Pedder is probably an old form of 'pedlar', meaning an itinerant seller of goods. Alternatively, it may be a variation of the Christian name 'Peter'.
James was born in Lancashire, probably in the Cockerham or Garstang area, some time around 1771 (sources give conflicting information). The parish register entry for his marriage gives his place of residence as Cockerham.
He married Jennet Wilkinson, daughter of William Wilkinson of Garstang, at St Helen's, Churchtown, on 14th May, 1799 and they appear to have moved to Ellel, south of Lancaster, and later settled in Aldcliffe, a hamlet about 2 miles southwest of Lancaster. Ten children have been identified, probably all born in either Ellel or Aldcliffe. The family used three different churches for christening their children: the Ellel registers show James's residence as Ellel; the Lancaster and Forton registers show it as Aldcliffe. I have not yet found any baptisms of the youngest two children, but the 1851 census shows that they were both born in Aldcliffe.
James is first recorded as living at Aldcliffe in 1805, where he would probably have been in the employment of the Dawson family, the owners of Aldcliffe Hall. The Dawsons were active in the development of the Congregationalist church movement in Lancashire, particularly the chapel at Forton, which probably explains why three of James's children were baptised there between1811 and 1815. By 1825, members of the Pedder family were using the Congregationalist chapel at High Street, Lancaster: James's first grandchild was christened there in 1825, and the registers go on to record the marriages of four of his children and further christenings of grandchildren.
James's occupation is given as 'labourer' in 1841, 'farmer' in 1843, 'Labourer at Aldcliffe Hall' at his burial. In 1841 there were 14 members of the Pedder family living in Aldcliffe, which was a significant proportion of the hamlet's total population of less than 100.
James died in 1847, and was buried at High Street Congregationalist Chapel, Lancaster, where there is a stone in the churchyard with the following inscription:
By 1851, there were no Pedders remaining in Aldcliffe.
Thomas was born in (or about) 1822 in Aldcliffe, near Lancaster, the youngest son of James and Jennet Pedder.
In 1841 he was living at Aldcliffe Hall, probably as some sort of servant - his occupation is shown in the census as 'A.P.' (apprentice?). Two years later, his marriage certificate, and his first son's birth certificate, give his occupation as Coach Maker.
On 7th August 1843 Thomas married Ann Hodgson, the eldest daughter of John and Elizabeth Hodgson of Main Street, Skerton, near Lancaster; the wedding took place at High Street Congregationalist Chapel in Lancaster. Thomas and Ann initially lived in Main Street, Skerton, where their first child was born three months later.
I know of two children, both born in Skerton:
By 1851, the family had moved away from Lancaster, and Gore's Directory of Liverpool shows Thomas living at 16 Holland Terrace, Brunswick Road. The 1851 census shows the family living at 31 West Street, in the West Derby district of Liverpool. George was still working as a coach body maker, so it might have been an employment opportunity which took the family to Liverpool. It is possible that more children were born there, but none was present at the 1861 census, other than George. By 1859 the family had moved to 14 Hardwick Square, not far from their previous address, and they were still there in 1865. In 1871, Thomas and Anne were living in Smith Street, Warrington, but by 1881 they had returned to live in Skerton.
Thomas died on 21st January 1881, at Kiln Lane, Skerton. Anne died on 23rd July 1888 at Main Street, Skerton, the same street she lived in as a child.
George was the first child of Thomas and Ann Pedder, and was born in Skerton, near Lancaster, on 30th November 1843. He was christened on 21st December the same year, at High Street Congregationalist Chapel in Lancaster. While he was still young, the family moved to Liverpool, to live at 31 West Street, and later 14 Hardwick Square, both in the West Derby district (the site of both these streets is now occupied by the Royal Liverpool Hospital). In 1861, at the age of 17, his occupation is blacksmith. The next address I have for him is 33 Daulby Street, Liverpool, prior to his marriage in 1869: by then, like his father, he had become a coach builder.
He married Susannah Davies on 4th January 1869 at Liverpool Register Office. Susannah was the first daughter of William Davies (a stone engraver) by his Irish-born second wife Susan, of Upper Pitt Street, Liverpool. George and Susannah had two children, both born in Liverpool:
The family were living at 30 Greenside, in the Everton district of Liverpool, in 1871, but by 1873 they had moved to 102 Sutton Street, Tue Brook, and George continued to work as a coach builder. By 1877 they had moved to Guilford Street.
