Biography:
1. John Cook started work as a Labourer in the Corning House on the 5th November 1789,
receiving 1/6d per day (Supply 5/214 dated the 27th March 1790). In April 1791, he was "in the barges" (Supply 5/215 dated the 16th April 1791). This was also the case in January to March 1792, according to a footnote on Supply 5/215 dated the 31st January 1792. Supply 5/216 of the 31st July 1792, recorded that he was "in the country charring wood" and would be until September 1792, at which time he was paid 1/6d per day.
By February 1793, John Cook was working as a Bargeman. Together with John Turnham and William Fuller he was taking materials to London by barge, and was clearly afraid of being "seized by the Press Gangs" because the Rex Officers at Waltham Abbey wrote to the Duke of Richmond to the effect that Cook, Fuller and Turnham were Gunpowder Makers and Bargemen, and were apprehensive of the Impress Office on the River Thames. They requested that "you will be pleased to grant them protection." (WASC 475).
2. John was desrcibed as a Bargeman in February to March 1793 (Supply 5/216 dated the 28th February 1793) and August to September of that year (Supply 5/216). This remained the case in January to August 1794 (Supply 5/216), and in December 1794 (Supply 5/217). The same information is repeated in July 1795 (Supply 5/217) when his pay was shown as 9/-d per week. Additionally, John Cook and John Goodwin were Masters of the Bengal in 1797, according to Winters (p.55).
3. In a Return dated September 1798 (Supply 5/219) John was still listed as a Bargeman.
4. A signed document, Supply 5/220 of the 2nd February 1800 relating to a Petition on Pay, showed that John was illiterate and was still working as a Bargeman.
5. A Report dated the 8th May 1801 (Supply 5/221) recorded that he was working as a Labourer, was a married man, and had 2 children. Note: In this document, anyone not an Artificer was described as a Labourer.
6. A Return of Artificers and Labourers dated the 3rd November 1801 (Supply 5/221) stated that although he was still employed as a Bargeman, when not in the barges he was employed with the other men cleaning and deepening the river, canals, ditches and performing any other work necessary..
7. According to Supply 5/222 dated the 8th May 1804, John was working as a Bargeman with pay of 3/3d per day. This Report also recorded that while transporting gunpowder to Pickets Field, Bargemen were allowed double pay.
8. A List of Officers and other Persons on the Establishment dated the 28th March 1805 (Supply 5/223) recorded that together with John Turnham, Cook was in charge of 19 men employed in shipping gunpowder, landing and drawing stores, transporting gunpowder and working in the willow plantation. They were earning 14/-d per week.
9. John is described as a Master Bargeman in January 1806 (Supply 5/224) with 15 years' service.
10 In a record dated 1807 Mr. Cook was still listed as a Master Bargeman, now earning 4/-d per day. This was also the case in 1808 (List of Officers and Artificers, etc. Employed dated the 23rd August 1808 - Supply 5/227) and again in 1811, according to Supply 5/229.
11 Cook was still employed as a Master Bargeman in August 1812, with his pay increased to 5/2d per day (Supply 5/229 dated the 29th August 1812).
12 List of Employees and their Pay (Supply 5/230 dated the 13th February 1814) confirmed that Mr. Cook was still a Master Bargeman at that date, and that he was earning the same 5/2d per day.
13 Report of Persons in Employment dated the 2nd March 1816 (Supply 5/230) confirmed that Mr. Cook was still a Master Bargeman with service of 26 years. It was recommended that he receive a daily superannuation of 5/2d. In the attached notes was the comment that Mr. Cook and others should be superannuated because "...of the hurts they have received in this dangerous Manufactory." It was also stated therein that Mr. Cook had, "previous to his entry into the Ordnance, served in the employment of the Merchants at these works from his childhood." In addition it was said that he had been "very much bruised and severely hurt in the Ordnance service at various periods, which has brought on complaints which render him unfit to continue his duty." However, in a letter dated the 6th March 1816 (Supply 5/200), Mr. Cook was finally awarded superannuation of only 3/6d per day for six days in the week, commencing on the 1st April 1816.
14 A supplement to Supply 5/231 dated the 18th November 1818, listed "persons who have been superannuated on account of their length of service in the departments." Among the recipients was John Cook, Master Bargeman, who received a pension of 21/-d per week, which commenced on the 1st April 1816.
15 A Statement "of monies to which the public were entitled to receive credit between the 1st January and the 31st December 1821 shewing the amounts received by the storekeeper" (Supply 5/232 dated the 4th April 1821), recorded that John Cook, by an Order of the Board dated the 4th May 1821, was living in a house owned by the Board at a rent of £8.9.0d per annum. This house, Tenement No. 28, has been identified as being on the north side of High Bridge Street, to the west of Powder Mill Lane at the western end (fourth from the end) of a group of tenements known as the Bank Cottages, and part of Plot No. 1432 on the 1842 Waltham Abbey Tithe Map or Plot No. 48 on the Town Map in Appendix 1. This same information is repeated in Supply 5/232 dated the 16th February 1822 for the year 1821.
16 List of Persons receiving Superannuation (Supply 5/232 dated the 17th November 1821) confirmed entry No. 14 above in respect of Mr. Cook.
17 A document dated the 6th December 1821 (Supply 5/232) gave the estimated pay of persons between the 1st January and 31st December 1822, along with their superannuated allowance and "the allowance to widows and orphans of those who have lost their lives at this place". It confirmed that John Cook, lately a Master Bargeman, was in receipt of £54.12.0d superannuation per annum. A similar document, Supply 5/232 dated the 28th December 1821, confirmed that the same pension would be paid in 1822, and again in 1826, according to Winters (p.96).
18 A Return of Properties dated the 20th december 1834, showed that John Cook had vacated his cottage, which was then occupied by Edward Essex (Supply 5/237)
19 John was still in receipt of a pension in 1837 according to Supply 5/237.
20 The 1841 Census recorded that John Cook was an Ordnance Pensioner, aged 75, that his wife, Jane, was aged 70, and that they lived in Paradise Row. Both were born in Essex.
