A manufacturer of ‘fine pen and pocket knives’, James Boden was born in about 1815 in Cromford, Derby-shire.  By 1841, he was listed as a spring knife cutler in Chester Lane, with a residence in St Philip’s Road.   An 1850 trade advertisement stated his address as 7, Top of St Philip’s Road, near St George’s Church.  He employed 20 men and boys in 1871, but the number was a dozen in 1881.  He made knives for William Jackson & Co.   In January 1872, he appeared in court as a witness to testify that he had been marking knives ‘L. Rodgers’ for Jackson’s – a fictitious mark that was clearly intended to mimic the famous name of Joseph Rodgers & Sons.  Boden worked in St Philip’s Road throughout his career.   He died there on 28 September 1886, aged 72, and was buried in Fulwood.   He left £1,119.