Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Intense cold still dull. Very slight snow in afternoon. Visited Widow Joseph, John Lamb, Horsmans, J Aris, W Barnes, George Payne. Saw Joseph and Thomas Coleman in the field and gave them their coal tickets. Left Joe Payne’s with his mother as his wife was confined a day or two ago.

Mr Woolgrove called. He and Mr Hall had been over the Heath Farm to see Poulton’s mounding work etc, and said they agreed that we should pay the bill £32.14.6 knocking off 14/6 by agreement with Poulton.

Lewis Poulton called this evening and I paid him his bill of £32 in accordance with the Farm Committee’s request, as I calculated that there was sufficient in the Bank to meet it though I have not yet received Miller & Abbot’s account. He said the Horticultural Society Committee could not meet till Monday and at his request I wrote to Mr Stone leaving him to fix 3 days for the lectures on gardening, suggesting Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday March 5, 6 & 8. There is to be a Conservative meeting at the Bishop Blaise Inn tomorrow evening about Mr Wynne’s candidature for the Banbury division of Oxfordshire, as Sir B Samuelson is retiring and the jury did not come to a verdict in the divorce case of Hawtin v Hawtin and Wynne and Hawtin has no money to go on with a new trial. It is a sad case for Wynne, who, however, must be held innocent till he is proved to be guilty. Many, Poulton and the Doctor included, are strongly in favour of his continued candidature and support.

Fine and bright but intensely cold. Visited Mary Thame at the Doctor’s, but did not go up stairs as she was much better, but has had an attack of pleurisy during the week. I saw Miss S Dix and Miss Hayward. Miss Grace was out with the doctor. Visited Job Harris, Thomas Keen and Richard Haynes whose daughter Myra is servant at the Doctor’s, but is at home ill. I hear that Joshua Lines has been bad with lumbago but gets about. I had not time to call to see him. Called on Charles Barnes to speak about the warming the church. He was going to light the underground stove this evening as he did last Saturday. I also visited the Goughs.

Our WC apparatus and our pump are rendered useless by the continued frost.

Sexagesima Sunday. Mary Sabin age 88 or 89, was buried in the Quakers’ ground this morning.

The church was full of smoke this afternoon. Rosa and I called on Miss S Dix. It was a very dull day, seeming to portent more snow, and the congregations were very small.