Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

I awoke this morning with a pain at the chest in coughing like incipient bronchitis, which an application of Turpentine fortunately removed in the course of the day, but I lay in bed till tea time. Received postcard from Kitty Rogers saying that Percy was much the same and holding his strength wonderfully. Sent £51 odd to Clergy Mutual for my premium on £1000. Mr Woolgrove called this evening to speak about the forthcoming Parish Council meeting. I sold Lively the apples we did not want. He paid £2:8:0 and is to account for 9/- worth of windfalls. I have to pay him for gathering etc.

A delightful, sunny morning. Cold and rainy in afternoon. Joshua Lamb called for Loggin poor rate £1.1.6. I married Richard Westbury, widower, age 44 and Mary Ann Harris age 49, widow at 2 pm this afternoon. They are residing at Chilloway Barn. They kept me waiting 20 minutes. I told them I was just on the point of returning home when they arrived.

Fine. Taught Boys’ Sunday School this morning and attended choir practice this evening. There was a large attendance. The children are learning to intone Tallis’s Service and do it heartily and well. There were over 70 children at schools this morning, and all were very clean and neat and well-behaved.

I baptized Muriel Ada, daughter of Joseph Lovell farmer, of Sibford Ferris.

My cough was very troublesome last night after I got to bed, but it subsided at last. A very wet day. In the afternoon the rain came down in torrents.

Received 2 quarters of oats (black) from Mr Phillips of Oakham? Farm, Little Compton at 15/- per quarter through Dr Routh who asked me to pay him for them. The man shot one bag into the bin and took the other three up into the little loft, but did not shoot them. He said it would be all right if I sent the empty bags to Dr Routh. The ladder slipped whilst the man was on it with the last bag of oats, but I caught hold of the foot of it and an accident was happily avoided.

Very fine, but cold wind. Had to reprove boy Hyde severely for neglect of duty and stupidity in leaving Ruby standing out in the cold wind by the stable door while he went to his dinner. I told him to groom her there. He merely tied her up there and left her. She broke loose and went into the sunshine in the yard.

I drove Rosa to Shenington to visit Mrs John and Miss E Shellswell. We staid to tea. Arthur Shellswell was not at home, but I put Ruby in his stable. We left at 7.30 pm.