Biography:
1. Benjamin Poulter was "drawing and setting stoves, etc." He earned 2/-d per day, and in January 1806, he had 1 year's service (Supply 5/224 dated the 30th January 1806). In June 1807 (Supply 5/226) the description of his work was "Labourer in various parts of the manufactory and setting & drawing stoves, loading and unloading barges etc."
2. According to a Return dated the 23rd August 1808 (Supply 5/227) Mr. Poulter was employed as a Labourer, "setting and drawing stoves, and in Willow Plantations etc.," earning 2/-d per day, and he was allowed to watch in turn. The same details applied on the 1st September 1810 (Supply 5/228).
3. Mr. Poulter was still employed as a Labourer "drawing and setting stoves and in the willow plantation" in August 1812. He was paid 2/8d per day and allowed to watch in turn (Supply 5/229 dated the 29th August 1812).
4. According to Supply 5/230 dated the 13th February 1814, Poulter was employed in the same capacity at the same rate of pay as he was in 1812.
5. List of Employees dated the 25th June 1818 (Supply 5/231) confirmed that Benjamin Poulter was employed as a Labourer setting and drawing stoves, and that he was a married man, aged 42, with 2 children. He had an apartment provided by the Board. His pay was 2/4d per day and he was allowed to watch in turn, for which he received 1/-d per night.
6. Supply 5/231 dated the 28th August 1818) gave the names of people who were to be retained between the 3rd September and the 31st December 1818. Benjamin's name was on the list with his pay unchanged.
7. Supply 5/231 dated the 19th May 1819, confirmed that Poulter was still employed as a Labourer drawing and setting stoves and also working in the willow plantation. He was aged 43, had 2 children, and was paid 2/4d per day and allowed to watch in turn, for which he was paid 1/-d per night..
8. List of Officers on Employment dated 13th September 1820 (Supply 5/232) confirmed that Benjamin Poulter was a 43-year-old married man with 2 children, and that at the time he lived in Cheshunt. He still earned 2/4d per day as a Labourer at the stoves, but was then in receipt of 1/6d per night when allowed to watch.
9. A statement dated the 4th April 1821, "of monies to which the public were entitled to receive credit between the 1st January and the 31st December 1821 showing the amounts received by the storekeeper" (Supply 5/232) recorded that Benjamin Poulter, Labourer, was living rent-free in a Board of Ordnance house from December 1810. The same information was repeated in Supply 5/232 dated 16th Feb 1822 for the year 1821. The cottage has not been located but was possibly one of the "homesteads" at the northern end of the Manufactory listed in the Book of Reference to the 1825 Parish Map of Waltham or, alternatively, may have been at Aqueduct Lock which was in Cheshunt - see notes on John Brown.
10 List of Employees dated the 9th April 1821 (Supply 5/232) recorded that Benjamin was 45, with all other details remaining the same as in Notes 8 and 9.
11 List of Employees (Supply 5/232 dated 23rd January 1822) gave the age of Benjamin, working in the Willow Plantation, as 46, with nearly 17 years' service and pay per day of 2/4d.
12 Return dated 6th February 1822 (Supply 5/232) showed 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. Benjamin Poulter was appointed a Labourer at Waltham Abbey on the 19th July 1805, and confirmed as a Labourer setting and drawing stoves, etc. by the Board's Order dated the 4th September 1818. He had an annual income of £36.10.4d, had nearly 17 years' service, was 46 years old, was married with 3 children, and lived in Cheshunt. This Return also stated that Mr. Poulter had a "house to look after the rivers."
13 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). The men were subsequently dismissed on the 1st June, and 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. Benjamin Poulter was one of four men who signed a second Petition on the 12th July saying that he had been away unsuccessfully looking for work, and he was awarded two weeks' pay to ease his financial burden.
