Biography:
1. George Ridpath (1) was employed as a Millman at 2/3d per day. According to Supply 5/224 dated the 30th January 1806, he had then been with the Ordnance for 9 months.
2. Supply 5/226 dated the 18th June 1807, confirmed that George was still employed as a Millman with pay of 2/3d per day, and that he was also allowed 3d per night when on duty. He had first been appointed on the 1st November, 1804 (Supply 5/232).
3. According to the entry in Supply 5/227 dated the 23rd August 1808, Mr. Ridpath was still employed as a Millman earning 2/3d per day, and "allowed 6d per night when on duty."
4. List of Employees dated the 29th August 1812 (Supply 5/229) recorded that a George Ridpath was a Saltpetre Refiner who earned 2/8d per day, and in addition, when not working extra, he was allowed to watch in turn.
5. According to Supply 5/230 dated the 13th February 1814, Ridpath was a Storehouse Man who earned 3/10d per day, having been appointed to this position on the 30th June 1813 (Supply 5/232 dated the 6th February 1822).
6. Supply 5/231 and WO54/524 of January 1818 confirmed that Mr. Ridpath was still a Storehouse Man. He was brought up in the trade of a "Taylor", was aged 47, resided in Waltham Abbey, and was married with 3 children. He earned 3/6d per day, in addition to which, he was a allowed to watch in turn, for which he received 1/-d per night.
7. Supply 5/231 dated the 28th August 1818, listed those employees who were to be retained between the 3rd September and the 31st December 1818; Ridpath's name was included in the Return, but with his pay reduced to 3/-d per day.
8. List of Employees dated the 19th May 1819 (Supply 5/231) cofnrimed that Ridpath was still employed as a Storehouse Man, that he was married with 3 children and that he was 48 years of age. He had trained as a Tailor, was paid 3/4d per day and was allowed to watch in turn, for which he received 1/6d every third night. He lived in Waltham Abbey in a tenement which had previously been occupied by George Pittendrigh, and formed part of Plot No. 62 on the Town Map in Appendix 1.
9. Supply 5/232 dated the 13th September 1820 updated the previous entry, with the basic details on pay, etc. remaining unchanged.
10 List of Employees dated the 9th April 1821 (Supply 5/232) indicated that Mr. Ridpath was 49 and that he then had 4 children. He lived in Waltham Abbey and was still a Storehouse Man. He was trained as a "Taylor" and still earned 3/4d per day. In addition, he was now a Rounder (checking that the Watchmen were alert, etc.) every third night, for which he received an extra 2/-d.
11 Supply 5/232 dated the the 26th January, 1822 gave George's age as 52 and recorded that he had 17 years' service. It also confirmed that he was paid 3/4d per day.
12 Return showing the pay, allowances and length of service and every description of the persons in the pay and employ of the Ordnance at Waltham Abbey as at the 31st December 1821, appeared to be a more detailed, and probably more accurate, Return than that dated 23rd January 1822 (Supply 5/232 dated the 6th February 1822).
It stated that George Ridpath, Storehouseman, had been appointed on the 1st November 1804 as a Millman, and was subsequently appointed Storehouseman on the 30th June 1813. It recorded that his total pay for the year amounted to £52.3.4d, that he had just over 17 years' service, was aged 52, and that he was a married man with 4 children who lived in Enfield. It also confirmed that he had trained as a Tailor.
13 In the spring of 1822, the 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 who were to be dismissed on the 1st June 1822 (Supply 5/232 dated the 21st March, 1822) and George Ridpath's name was included. However, according to a List of Employees dated the 10th October 1822 (Supply 5/233) he had been retained and was required to carry out any type of work required, anywhere within the Manufactory.
14 Return dated the 1st October 1822 showing the alterations made since the 1st April 1822, (no reference given) indicated that by the Board's order dated 22nd May 1822, George Ridpath, Storehouse Man, had been demoted to a Labourer with his pay reduced accordingly.
15 WO54/542 dated the 1st April 1823, confirmed that Ridpath was classed as a "a Labourer for general purposes to be sent to all parts of the Manufactory wherever their services may be requested." His pay for the year was quoted as £39.0.0d, which included an allowance for watching in turn. His family and service details were as before..
16 According to a document dated the 1st April 1823 (WO54/542 - Alteration in Return B), George Ridpath had his pay reduced by £2.12.0d per annum, in accordance with the Board's Orders dated the 27th December 1822 and 15th January 1823.