George died tragically early at the age of 33, from head injuries sustained in a fall from a trap. He died at Liverpool Royal Infirmary on 29th July 1877, and the circumstances of his death were described in the Daily Courier of Wednesday, August 1st:
FATAL FALL OUT OF A TRAP - An inquest was held before the borough coroner yesterday upon the body of George H. Pedder, 32 years of age, a coachbuilder, of 38, Guilford-street. The deceased and Mr. S.E. Jones, car proprietor, Langsdale-street, were riding in a trap along Renshaw-street, on the 22nd July. Mr. Jones was driving, and the trap jerked a little, which caused deceased to fall out. One of his eyes was injured, but after getting it dressed he was able to resume the journey. Inflammation of the brain subsequently set in, and deceased died on Sunday. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death."
I have not yet discovered what became of his widow.
Henry was born on 4th August 1870, at 10 Upper Pitt Street, Liverpool, the home of his maternal grandparents. Childhood addresses included 30 Greenside, Everton; 102 Sutton Street, Tue Brook; and 38 (or 18) Guilford Street. He was christened, along with his younger sister Bertha, at St John the Baptist Church, Tue Brook, on 1st June, 1873. Following the early death of his father, he and Bertha were accommodated at Ripley Hospital, Lancaster. This was an endowed school founded by Julia Ripley, the widow of a Liverpool merchant, for the education of orphans and fatherless children from Liverpool and Lancaster.
By 1891 he was living (as a boarder) at 113 Main Street, Skerton, and had obtained a job as a clerk with one of the two railway companies in Lancaster (London & North Western Railway or Midland Railway). Prior to his marriage in 1896, he was living at 45 Lune Street, Skerton.
Henry married Alice Park at St Thomas's Church, Lancaster, on 23rd January 1896. Alice was the youngest daughter of Jane Park, a former beer house keeper, and her late husband Robert. For some years following their marriage, Henry and Alice lived with Alice's mother at 28 Thurnham Street, Lancaster.
They had 5 children:
The children were brought up as Catholics, in line with the traditions of the Park family. The family, including Alice's mother, later moved to a large terraced house at 71 Dale Street, Lancaster. The loss of two of their children, due to illnesses, in the space of less than two years, must have been very distressing. Henry continued to work as a railway clerk, and following the Railway Grouping of 1923, worked for the London, Midland and Scottish Railway. According to my mother, he became chief clerk at Morecambe Promenade station. He was a keen rower, and a member of the John o' Gaunt Rowing Club; he served as Secretary of the club for some time.
Henry and Alice moved to 9 Chester Place, Lancaster in the early 1940s. Henry died at home on 12th March 1944 at the age of 73.
Henry (known as Harry) was the first child of Henry and Alice Pedder, and was born on 27th August 1896, at 28 Thurnham Street, Lancaster. By 1909 the family had moved to 71 Dale Street, Lancaster, and it would have been here that he met his future wife, Laura Violet Price, who lived at number 91.
Harry probably started work at the age of 14, following in his father's footsteps as a railway clerk. He had won a place at Lancaster Royal Grammar School, but was persuaded to turn this down and go to work instead. He served with the Grenadier Guards in the First World War.
Harry married Laura Violet Price on 14th August 1926. The marriage met with some disapproval from their respective parents, with neither side willing to accept a marriage taking place in the other's church. There was some hypocrisy on both sides, as Harry's parents had themselves married in an Anglican church, and Laura's maternal grandfather George Roberts had been brought up as a Catholic. As a result, the marriage was a civil ceremony, taking place at Lancaster Register Office. After marrying, Harry and Laura lived at 18 Avondale Road, Lancaster, where they had just one child:
In 1933, the family moved to 38 Newsham Place, Lancaster.
Like his father, Harry was a keen rower and was at one time Captain of the John o'Gaunt Rowing Club, and may also have been treasurer. He was active in community affairs, and was a member (treasurer?) of Lancaster Trades Council. He also served as a magistrate from about 1946.
Harry latterly worked as Accounts Clerk in the British Railways District Engineer's Office in Castle Park, Lancaster. Shortly after retiring, he died at home on 13th February, 1957, and was buried in Scotforth Cemetery.