Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

1894, July 8, Sunday 

7 Sunday after Trinity. Preached funeral and sermon this morning in memory of Mrs Shelswell. Arthur, Marion, Mrs John Shelswell and Mrs Wait were present. I taught in Boys’ School this morning. Churched Joseph Coleman’s wife, and baptized her 4th child, Richard.

1894, July 9, Monday 

Cool day, sultry evening Rain threatened but did not come. Rosa took Clothing Club, etc as I was engaged with Miss Sotteck. Walked with Miss S this evening through Colony,  Temple Mill and half way to Hook Norton. A canvasser for Kelly’s Post office Directory for Oxon, Berks and Bucks called this morning.

1894, July 10, Tuesday

Ordered Butler and Tanner to print 250 A.C.S. Alcestis, bind 50 and send letter to Simpkin Marshall & Co. Took Bell, Rosa and Julie Sotteck for a drive to the Heath. Rain came on and we returned.

Miss M A Enock was married at the Friends’ Meeting to a Mr Abbatt, a shoe dealer. Bell, Rosa and Miss Sotteck went. My leg was bad last night after walking, and rather worse today. I had felt nothing of it since last Tuesday.

Banbury Advertiser, 12 July 1894

SIBFORD GOWER.

MARRIAGE OF MISS ENOCK.—On Tuesday last the Friends’ Meeting House was densely crowded to witness the marriage ceremony of Mr. Dilworth Abbatt, son of Mr. J. Abbatt of Preston, to Miss Enock, of Sibford Gower. The bride was dressed in pale blue silk with wreath and veil, and was given away by her cousin, Mr. J. Pettipher. The bridesmaids, four in number, were Miss Taylor, Misses A. and B. Wells (cousins of the bride), and Miss Abbattt (sister of the bridegroom). They were prettily dressed in crushed strawberry cashmere, with black lace hats, and each wore a handsome gold ring, the gift of the bridegroom, whose cousin, Mr. Walter Abbatt, officiated as best man. After the ceremony the wedding party, numbering over forty, sat down to breakfast (which was supplied by Mr. Wilks Brown, of Banbury), the Mission Hall being called into requisition for the purpose. The happy pair left about 3.30 en route for the Isle of Wight, amid showers of rice, flowers and slippers, after which the guests drove in brakes to Edge Hills, where they had tea. Rain, however, came on, and they made an early return, supper and amusements making up the day. The wedding presents were to be seen at the residence of the bride’s mother and were most numerous and handsome. The bride will be much missed in Sibford, not only by her widowed mother, but also by all her friends and neighbours whose hearty good wishes she carries with her to her new Lancashire home.

A cutting of the above report of the wedding is pasted into the diary at 23 July.

1894, July 11, Wednesday 

I lay in bed till noon, resting my leg. Blacksmith Walker’s wife called to arrange for funeral on Friday next at 3.30 pm of George Wise’s child, aged 10 months, which died of croup this morning.

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