Thomas Corser
Encyclopedia
Thomas Corser was a British literary scholar and Church of England clergyman. He was the editor of Collectanea Anglo-Poetica.
, taking with him one of the school exhibitions. He graduated B.A. in 1815, and M.A. in 1818.
It was during his residence at Oxford, and through his intimacy with Dr. Henry Cotton
, sub-librarian of the Bodleian Library
, that his love of early English poetry and Elizabethan literature was formed and his bibliographical tastes encouraged. In the early part of 1816 he was ordained to the curacy of Condover
, near Shrewsbury
, and in the following year received priest's orders, holding also the chaplaincy of Atcham Union at Berrington. From 1819 to 1821 he served as curate of the extensive parish of Stone, Staffordshire
, and for the next year and a half was curate of Monmouth
. Here, while meditating the acceptance of the English chaplaincy at Antwerp, he accepted the offer of the curacy of Prestwich
, near Manchester
, which proved the turning-point of his life.
In 1826, while curate of Prestwich, he obtained the incumbency of All Saints' Church, Stand, Manchester
, where he was admitted on 8 Sept. and continued for nearly fifty years. By his care and exertions the parish was early supplied with large and flourishing schools. In 1828 he succeeded to the vicarage of Norton-by-Daventry in Northamptonshire
, but there being no residence he continued to remain at Stand. He was one of the founders of the Chetham Society in 1843. Corser was also a member of the Spenser, Camden
, Surtees, Percy
, and Shakespeare societies, and was elected a FSA in 1850. His name appears in the list of those who signed the remonstrance on the Purchas judgment in 1872. In 1867 he suffered from an attack of paralysis; his eyesight failed, and he could only write with his left hand.
He died at Stand rectory on 24 August 1876.
He married, on 24 November 1828, Ellen, eldest daughter of the Rev. James Lyon, rector of Prestwich. She died on 25 April 1859.
in 1636, illustrated by the editor's research and diligence. The second is an alphabetical account, with extracts from each author, and elaborate biographical and bibliographical notices of the editor's collection of early English poetry which he had begun to form at an early age. The first part was issued in 1860.
The rector's advanced age and infirmities interfered with the progress of the undertaking on the original scale beyond the letter C, which was concluded at the fourth part (1869). But six parts (1873–1880) were subsequently issued on a briefer plan. Corser died after the fifth part was published in 1873, and James Crossley edited the remainder. The work is a very valuable contribution to English bibliography. The collection of books which formed the basis of this work was sold in London in portions at different dates, from July 1868 to 1874, and realised upwards of £20,000. Henry Huth
purchased some of the most valuable volumes.
Life
Corser, third son of George Corser of Whitchurch, Shropshire, banker, and his wife Martha, daughter of Randall Phythian of the Higher Hall, Edge, Cheshire, was born at Whitchurch in 1793. From Whitchurch school he was removed in 1808 to the Manchester grammar school, whence in May 1812 he was admitted a commoner of Balliol College, OxfordOxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, taking with him one of the school exhibitions. He graduated B.A. in 1815, and M.A. in 1818.
It was during his residence at Oxford, and through his intimacy with Dr. Henry Cotton
Henry Cotton (divine)
Henry Cotton was an Anglo-Irish churchman, ecclesiastical historian and author.-Life:He was a native of Buckinghamshire. Beginning in 1803, he spent four years at Westminster School and then in 1807 he entered Christ Church, Oxford. He obtained a B.A. in classics in 1811 and a M.A. in 1813...
, sub-librarian of the Bodleian Library
Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library , the main research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in Britain is second in size only to the British Library...
, that his love of early English poetry and Elizabethan literature was formed and his bibliographical tastes encouraged. In the early part of 1816 he was ordained to the curacy of Condover
Condover
Condover is a village and civil parish in Shropshire, England. It lies 4.7 miles south of the county town of Shrewsbury, and just east of the A49. The Cound Brook flows through the village on its way from the Stretton Hills to a confluence with the River Severn...
, near Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
, and in the following year received priest's orders, holding also the chaplaincy of Atcham Union at Berrington. From 1819 to 1821 he served as curate of the extensive parish of Stone, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, and for the next year and a half was curate of Monmouth
Monmouth
Monmouth is a town in southeast Wales and traditional county town of the historic county of Monmouthshire. It is situated close to the border with England, where the River Monnow meets the River Wye with bridges over both....
. Here, while meditating the acceptance of the English chaplaincy at Antwerp, he accepted the offer of the curacy of Prestwich
Prestwich
Prestwich is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies close to the River Irwell, north of Manchester city centre, north of Salford and south of Bury....
, near Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, which proved the turning-point of his life.
In 1826, while curate of Prestwich, he obtained the incumbency of All Saints' Church, Stand, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, where he was admitted on 8 Sept. and continued for nearly fifty years. By his care and exertions the parish was early supplied with large and flourishing schools. In 1828 he succeeded to the vicarage of Norton-by-Daventry in Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
, but there being no residence he continued to remain at Stand. He was one of the founders of the Chetham Society in 1843. Corser was also a member of the Spenser, Camden
Camden Society
The Camden Society, named after the English antiquary and historian William Camden, was founded in 1838 in London to publish early historical and literary materials, both unpublished manuscripts and new editions of rare printed books....
, Surtees, Percy
Percy Society
The Percy Society was a British book-club. It was founded in 1840 and collapsed in 1852.It was a scholarly collective, aimed at publishing limited-edition books of rare poems and songs...
, and Shakespeare societies, and was elected a FSA in 1850. His name appears in the list of those who signed the remonstrance on the Purchas judgment in 1872. In 1867 he suffered from an attack of paralysis; his eyesight failed, and he could only write with his left hand.
He died at Stand rectory on 24 August 1876.
He married, on 24 November 1828, Ellen, eldest daughter of the Rev. James Lyon, rector of Prestwich. She died on 25 April 1859.
Works
Of the four works edited by Corser for the Chetham Society — Chester's Triumph (1844), Iter Lancastrense (1845), Robinson's Golden Mirrour, and Collectanea Anglo-Poetica — the most important are the Iter and the Collectanea. The first is an account by Richard James, in verse, of his visit to LancashireLancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
in 1636, illustrated by the editor's research and diligence. The second is an alphabetical account, with extracts from each author, and elaborate biographical and bibliographical notices of the editor's collection of early English poetry which he had begun to form at an early age. The first part was issued in 1860.
The rector's advanced age and infirmities interfered with the progress of the undertaking on the original scale beyond the letter C, which was concluded at the fourth part (1869). But six parts (1873–1880) were subsequently issued on a briefer plan. Corser died after the fifth part was published in 1873, and James Crossley edited the remainder. The work is a very valuable contribution to English bibliography. The collection of books which formed the basis of this work was sold in London in portions at different dates, from July 1868 to 1874, and realised upwards of £20,000. Henry Huth
Henry Huth
Henry Huth was an English merchant banker and prominent bibliophile.-Early life:He was the third son of Frederick Huth of Hanover, who settled at Corunna in Spain. Frederick Huth left Spain during the Napoleonic Wars, with his family under convoy of the British squadron, and landed in England in...
purchased some of the most valuable volumes.