He was quite famous locally at the time, and his most popular song is probably "Aw wish Pay Friday wad cum".
Mr James Anderson was born in 1825 in Earsdon and followed his father into the coal mines.
His songs won many prizes in the local competitions, such as the one held by John W Chater and those run by the Weekly Chronicle.
His song "Aw wish Pay Friday wad cum" was awarded first prize in the Weekly Chronicle song competition of 1870, beating some 176 competitors including Joe Wilson's entry of "Wor Geordy's Local Hist'ry".
After the publication of the song the author became known as 'Pay Friday Jim'[3][4] John Fraser, the local printer, stationer, bookbinder, newsagent, writer and publisher (of, among other things, The Blyth & Tyneside Comic Almanack), published in 1898 a collection of James' Anderson's songs and poems entitled "Collection of Blyth and Tyneside Poems & Songs” James Anderson died after a long illness at his home in Cowpen Quay, Blyth, Northumberland, on 14 March 1899, he was 73.