Biography:
1. George Pain was a Labourer who started work on the 8th September 1793, earning 1/6d per day (Supply 5/232).
2. In January 1794, he was in the Corning House (Supply 5/216 dated the 31st January 1794).
and had enlisted as a Private in the Volunteer Company on the 7th May 1794 according to Supply 5/219.
3. In August 1794, he was "mixing composition" and still paid 1/6d per day (Supply 5/216 dated the 31st August 1794). This was also the case in December 1794 (Supply 5/217), and in July 1795 (Supply 5/217) where he was described as Mixing House Man.
4. In September 1798, he was described as "setting & drawing stoves and clearing willow plantation." (Supply 5/219)
5. A signed document, Supply 5/220 of the 2nd February 1800 relating to a Petition on Pay, indicated that he was illiterate and was still working as a general Labourer.
6. Report dated the 8th May 1801 (Supply 5/221) confirmed that he was working as a Labourer, and that he was a married man with no children. Note: in this document, anyone who was not an Artificer was described as a Labourer).
7. A Return of Artificers and Labourers dated the 3rd November 1801 (Supply 5/221) confirmed that he was still employed as a Labourer, and that he was cleaning and deepening the river and canals, as well as performing other sundry necessary work.
8. George was shown as a Refiner in Supply 5/222 dated the 8th May 1804, with pay of 2/-d per day. All Refiners received an additional allowance of 1/-d per night when it was their turn to watch - on average every 5th night.
9. According to Supply 5/224 dated the 30th January 1806, Mr. Pain was "drawing and setting stoves," earning 2/-d per day, and this Return also recorded that he had 14 years' service with the Board. In June 1807, he was described as "working in any part of the Manufactory setting & drawing stoves and loading and unloading barges etc." (Supply 5/226)
10 Pain was a Stoveman in August 1808 with pay of 2/-d per day, possibly working on one of the new steam stoves for drying gunpowder (Supply 5/227 dated the 22nd August 1808).
11 He was still a Stoveman in 1812, but was now paid 2/8d per day (Supply 5/229 dated the 29th August 1812).
12. According to Supply 5/230 dated the 13th February 1814, Mr. Pain was still a Steam Stoveman, but he then earned 3/3d per day.
13 List of Employees dated the 25th June 1818 (Supply 5/231) stated that George Pain was employed as a Labourer setting and drawing stoves, and was a married man, aged 44, but without children. He lived in Waltham Abbey and was provided with an apartment by the Board. Where this apartment was is unknown; his name is linked with Benjamin Poulter, also a Stoveman, who is known to have occupied one of the two houses on Aqueduct Island at the northern end of the Manufactory. This is the only reference found stating that George lived in a cottage owned by the Board. He was then earning 2/4d per day and allowed to watch in turn, for which he received 1/-d per night.
14 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, and George's name was on the list with his pay unchanged.
15 List of Employees dated the 19th May 1819 (Supply 5/231) confirmed that Pain was still employed as a Labourer drawing and setting the stoves, that he was a married man aged 45, with no children, that he was paid 2/4d per day and that he was allowed to watch in turn, for which he was paid 1/-d per night..
16 List of Officers on Employment dated the 13th September 1820 (Supply 5/232) stated that George was 46, married, but still without issue, and that still lived in Waltham Abbey. He earned 2/4d per day, but was then in receipt of 1/6d per night when allowed to watch.
17 List of Employees dated the 9th April 1821 (Supply 5/232) recorded that George was 48, with all other details remaining as in Note 16.
18 List of Employees at the Royal Powder Mills (Supply 5/232 dated 23rd January 1822) gave the age of George, Labourer drawing and setting stoves, as 49, with 29 years' service and pay per day of 2/4d.
19 Return dated 6th February 1822 (Supply 5/232) gave length of service and other full details of those persons employed by the Ordnance at Waltham Abbey as at the 31st December 1821. This appeared a more detailed and accurate Return than that of the 23rd January 1822. George Pain was appointed a Labourer at Waltham Abbey on the 8th September 1793, and confirmed as a Labourer setting and drawing stoves, etc., by the Board's Order dated 4th September 1818. He had an annual income of £36.10.4d, and according to this Return, at the 31st December 1821 he was allowed to watch in turn to guard the Works, for which he received an average of 2/-d per week, making a total of £41.14.4d earned annually. He had just over 28 years' service, was 49 years old, was married with no children and lived in Waltham Abbey.
20 In the spring of 1822, the Ordnance Board decided to reduce the production and regeneration of gunpowder, and the Establishment at Waltham was to be reduced accordingly. Empson Middleton and James Wright drew up a list of people to be dismissed (Supply 5/232 dated the 21st March 1822) and George Pain was one of the men meant to go on the 1st June 1822. However, a Return dated the 10th October 1822 (Supply 5/233) recorded that he had been retained, and was required to carry out any type of work required anywhere within the Manufactory.
21 WO54/542 dated the 1st April 1823, recorded that Pain was classed as a "a Labourer for general purposes to be sent to all patrs of the Manufactory wherever their services may be requested." - in other words a general Labourer, and that his pay for the year was £39.0.0d, which included an allowance for watching in turn. His family and service details were confirmed.
22 According to a document dated 1st April 1823 (WO54/542 - Alteration in Return B), George Pain had his pay reduced by £2.12.0d per annum in accordance with the Board's Orders dated the 27th December 1822 and the 15th January 1823.
23 A Return dated the 1st October 1824 (WO54/546) confirmed that George earned £39.0.0d per annum, including an allowance for watching in turn of 2/-d per week. His period of service was given as 31 years, he was then aged 53, and was married but had no children.
24 Return showing pay and allowances, etc. dated the 1st October 1825 (Winters, pp.93-95) confirmed the previous information given, except that he then worked as a Labourer drawing stoves. It also recorded that he had been in continuous service with the Board since 8th September 1793, and that his pay was £33.16.0d. per annum.
25 WO54/550 dated the 1st April 1825, confirmed that George was still a general purpose Labourer and gave his basic pay as £33.16.0d per annum; he was allowed to watch in turn which gave him, on average, 2/-d per week, therefore, total pay of £39.0.0d per annum. It also confirmed his previous family and service details. WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825 confirmed this information, together with his sevice and family details.
26 WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826 recorded that George Pain had died.
