ordered repair of gates at Heath allotments.

Visited:
Richard Austin
Richard Haines. Wife confined last Thursday
Widow Reason, and Mr Woolgrove.

Elijah Hancox and his son James, with wife and family are gone off having cleared out everything – selling their furniture in the market place at Banbury. They have paid no one it seems, either for rent, bread, meat, boots, clothes, rates etc for some time. They are said to have sailed for America. Mrs Hancox senior is staying with one of her daughters.

Visited Samuel Woolgrove (out), Joseph Green, mason, saw his daughter.

Mr Woolgrove told me that Mrs Shelswell, wanting a servant boy who could live at home – and James Hone, bastard of Elizabeth Holland, being handy in more ways than one, and desirous to come, wrote a note to Mr Mann where the boy has been working some time asking whether he could spare him. Mr Mann replied that if Mrs Shelswell took the boy James she might have the father and the other boy too. Mrs Shelswell was much hurt at receiving so un-neighbourly a reply.

Showery. Drove with Burdon to Sandford St Martin, to clerical meeting at Rev Edward Marshall’s. We went through Hook Norton, Swerford and Great Tew, but did not get wet. It was a long and tedious drive as the hills are bad and I did not know the way. Gave Mr Whitehead a lift on returning, and drove through Worton, South Newington and Wigginton. The drive home was very long and dull – but we escaped the rain both going and returning. Miss Marshall, and a sister of Dean Plumptre were at dinner.

Leah Sabin, sister of late Humphrey Sabin, called this morning about the girl Sarah Sabin and asked me to write to James’s Home Fulham to ask if they would take her in. I told her I would write, but could give no hopes of success. I thought the best thing would be for the girl to get a place. She is a very naughty girl; but perhaps hardly a fit subject for a “Home”.

There was a very severe thunderstorm this morning till about 11 o’clock : fine afterwards.

Drove Bell and Frank to Brailes Vicarage to call on Mrs Robert Braddell who returned from Singapore a few weeks ago. Found all in midst of preparation for removal, Mr Smith having resigned the Living and purchased a small house near the church which he has had enlarged and improved for his own occupation. He intends presenting Mr Garrard his curate and son in law to the benefice when all preliminaries are concluded.

Mrs R. Braddell and her baby look ill. Tom Braddell is in bad health, and came home with her. His wife is staying in Singapore, having been only recently confined.