Another worker approached Blizard to tell him that his own scythe had
been stolen. Blizard reassured the man and told him that the thief, a Mr
Martin, who took the scythe, would never mow again. Blizard then gave the man a
spare scythe from his barn and sharpened it with a halfpenny and it was
reported that the scythe cut better than any other scythe the man had used. It
did indeed come true about the thief. Mr Martin never did mow again, so whether
it was down to Blizard and his supernatural powers or Mr Martin’s rheumatism,
we will never know.
Another local man,
Job Washbourne, fully believed in Blizard’s magical ways but on one occasion,
whilst visiting Blizard’s home for a game of cards, he had to walk out. Blizard
invited Washbourne in and after some small talk,* Blizard went and placed 9
candles on the card table. It was getting dark so the men needed the
candlelight so they could start a game of cards. The candles then lit up with
flames, raising high up then down, as though the flames were dancing. Then 7 of
the candles went out and as this happened, a pack of cards, appeared out of
nowhere, onto the table.* This was too much for Washbourne, so he sharply left!
It was on the 24th
of January in 1836, that Bevil Blizard passed away at the grand old age of 94.
He was buried in the churchyard at Oxenton but those who lived by, said
Blizard’s spirit was restless, and many saw his full form at the church gate.
He was last seen by a local and trusted resident, Anne Tustin.
