Biography:
1. Robert Perkis, Snr. started work at the Mills on the 1st June 1789 as a Labourer, earning 1/6d per day "sett & draw stoves etc" (Supply 5/213 dated the 22nd August 1789). WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826, gave his starting date as the 1st May 1789, and his length of service as just over 37 years.
2. Supply 5/214 dated September1789, recorded that he was 30 years of age and that he was "drawing and setting stoves and sundry in different parts of the manufactory."
3. Supply 5/214 dated the 27th March 1790 recorded that he was dustng and glazing powder, for which he was paid 1/6d per day.
4. Supply 5/215 confirmed he was still dusting and glazing powder, and he did this until the 31st July 1792.
5. Supply 5/216 dated the 28th February 1793 recorded that Robert was in the Corning Houses, but still earned 1/6d per day. Supply 5/217 dated the 24th June 1795, confirmed that he was still in the Corning Houses and that he started work at the Mills on the 1st June, 1789.
6. According to Supply 5/217 dated the 3rd July 1795, Robert was still in the Corning Houses on the same pay.
7. Supply 5/219 dated September 1798, indicated that he was now working in the Proof House and that he was a Private in the Waltham Volunteer Company.
8. Supply 5/220 dated 2nd February 1800 indicated that he was illiterate.
9. Supply 5/221 dated the 8th May 1801, recorded that Robert was a married man with 4 children.
10 Supply 5/221dated the 3rd November 1801, recorded that Robert was employed, together with most of the labour force at the time, in cleaning and deepening the river, canals and ditches, and performing other sundry works.
11 Supply 5/224 dated the 30th January 1806, confirmed that Robert was still in the Proof House but that his pay had increased to 2/-d per day. At that date, he had 16 years' service. He was still in this position on the 18th June 1807 (Supply 5/226).
12 Supply 5/228 dated the 1st September 1810, recorded that Mr. Perkis was then a Sieve Puncher and Proof House Man with the same pay of 2/-d per day, and, in addition, he was allowed to watch in turn.
13 According to Supply 5/229 dated the 29th August 1812, Perkis was in the same employment but with pay then of 2/8d per day. This was also the case on the 13th February 1814, although he was then not allowed to watch (Supply 5/230).
14 List of Employees dated the 25th June 1818 (Supply 5/231) confirmed that Robert Perkis was still employed as a Proof House Man, that he was a married man of 57 with 5 children, who lived in Waltham Abbey and earned 2/4d per day. He was also allowed to watch in turn, for which he received 1/-d per night..
15 A Return of Employees dated the 28th August 1818, listed the names of people to be retained between the 3rd September and the 31st December 1818, and Robert Perkis Senior's name was included with his pay unchanged.
16 List of Employees dated the 19th May 1819 (Supply 5/231) confirmed that Perkis was still employed as a Proof House Man, that he was 58 and had 5 children, and that he lived in Waltham Abbey. He was paid 2/4d per day and allowed to watch in turn, for which he was paid 1/-d per night.
17 List of Officers on Employment dated the 13th September 1820 stated that Robert Perkis, Snr.,was 59, married, and had 5 children. He still earned 2/4d per day, but was in receipt of 1/6d per night when allowed to watch. This was allso the case in in April 1821, according to WO54/536 dated the 19th April 1821.
18 A statement dated the 4th April 1821 (Supply 5/232) "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" recorded that Robert Perkis was living in a house purchased by the Board of Ordnance, Tenement No. 33, with a rent of £5.4.0d per annum. The property, together with its small garden, has been identified as being on the north side of High Bridge Street to the west of its junction with Powder Mill Lane forming part of Plot No. 60 on the Town Map in Appendix 1.
19 Supply 5/232 dated the 23rd January 1822, gave the age of Robert Snr., Proof House Man, as 59, with nearly 33 years' service and pay per day of 2/4d.
