Biography:
1. George Pittendrigh (2) was employed as a Cooper at 1/9d per day, but not allowed to watch (Supply 5/229 dated the 29th August 1812).
2. He was still a Cooper on the 13th February 1814, but his pay then was 2/4d per day, and he was still not allowed to watch (Supply 5/230).
3. List of Employees dated the 25th June 1818 (Supply 5/231) confirmed that George Pittendrigh was still a Cooper, a single man aged 20, who lived in Waltham Abbey and earned 4/-d per day.
4. Supply 5/231 dated the 28th August 1818 recorded the names of people to be retained between the 3rd September and the 31st December 1818. George Pittendrigh (2) was included, with his pay given as 3/-d per day.
5. List of Employees dated the 19th May 1819 (Supply 5/231) confirmed that Pittendrigh was still employed as a Cooper, and that he was a single man of 21; he lived in Waltham Abbey and was paid 3/6d per day.
6. List of Officers on Employment dated 13th September 1820 (Supply 5/232) recorded that George Pittendrigh was 22, single, and still lived in Waltham Abbey. He then earned only 3/-d per day. Although he had been trained as a Cooper, this Return did not state where.
7. List of Employees dated the 9th April 1821 (Supply 5/232) recorded that George was 23, and confirmed that he was still single and living in Waltham Abbey.
8. List of Employees (Supply 5/232 dated 23rd January 1822) gave the age of George (2), Cooper, as 23, with 10 years' service and pay per day of 2/4d.
9. Return dated 6th February 1822 (Supply 5/232) gave 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 appearsedto be a more detailed and accurate Return than that of the 23rd January 1822. George Pittendrigh (2) was appointed Cooper at Waltham Abbey on the 1st January 1812 by Order of the Board dated 1st April 1812. He had an annual income of £54.13.6d, and according to this Return, at the 31st December 1821, he had 10 years' service, was 23 years old, was married but had no children, and he lived in Cheshunt.
10 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 the men were subquently dismissed on the 1st June. Several Petitions were submitted by the men asking for financial assistance; many were long-service employees in their middle age, and they pointed out that they had little hope of finding employment after the hay and corn harvest had been gathered. The Storekeeper at Waltham was sympathetic and forwarded their Petitions to the Board for their consideration. George Pittendrigh was one of the Petitioners, and he was awarded two weeks' pay to ease his financial burden.
