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Archiver > SUSSEX-PLUS > 1998-04 > 0891437153


From: Tvark <>
Subject: Re: Red Barn Murder
Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 08:25:53 EST


Hi!

Herewith some details from my readings of various accounts of the notorious
murder which led to many Victorian melodramas.

Thomas and Grace Marten lived in Polstead, Suffolk. Thomas was the village
mole catcher cum general gamekeeper. On 24 Jul 1802 their first child, Maria
was born. In 1809 at the age of 7 she was sent to work as a domestic for a
local clergyman, a position from which she was dismissed in 1817. Whilst
Maria was away her mother died and Thomas married another Suffolk woman called
Anne. Maria's stepmother wasn't much older than herself and the two didn't
get on very well. Anne was particularly jealous of the attention Maria
received from the menfolk of the village. so it came as no surprise when, in
1820, she gave birth to an illigitimate child fathered by Thomas CORDER, son
of a wealthy Polstead farmer. Marriage was unthinkable, in view of the
difference in social status, but the Corders offered to support the child.
However, it died within a couple of weeks.. Within a few weeks of losing the
child, Maria was sleeping with Peter MATHEWS, brother of the lady of the
manor, who would take her off on frolics to London and Ipswich. Soon Maria
was pregnant again and Mathews provided an allowance of £5 a quarter for
Thomas Henry's maintenance before disappearing from Maria's life.

After various other liaisons, Maria struck up a relationship with William
CORDER, Thomas's brother. William was a notorious gambler and drinker and when
in December 1825, his father, James, died William and his three brothers were
left to run the farm. William's relationship with Maria was kept somewhat
secret but she soon became pregnant again. William went to see Thomas and
Anne Marten and asked them to keep things quiet, promising to marry Maria.
She was sent off to Sudbury until after the baby was born. Maria returned to
Polstead but kept the baby from public view until it died in mysterious
circumstances. On Friday 18th May 1827, William arrived at the Marten's
cottage and told them Maria should meet him in the Red barn around noon
because he wanted to take her away to marry her. He advised that she should
dress as a boy to hide her identity from the villagers.

William then disappeared from the village, returning later to tell Thomas and
Anne that Maria was in Ipswich waiting for their licence to get married. On
various occasions afterwards William would turn up and tell the Martens how
happy Maria was . He later sent a letter telling them that he and Maria had
decided to move to the Isle of Wight. Meanwhile Anne kept telling her husband
that she was sure something was wrong and she had dreams that Maria's body was
in one of the stalls in the Red Barn. At last he agreed to search and indeed
found her body there on 19th April 1828. Her heart had been punctured and she
had been shot in the neck. Her handkerchief was tied tightly round her neck
as if to strangle her. Meanwhile William CORDER had married another woman,
one Mary MOORE whom he had met as a result of placing an advertisement in the
"Morning Herald" and "Sunday Times". They set up home at Grove House, Ealing
Lane, Brentford (Middlesex).

Constable John BAALHAM of Polstead, having searched William's rooms and found
a pistol case, two small pistols, powder flask and balls, went to London and
arrested CORDER. He was tried, found guilty and executed at Bury St Edmunds
on 11 August 1828 before a vast crowd. Shortly before he had written a full
confession.

I have visited Polstead. The Red Barn burnt down only 15 years after the
murder and there is now just a memorial plaque on the village church.

Cheers

Paul Vivas

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