20 Return dated 6th February 1822 (Supply 5/232) recorded the 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 to be a more detailed and accurate Return than that of the 23rd January 1822. Robert Perkis, Snr. was appointed a Labourer at Waltham Abbey on the 1st June 1789 (WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826 gives 1st September 1788) and later became a Proof House Man. He had an annual remuneration of £36.10.4d, and, according to this Return, at 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 annual pay of £41.14.4d. He had nearly 33 years' service, was 59 years old, was married with 5 children, and lived in Waltham Abbey.
21 List dated the 21st March 1822 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, recorded that Robert Perkis, Proof House Man, was to be retained (Supply 5/232).
22 WO54/542 dated the 1st April 1823 confirmed that Perkis was in the Proof House, that his pay for the year was £39.0.0d, and that that amount included an allowance for watching in turn of 2/-d per week. His family and service details were confirmed.
23 According to a document dated the 1st April 1823 (WO54/542 - Alteration in Return B) Robert Perkis, Snr. 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.
24 WO54/546 dated the 1st October 1823, recorded that he was still a Proof House Man and that his annual pay was £39.0.0d, which included an allowance for watching the works in turn, for which, on average, he received 2/-d per week. He service and family details remained the same.
25 Return showing pay and allowances, etc. dated October 1st 1825 (Winters, pp. 93/95) confirmed the previous information given, and recorded that he had been in continuous service with the Board since the 1st May, 1789. His pay was given as £33.16.0d. per annum.
26 WO54/550 dated the 1st April 1825 gave his basic pay as £33.16.0d per annum, and confirmed that he was allowed to watch in turn, which gave him, on average, 2/-d per week, giving him total annual pay of £39.0.0d. It also confirmed his previous family and service details. This information was repeated in WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825.
27 WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826, confirmed the basic information given in WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825, and WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826, confirmed the information given in WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826.
28 WO54/558 dated the 1st April 1827, recorded "no alteration since the last report dated the 1st October 1826."
29 WO54/558 dated the 1st October 1827, gave the same information as in the previous notes. At that date Robert Perkis had just over 38 years' service, and was 64 years of age.
30 Return dated the 1st April 1828 (WO54/562) gave the same information as in the previous notes, except that he had served nearly 39 years.
31 Return dated the1st October 1828 (WO54/562) updated his age and length of service, with family details and pay remaining unchanged.
32 Return dated the 1st April 1829 (WO54/566) updated his age and length of service, again with family details and pay unchanged.
33 Return dated the 1st October 1829 (WO54/566) indicated that Robert still earned in total £39.0.0d per annum, that his service was just over 40 years, that he was now 65, and confirmed that he was married with 5 children.
34 According to Return WO54/570 dated the 1st April 1830, all details remained the same for Robert as in Note 27, except that his service was given as nearly 41 years and he was aged 66. WO54/575 dated the 1st April 1831 updated the October Return.
35 WO54/545 dated the 1st October 1831, updated his age and period of service in the April 1831 Return.
36 WO54/581 dated the 1st April 1832 updated his age and period of service in the October 1831 Return, with all other family details remaining unchanged.
37 WO54/581 dated the 1st October 1832 updated his age and period of service in the April 1832 Return..
38 WO54/587 dated the 1st April 1833, recorded that at that date Mr. Perkis was still earning £39.0.0d annually. His period of service was given as 45 years, and his age as 69.
39 WO54/587 dated the 1st October 1833, recorded that Robert Perkis, Snr. was then 70 years of age. His wages and family details remained the same as before.
40 WO54/593 dated the 1st April 1834 recorded that although Robert was still employed as the Proof House Man, his basic pay had been cut to £28.5.6d per annum. He had 5 children, and his age and service details were updated.
41 WO54/593 dated the 1st October 1834, confirmed the information given in the note above; he was then 71, and had served just over 46 years.
42 A List of Properties prepared by the Royal Engineers' Office on the 20th December 1834, recorded that Robert Perkis had been superannuated, and that his cottage was "either to be let or removed" (Supply 5/237). A similar Return for 1840 recorded that the cottage was unoccupied, and a footnote records "refused to be occupied" (WO44/133).
