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Red Barn Murder
The murder of Maria Marten in May 1827 became one of the most famous of the nineteenth century.
About William CORDER William Corder was born in 1803 and christened in October 1804. He was the third son of John Corder, a yeoman farmer and Mary Corder (nee BAALHAM). They lived in Polstead, Suffolk and were a long established family there and said to be Squires of the village. A Red Barn stood on Corder's Land not far from Maria's parent's house. William Corder was about 5ft 4'' tall, slender, muscular with a fair complexion and freckles. He was very short sighted. His nickname at his boarding school in Hadleigh was 'foxey' because he lied and stole. In Polstead he was known as 'Bill'. William Corder was not popular in the village and was regarded as shifty and untrustworthy. It was said he obtained money fraudulently on numerous occasions and on one particular occasion sold some of his father's pigs to a man called BAALHAM, saying they were his. When William's father and brothers died (all within an 18 month period), William and his mother were left to run the farm. He was very close to his mother.
The Murder The relationship between Maria Marten and William was said to have begun on 1826. A child was conceived, and with her parents prompting it was agreed that they would marry. On the 18th of May 1827, Corder had arranged that Maria would meet him at the Red Barn and from there they would travel by horse and gig to Ipswich. Maria was never seen alive again. On the19th of April 1828 the Red Barn's floor was dug up and the remains of Maria found. Constable John BAALHAM of Polstead, searched William's rooms and found a pistol case, two small pistols, powder flask and balls, he went to London and arrested Corder. William was arrested, tried and convicted at Bury St.Edmunds assizes in August 1828. He was publicly executed on the 11th August 1828.
Maria Martin is buried in St Mary's church churchyard, Polstead. A plaque reads: 'near this place lie the remains of Maria Martin who died in the red barn, Polstead and was buried on April 20th 1828 aged 26 years R.I.P.'
More information Songs The murder from that day has been of interest. In 1828 James Catnach first printed a broadside of a ballard based on the murder. To see the lyrics and hear the tune click here. Museums An excellent website by the St Edmundsbury Borough Council details the account of the murder with images of William Corder, newspaper cuttings and transcripts from the case. Films Maria Marten-The murder in the Red Barn (1902, Harrison & Co. Ltd) 5 mins.Director & Stage Manager: Dicky Winslow. Maria Marten (aka The Red Barn Crime)(1908, William Haggar & Sons, Tyler). Director: William Hagger. Maria Marten-The murder in the Red Barn (1913, Motograph Films) Director & Sc: Maurice Elvey. (Filmed at the actual location of the crime in Suffolk). Maria Marten or The murder in the Red Barn (1935, King/MGM.) 67mins. Director: Milton Rosmer. Starring Tod Slaughter and Hilary Eaves. Books Maria Marten or 'The Murder in the Red Barn', Montague Slater (Editor), Heinemann Educational Secondary Division, Paperback, 1971. The Murder in Red Barn - Maria Marten, Peter Haining, Images Publications, Paperback - 1992 Theatre Many theatres have staged productions of the murder and still continue to such as in Edinburgh Law RED BARN MURDER]. The Trial of William Corder. . .for the Murder of Maria Marten. Printed for Knight & Lacey, 55, Paternoster-Row, London, 1828. Television Was there a documentary on the murder?
The Red Barn Murder Links Digital Tradition Mirror Gaslight Joe Hope's Maria Marten Sheets Murder in the Red Barn - Film Info Murderfiles Polstead Website Rootsweb Sussex List St Edmundsbury Borough Council Tarlton Law Library UKpubs
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