17 A Return dated the 1st October 1824 (WO54/546) confirmed that George earned £39.0.0d per annum, which included an allowanc eof 2/-d per week for watching in turn . His period of service was given as nearly 20 years, he was aged 54, was married and this Return confirmed that he had been brought up to the trade of 'Tailoring' and that he had 3 children.
18 WO/550 dated the 1st April 1825 confirmed he 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, making is total annual pay £39.0.0d. This Return also confirmed his previous family and service details.
19 WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825, recorded that Ridpath had been promoted to Storehouse Man in place of Abraham Bell who had been promoted to Master Mixer, although this position was under review. Ridpath was then paid a basic amount of £52.3.4d per annum, and was allowed to guard the works, for which he received, on average, 2/-d per week, giving him a total income for the year of £57.7.4d. His family and service details remained the same as before.
20 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.
21 WO54/558 dated the 1st April 1827 recorded "no alteration since the last report dated the 1st October 1826."
22 WO54/558 dated the 1st October 1827 gave similar information as in the previous notes, and at that date, George Ridpath had 23 years' service and was 56 years of age.
23 Supply 5/205 dated the 31st January 1828, recorded that The Director General of the Ordnance Medical Department had agreed that George Ridpath should be supplied with a truss to prevent him incurring further injury (see note 38).
24 Return dated the 1st April 1828 (WO54/562) gave the same information as in Note 20 above, except that he had then served for nearly 24 years.
25 WO54/558 dated the 1st October 1818 updated George's age and length of service, with his family details and amount of pay remaining unchanged.
26 Return dated the 1st April 1829 (WO54/566) updated his age and length of service, again with family details and rate of pay remaining unchanged.
27 WO54/566 dated the 1st October 1829, confirmed that at that date George Ridpath still earned the same as in Note 17. His length of service was given as 25 years, and in October 1829 he was 57 years of age.
28 Return WO54/ 570 dated the 1st April 1830 updated his age and length of service, with family and pay details remaining unaltered.
29 WO54/570 dated the 1st October 1830 recorded that George was 58, and that he had served for 26 years. His pay was still the same as in Note 20, and all other information remained the same.
30 According to Return WO54/ 575 dated the 1st April 1831, George Ridpath still earned a total of £57.7.4d annually; he had then served nearly 27 years and was aged 59.
31 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.
32 WO54/581 dated the 1st April 1832 updated his age and period of service in the October 1831 Return, with all other details remaining the same.
33 WO54/581 dated the 1st October 1832, updated his age and period of service in the April 1831 Return, all other details remaining unchanged.
34 WO54/587 dated the 1st April 1833, confirmed that George still earned a total of £57.7.4d per annum. His service was given as nearly 29 years, and his age as 61.
35 WO54/587 dated the 1st October 1833, recorded that George Ridpath was now 62 years of age and that he had served just over 29 years. His annual income was still £57.7.4d, and all other details remained the same.
36 WO54/593 dated the 1st April 1834 recorded that although George was still a Storehouse Man, his basic pay had been reduced to £43.10.0d per annum, although he was still allowed to watch in turn, which gave him total annual pay of £48.14.0d.
37 WO54/593 dated the 1st October 1834 updated the previous Return for service and age, with conditions and pay unchanged.
38 A Petition to the Board from Mr. Ridpath's wife, Susannah, dated the 7th September 1837, recorded that a letter from the Ordnance Surgeon dated the 10th October 1827 reported that her late husband, George, had had an accident in the cooperage in the performance of his duty, and that he had suffered a hernia. She stated that her husband had served the Board for 33 years and that she was left a widow with 3 children. She, therefore, requested a charitable donation of £12 (Supply 5/237)
39 A Return of Properties prepared by the Royal Engineers' Office at Waltham on the 20th December 1834, recorded that George Ridpath had been living in a cottage owned by the Board in Powder Mill Lane. He had lived ther since the 15th January 1825, and the annual rent was £5.4.0d (Supply 5/237). Another List bearing the same date and attached to that document, noted that George's cottage was vacant, and that it was proposed to let it to Henry Coreham, Corning House Man. When entering Powder Mill Lane from High Bridge Street this cottage was the second house on the left.
40. Information received from Dr. D. L. Ridpath indicated that George Ridpath was probably the younger brother of James Ridpath, who resided at 41, Sun Street, Waltham Abbey, which now houses the Epping Forest Distric Museum.
