Biography:
1. Joseph Perry was employed as a Labourer "drawing and setting stoves and in the Willow Plantation", and was paid 2/8d per day and allowed to watch in turn (Supply 5/230 dated the 13th February 1814).
Joseph was the youngest son of William and Sarah (nee Day) Perry of Holyfield, who were married at Waltham Abbey by banns on the 20th April 1777, and lived in one of three cottages at Holyfield, opposite North Lodge Farm, where Joseph's father was a Farm Labourer. He was baptised at Waltham Abbey on the 13th May 1791. His mother died the following year, and was buried at Waltham Abbey on the 12th December 1792. William does not appear to have remarried, so it could be assumed, perhaps, that his young family were raised by his parents who continued to live at Holyfield. William was buried at Waltham Abbey on the 21st January 1821 aged 65 years. Joseph married Sarah Ann, and made their home in Sewardstone Street where they raised a family of 5 children, all of whom were baptised at Waltham Abbey as follows:-
William on the 22nd May 1814, James, the second son, on the 8th August 1816, Henry, the third son, on the 28th May 1819, Mary Ann in 1823 and Joseph Junior in 1827.
Joseph died on the 4th January 1860, and Sarah - in one of the almshouses - on the 25th January 1878 . She is the Mrs Perry mentioned on page 145 of William Winters' book, "Centenary Memorial of the Gunpowder Factory, Waltham Abbey" (DCA's family history).
2. List of Employees dated the 25th June 1818 (Supply 5/231) recirded that Joseph Perry was the Clerk of the Cheque's Labourer at 2/4d per day. He was a married man aged 33 with 2 children, and lived in Waltham Abbey.
3. Supply 5/231 recorded the names of people to be retained between the 3rd September and the 31st December 1818 and Perry's name was included, with his pay remaining unchanged.
4. List of Employees dated the 19th May 1819 (Supply 5/231) confirmed that Perry was still employed as the Clerk of the Cheque's Labourer, that he was a married man aged 34 with 3 children, that he lived in Waltham Abbey and was paid 2/4d per day, and that in addition he was allowed to watch in turn, for which he was paid 1/0d per night.
5. List of Employees dated the 13th September 1820 (Supply 5/232) confirmed that Perry was still employed as the Clerk of the Cheque's Labourer, with his conditions, etc. remaining unchanged.
6. List of Employees dated the 9th April 1821 (Supply 5/232) recorded that Joseph was 36, and that all other details as in Note 4 were the same, except that the rate for watching had increased to 1/6d per night.
7. Joseph appeared to have left the Mills shortly afterwards, but was re-engaged on the 22nd July 1825, when a Return dated the 1st October 1825 (Winters, pp.93/95) recorded that he then worked as a Labourer drawing and drawing stoves. It also recorded that his pay was £33.6.0d. per annum.
8. WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826 confirmed that Joseph was re-engaged on the 22nd July 1825 as a General Labourer, with basic pay of £33.16.0d per annum. He was allowed to watch in turn, for which he received 2/-d per week, giving him a total annual income of £39.0.0d. The record showed that he was a 40-year-old married man with 4 children.
9. WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825, recorded that Joseph Perry had been re-employed as a General Labourer working within the Manufactory in place of George Ridpath on the 22nd July 1825, at £33.16.0d per annum.. He was allowed to guard the works in turn, for which he received, on average, 2/-d per week.
10 WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826, confirmed the information given in WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826.
11 WO54/558 dated the 1st April 1827 recorded, "no alteration since the last report dated the 1st October 1826."
12 WO54/558 dated the 1st October 1827, gave the same information as in the previous notes. At that date, Joseph Perry had just over 2 years' service and was then 42.
13 On the 21st October 1827, Joseph Perry, Labourer, was paid 16/d for travelling from Waltham to Purfleet and back to deliver a message, i.e. 68 miles at 4d per mile (Winters, p.98).
14 Return dated the 1st April 1828 (WO54/562) gave the same information as in the previous notes, except that Joseph had then served nearly 3 years as a general Labourer.
15 Return dated the1st October 1828 (WO54/562) updated his age and length of service, with family details and pay unchanged.
16 Return dated the 1st April 1829 (WO54/566) updated Joseph's age and length of service with family details and pay unchanged.
17 Return showing employees at the 1st October 1829 (WO54/566) confirmed that Joseph still earned in total £39.0.0d per annum, that his service was just over 4 years, that he was 43 years of age and that he was married with 4 children.
18 According to Return WO54/570 dated the 1st April 1830, all details remained the same for Joseph as in Note 17, except that his service was given as nearly 5 years and he was aged 44.
19. Return WO54/570 dated the 1st October 1830, confirmed the information given in Note 17, except that his service was just over 5 years.
20 WO54/570 dated the 1st April 1831 updated the October 1830 Return, with no basic changes.
21 WO54/545 dated the 1st October 1831, updated his age and period of service in the April 1831 Return, with all other details remaining unchanged.
22 WO54/581 dated the 1st April 1832, updated his age and period of service in the October 1831 Return, with all other details remaining unaltered.
23 WO54/581 dated the 1st October 1832 updated his age and period of service in the April 1832 Return, with all other details remaining unchanged.
24 In 1833, Joseph was employed as a Labourer in the Charcoal Cylinder House, according to Winters (p.102).
25 WO54/587 dated the 1st April 1833, confirmed that at that date Joseph was still earning £39.0.0d annually. His period of service was nearly 8 years and he was 47 years if age.
26 WO54/587 dated the 1st October 1833, recorded that Joseph had been appointed as a Cylinder House Man on the 3rd June 1833 at 2/2d per day, He had by then served 8 years and was 48.
27 WO54/593 dated the 1st April 1834 recorded that Joseph was still employed as a Cylinder House Man. However, his basic annual pay by then had been reduced to £28.5.6d. He was allowed to watch in turn and this gave him a total annual sum of £33.9.6d, as opposed to his previous earnings of £39. His period of service was nearly 9 years and his age was 48.
28 WO54/593 dated the 1st October 1834, confirmed the information given in the previous note; he was then 49, and had served just over 9 years.
29 On the 22nd October 1837, Joseph replaced Benjamin Guinn, who had retired, as a Millman.
30 Return of Employees dated the 1st October 1839 (WO54/623) confirmed Joseph was still employed as a Millman with pay of £46.16.0d, which included an allowance to watch in turn.
31The 1841 Census recorded that Joseph, aged 55, and his wife, Sarah, aged 45, were living in Sewardstone Street with their son James, aged 20. Sarah was not born in Essex while Joseph and James were.
