Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

James Lines’s wife came and asked for her Clothing Club money 4/9 which I paid her. She said she was going to bring home her child George from her mother’s at Portsmouth, where he had been on a long visit.

I buried the remains of Mrs Fanny Shelswell at 5.30 this afternoon. We had a choral funeral. Five boys and two men in surplices. Psalm XXXIX was chanted. After the lesson Hymn 400 and proceeding to the grave, Nunc Dimittis. At the grave side Hymn 329(?). The chief mourners were Oscar and his sister Marion, Harry and Mrs John Shelswell, Milburn and Bessie, Arthur and Ida, Mr Berridge and Miss E Shelswell, Mr J Ward Shellswell and his sister. All the leading people of Sibford were there. The singing went very well. In the evening I took Kitty Rogers and Miss Sotteck for a walk to Beggar’s ditch, the Heath and Pound Lane. Mr Ramsay sent me cheque for one guinea for taking a service at Swalcliffe during the vacancy of the Benefice.

A delightful and warm day, Miss Sotteck hired Sep Harris and wagonette to drive to Stratford and took Kitty Rogers and Mrs Stevens with her. I went at her urgent request. We started at 9.30 am, reached Stratford at 12.30. Left Stratford at 5.30, reached home at about 8.30. We lost our silk carriage rug along the road.

Bright and hot with a delightful breeze. Took Miss Sotteck, Kitty Rogers and Rosa to Edgehill for a drive this morning. Ruby looked and went very well. We got home at about 3.00 pm. My hay was cut this morning. Signed Mr and Mrs Elley’s Post Office Annuity papers. Mrs Fox called for Certificate of Marriage of her sister with David Hunter, July 1858.

Very fine and warm, a slight shower and some thunder this evening. H Bishop carted my hay. Drove Kitty Rogers to Banbury. She left by 11.36 am train GWR and was to stop at Oxford where Edward Ridley was to meet her and show her something of the city. Rosa and Miss Sottick went as far as Pitch Hill with us. They did not go farther, as our time was not more than sufficient with a diminished load. I called on Miss Dix at Swalcliffe on my way back, but did not go in.

Fine. Storm at Banbury and Chipping Norton, but no rain here. I was engaged superintending bedding of geraniums and lobelias, £1 worth from Perry’s.