Biography:
1. John Nigh was employed on the 13th August 1793 as a Labourer in the Corning House at 1/6d per day, in order to fill one of the 7 vacancies available at that time (Winters' Centenary Memorial, p.40). This information was confirmed in Supply 5/216 dated the 31st August, 1793.
2. Nigh was still in the Corning House in January to December 1794 (Supply 5/216). He enlisted as a Private in the Volunteer Company on the 7th May 1794 (Supply 5/219).
3. Report dated 24th June 1795 (Supply 5/217) recorded that Nigh was a "charcoal Millman." However, his pay remained at 1/6d per day.
4. In September 1798, Nigh was still a Private in the Voluntary Company (Supply 5/219).
5. A signed document, Supply 5/220 of the 2nd February 1800 relating to a Petition on Pay, showed that John was illiterate, and was then working as a Labourer in the Refining House .
6. Report dated the 8th May 1801 (Supply 5/221) recorded that he was still working as a Labourer. He was a married man with no children. Note: in this document, anyone who was not an Artificer was described as a Labourer. Robert Coleman recorded in his Minute Book on the 23rd October 1801, that 24 men were required to work at Faversham or be discharged, and Nigh was one who agreed to go (Winters, p.60). However, the Faversham Gunpowder Personnel Register 1573-1840 did not record his name, so it can only be assumed that Nigh's services were terminated and that he was subsequently re-engaged, because WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826, gave his length of service as just over 33 years.
7. Supply 5/222 dated the 8th May 1804 recorded that John was working as a Refiner with pay of 2/-d per day, and all Refiners received an additional allowance of 1/-d per night when it was their turn to watch - on average every 5th night.
8. He was still a Refiner in the Salt Petre House with pay of 2/-d per day and 13 years' service, according to Supply 5/224 dated the 30th January 1806 .
9. Supply 5/226 dated the 18th June 1807, recorded that Mr. Nigh was at that time employed as a Bargeman, earning 2/-d per day; on the 23rd August 1808 he was still described as a Bargeman, but was then earning 3/-d per day.
10 Supply 5/228 dated the 1st September 1810, recorded that he was a Saltpetre Refiner who was paid 2/-d per day, and allowed to watch in turn.
11 Nigh was employed as a Master Bargeman with pay of 5/2d per day (Supply 5/229 dated the 29th August 1812).
12 List of Employees and their Salaries (Supply 5/230 dated the 13th February 1814) stated that Mr. Nigh was still a Master Bargeman earning the same 5/2d per day.
13 Supply 5/231 dated the 25th June 1818, confirmed that Mr. Nigh was still a Master Bargeman; he was a married man aged 52 with no children who lived in Waltham Abbey, and earned 4/2d per day.
14 Supply 5/231 dated the 3rd September 1818, listed the names of people to be retained between the 3rd September and the 31st December 1818. Nigh's name was on the list with his pay unchanged.
15 List of Employees dated the 19th May 1819, recorded that Nigh was still employed as a Master Bargeman (later his trade is described as Barge Master). He was then aged 53, and was paid 4/2d per day. It also confirmed that he still had no issue and still lived in Waltham Abbey (Supply 5/231).
16 Supply 5/232 dated the 13th September 1820 confirmed that Nigh was still employed as a Master Bargeman, with his conditions of employment, etc. remaining unchanged.
17 WO54/536 of September 1820, indicated that John was now 54. All other details remained as in Note 15.
18 Supply 5/232 dated the 23rd January 1822 gave the age of John, Master Bargeman, as 55, with nearly 29 years' service and pay per day of 4/2d.
19 Supply 5/232 dated the 6th February 1822, showing the pay, allowances and length of service and every description of the persons in the pay and employ of the Ordnance at Waltham Abbey as at the 31st December 1821, appeared to be a more detailed, and probably more accurate, Return than that dated the 23rd January 1822. It recorded that John Nigh, Master Bargeman, was appointed on the 13th August 1793 as a Labourer at Waltham Abbey. His total annual pay amounted to £65.4.2d, he had nearly 29 years' service, was aged 55 years, and he was a married man with no children living in Enfield
20 Supply 5/232 of the 21st March 1822 giving the names 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 Nigh, Master Bargeman.
