- James William Corder
James William Corder (1867-1953) is a historian best remembered for documenting family history in
Sunderland ,Tyne and Wear , England. His volumes are today invaluable to people interested ingenealogy .Early life
James William Corder, the son of
Sunderland merchant tradesman Francis Corder, was educated at theQuaker -runBootham School inYork and never married. Instead, he devoted his life tolocal history .His historical studies began when he was in his early 20s, after he was inspired by George Bain, a founder of Sunderland Antiquarian Society, to investigate Sunderland’s history.
Corder's research
James Corder started his research at the end of the 19th century, by copying the registers of three ancient churches, including St Peter's, which was founded by
Benedict Biscop . He also used information held byPresbyterian chapels in the town, as well as trade directories and marriage license bonds.Corder documented his research in 25 volumes of manuscript books, taking 40 years to compile lists of the births, deaths and marriages of Sunderland families. His knowledge of intermarriage was immense, as documented in his volume on local
Quaker families. He also interviewed people to help with the construction of the pedigrees of local families. He made notes of their origins in his manuscripts and traced their first entry into the town, the trades they were in and where they lived.But he was also controversial. His books often contained potentially libelous comments on the people he met. One man was called a ‘worthless nonentity,’ by Corder, another ‘a habitual drunkard.’ It is said that his books were kept hidden at Sunderland library for some years, for fear of possible court action by those mentioned.
As well as his family records, Corder also chronicled Sunderland's streets, buildings, churches and industries in a further 36 volumes. Many of the streets, and most of the firms he listed, have now disappeared – hence his work is of great value.
His final years
Corder retired in the 1940s, donating his volumes of research to Sunderland’s Central Library. He left Sunderland some years later, moving to
Over Stowey inSomerset . He died inOver Stowey in a nursing home in 1953, at the age of 85.Corder's unique record of Sunderland life is available to view at Sunderland’s Central Library and provides a vital starting point for many genealogists.
References
* [http://www.sunderlandecho.com/daily-feature/Dastardly-40and-sometimes-funny41-deeds.1936291.jp The records of Sunderland Antiquarian Society as reported in the
Sunderland Echo ]
* [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/archon/searches/locresult_details.asp?LR=2959 National Archives]
* [http://www.herrington-heritage.org.uk/boilingwell.html Herrington Heritage - and the work of Sunderland Antiquarian Society]External links
* [http://www.sunderland.gov.uk/Public/Editable/Themes/Lifelong-Learning/local-studies.asp#Corder Sunderland Council]
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