Biography:
1. Samuel Sears worked as a Labourer "drawing and setting stoves and in the willow plantation" and was paid 2/8d per day, as well as being allowed to watch in turn (Supply 5/229 dated the 29th August 1812).
2. On the 13th February 1814, he wass recorded as being a Stove Man who still earned 2/8d per day, but was not allowed to watch (Supply 5/230).
3. Employed by the Engineers' Department on the 5th July 1816 as a Labourer "occasionally as the service requires", he was paid 2/4d per day. He was then a 35-year-old married man with 2 children, living in Wailtham Abbey (WO54/520).
4. WO54/532 dated the 13th September 1820, indicated that Mr. Sears was employed as a Labourer. He was then aged 36, still lived in Waltham Abbey, and was married with 2 children, He still earned 2/4d per day, and worked "Occasionally as the Service required."
5. WO54/536 dated the 2nd April 1821 showed that he was aged 37 with 2 children, and that his terms of employment, etc. remained unchanged from the previous Return.
6. WO54/536 dated 31st December 1821 was a repeat of the Return dated the 2nd April 1821.
7. WO54/542 dated the 1st April 1823, recorded that Sears earned 2/2d per day as a Labourer for 313 days, giving him an income of £33.18.2d for the year. He had nearly 7 years' service beginning on the 5th July 1816. He was then aged 38, was a married man living in Waltham Abbey and this Return confirmed that he had 2 children
8. WO54/550 dated the 1st April 1825, confirmed that Samuel was still paid 2/2d per day for 313 days as a Labourer, which gave him an annual income of £33.18.2d. His service was given as nearly 9 years; he was aged just over 40, was married, and had 2 children.
9. WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825 gave information which was the same as the previous entry, as did WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826, and both confirmed his date of appointment as the 5th July 1815.
10 WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826 contained the same detail as in the previous Return.
11 WO54/558 dated 1st April 1827 confirmed the details given in the previous notes, with his age and service updated to nearly 43 and nearly 11 years respectively.
12 WO54/558 dated the 1st October 1827, gave the same information as in the previous notes, except that Mr. Sears had then served just over 11 years and confirmed he was 43 years of age.
13 Return dated the 1st April 1828 (WO54/562) updated the same basic information as given in the previous notes.
14 Return dated the1st October 1828 (WO54/562) updated his age and length of service, with family details and pay remaining unchanged.
15 WO54/566 dated 1st April 1829 stated that at that date Samuel still earned the same as in Note 7. His length of service was given as nearly 13 years and he was aged 44.
16 Return dated the 1st October 1829 (WO54/566) updated his age and length of service, with family and pay details remaining unaltered.
17 According to a Return dated the 1st April 1830, Samuel was still earning £33.18.2d per annum as a Labourer (WO54/570). By then he had served nearly 14 years and was 45.
18 Return WO54/570 dated the 1st October 1830, confirmed that Samuel was still working as a Labourer, with family details and pay unchanged, but length of service and age had been updated.
19 A Return of Persons belonging to the Civil Establishment of the Ordnance at the Gunpowder and Small Arms Manufactories at Waltham Abbey, Faversham and Enfield, showing in detail the several points of information called for by the Master General and Board's Order dated the 31st January 1831, recorded that Samuel Sears was one of the 15 Labourers to be employed at Waltham Abbey Powder Mills and the Enfield Small Arms Factory. He was to be paid 2/2d per day and employed to undertake different services as a Labourer in the Manufactories, where steadiness and sobriety were particuliary required (WO54/575).
20 WO54/575 dated the 1st April 1831, updateed his age and period of service in the October 1830 Return, with all other details remaining the same.
21 WO54/575 dated October 1831, confirmed that Samuel still earned 2/2d per day as indicated in Note 7, giving him a total of £33.18.2d per annum. He had now served just over 15 years and was aged 46.
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 unchanged.
23 WO54/581 dated 1st October 1832, confirmed that Mr. Sears still earned £33.18.2d per annum. His service was given as just over 16 years, and at that date he was aged 47.
24 WO54/587 dated the 1st April 1833 recorded that Samuel was now 48 years of age and that he had served nearly 17 years. He was still in receipt of an annual wage of £33.18.2d.
25 WO54/587 dated the 1st October 1833 was a straight update of the previous Return.
26 WO54/593 dated 1st April 1834 confirmed that Samuel still earned £33.18.2d per annum, and recorded that he had served nearly 18 years. His age was given as 49.