21 WO54/542 dated the 1st April 1823, confirmed that Nigh was still a Master Bargeman, that his pay for the year was £65.4.2d, that his family and service details remained the same, and that he still lived in Waltham Abbey.
22 According to a Return dated the 1st October 1824 (WO54/546) John still earned £65.4.2d per annum. This Return stated he was living in a cottage "his wife to look after the water." His period of service was given as just over 31 years, his age as 58, and it confirmed that there were no children of the marriage.
23 Return showing pay and allowances, etc. dated the 1st October 1825 (Winters, pp. 93/95) confirmed previous information given. It also recorded that Nigh had been in continuous service with the Board since the 13th August 1793, and that his pay was £65.4.2d. per annum.
24 WO54/550 dated the 1st April 1825 confirmed that John was still a Master Bargeman with his basic pay remaining at £65.4.2d; t his Return also confirmed his previous family and service details as well as his entitlement to a cottage.
25 WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826 confirmed the basic information given in WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825. WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826 confirmed the information given in WO54/554 of the 1st April 1826, and he was described therein as employed with the barges transporting gunpowder and stores.
26 WO54/558 dated the 1st April 1827 recorded "no alteration since the last report dated the 1st October 1826."
27 WO54/558 dated the 1st October 1827 gave the same information as in the previous notes At that date, John Nigh had just over 34 years' service and he was then 59.
28. Return dated the 1st April 1828 (WO54/562) recorded the same information as in the previous notes, with the exception that he had served for nearly 35 years.
29 Return dated the1st October 1828 (WO54/562) updated his age and length of service, with his family details and pay unchanged. He still had a cottage to "look after the water".
30 Return dated the 1st April 1829 (WO54/566) updated his age and length of service, with family details and pay remaing unchanged.
31 Return showing employees at the 1st October 1829 (WO54/566) indicated that John Nigh still earned £65.4.2d per annum, that his service was just over 36 years, that he was then 60 years of age, and married with no children.
32 According to Return WO54/570 dated the 1st April 1830, all details remained the same for John Nigh as in Note 31, except that his service was then nearly 37 years and he was 61.
33 Return WO54/570 dated the 1st October 1830, confirmed the information given in Note 31, except that his service was then just over 37 years.
34 WO54/570 dated the 1st April 1831 updated the October 1830 Return, and confirmed that Nigh was still employed as a Master Bargeman and allowed a cottage "to look after the water".
35 WO54/545 dated the 1st October 1831 updated John's age and period of service in the April 1831 Return, with all other details remaining unchanged.
36 WO54/581 dated the 1st April 1832 updated his age and period of service in the October 1831 Return, with all other details remaining unchanged. WO54/581 dated the 1st October 1832 updated his age and period of service in the April 1832 Return, all other details remaining unchanged.
37 WO54/587 dated the 1st April 1833 confirmed that John Nigh still earned £65.4.2d in his capacity as Master Bargeman. His period of service was given as nearly 40 years, and he was 64 years of age.
38 WO54/587 dated the 1st October 1833, updated the previous entry as far as age and service with other details remaining unchanged, and confirmed he was still provided with a cottage for "his family to look after the water".
39 WO54/593 dated 1st April 1834 recorded that John was still employed as Master Bargeman, earning an annual sum of £65.4.2d. His period of service was given as just over 40 years and his age, 67.
40 WO54/593 dated the 1st October 1834, confirmed the information given previously; he was then 68 years' old and had served just over 41 years.
41 A Return of Properties owned by the Board dated the 20th December 1834, recorded that John Nigh lived in a cottage on Lower Island which he leased for £5.4.0d per annum (Supply 5/237). The cottage is marked as Plot No.16 on the Town Map shown in Appendix 1.
42 According to Supply 5/237 dated October 1837, John Nigh, Master Bargeman, died on the 20th August 1837. After John died, his cottage was occupied by William Nottage (WO44/133).
43. Sometime between December 1834 and 20th August 1837 when he died, John had moved to High Bridge Street to one of the properties forming Plot No. 60 on the Town Map in Appendix 1, where his widow still resided in May 1840 (WO44/133).
