Biography:
1. John Messer was a Stoves' Foreman with pay of £1.2.0d per week (Supply 5/223 dated the 28th March 1805).
2. Supply 5/224 dated the 30th January 1806 confirmed he was employeed as the Foreman of Stoves at 4/-d per day, and that at that date he had been employed with the Ordnance for a year.
3. Messer was still in same position in June 1807 on the same pay (Supply 5/226 dated the 18th June 1807) .
4. According to the entry on Supply 5/227 dated the 23rd August 1808, Mr. Messer now earned 4/5d. per day, and was a "Coppersmith and Steam Stoveman."
5. He was confirmed as a Coppersmith with pay of 5/-d per day in Supply 5/228 dated the 1st September 1810.
6. According to a Return dated the 29th August 1812 (Supply 5/229) Mr. Messer was still a Coppersmith, but he was then paid 6/4d per day.
7. Supply 5/230 dated the 13th February 1814, confirmed that Mr. Messer was still a Coppersmith on 6/4d per day.
8. Returns dated the 25th June 1818 (Supply 5/231 and WO54/524) stated that Mr. Messer was still a Coppersmith and that he had been brought up in that trade. He was aged 56, resided in Waltham Abbey and was married with 3 children. He then earned 5/4d per day.
9. A List of Employees dated the 28th August 1818 (Supply 5/231) gave the names of people to be retained between the 3rd September and the 31st December 1818. Messer's name was included, with his pay remaining at 5/4d per day.
10 A letter dated September 1818 (Supply 5/231) stated "We respectfully beg leave to add the names and stations of those persons whom it will be necessary to discharge in consequence of this arrangement." The list included Mr. John Messer, Coppersmith.
11 However, in the List of Employees dated 19th May 1819 (Supply 5/232) it would appear that Messer was still employed as a Coppersmith at 5/4d per day. At that date he was aged 57, had 4 children and lived in Waltham Abbey.
12 Return dated the 13th September 1820 (Supply 5/232) updated the entry in Note 11, with Messer's basic details on pay, etc. remaining unchanged, but he was recorded as having 5 children. WO54/532 of the same date confirmed that he was trained as a Coppersmith.
13 List of Employees dated the 9th April 1821 (Supply 5/232) recorded that Mr. Messer was 58, was married and had 5 children. He still lived in Waltham Abbey, was still a Coppersmith and was earning the same amount as in Note 11.
14 List of Employees in January 1822 (Supply 5/232 dated the the 26th January, 1822) recorded that John Messer, Coppersmith, aged 59, had 17 years' service, and confirmed he was paid 5/4d per day.
15 Return showing the pay, allowances and length of service and every description of the persons in the pay and employment of the Ordnance at Waltham Abbey as at the 31st December 1821 (Supply 5/232 dated the 6th February 1822) appeared to be a more detailed, and probably more accurate, Return than that dated the 23rd January 1822.
John Messer, Coppersmith, was appointed 22nd July1805 at Waltham Abbey and was officially made a Coppersmith on the 1st January 1810, with total pay for the year amounting to £83.9.4d. At that date he had 17 years' service, was aged 59, was a married man with 3 children, and lived in Waltham Abbey.
16 List dated the 21st March 1822 (Supply 5/232) of persons to form an Establishment at Waltham Abbey to regenerate 2000 barrels of gunpowder as well as to make 100 or 200 barrels of gunpowder annually, included John Messer, Coppersmith. His position as a Coppersmith on the Establishment was confirmed on the 22nd May 1822 (WO54/542).
17. WO54/542 dated the 1st April 1823, confirms Messer's pay as £83.9.4d per annum. His family and service details were confirmed.
18 WO54/546 dated the 1st October 1824, confirmed that Mr. Messer, was appointed Coppersmith on the 1st January1810 and 22nd May, 1822. His pay was given as £83.9.4d per annum, with no allowances. He had nearly 20 years' service, was then aged 62 and was married with 3 children.
19 Return dated the 1st October 1825 (Winters', pp.93-95) confirmed the previous information given and recorded that he had been in continuous service with the Board since 1804. WO54/550 dated the 1st April 1825 confirmed his pay at £83.9.4d, and previous family and service details remained unchanged.
20 Actual Return of Pay and Allowances, etc., (WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825) stated that at that date Messer had just over 21 years' service, that he was aged 62, was married and had 3 children.
21 WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826, confirmed the basic information given in WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825.
22 WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826 recorded that John Messer had died.
