Biography:
1. John Shields was a Carpenter employed by the Board. In a letter dated 23rd June 1801 it was stated that the writer had "the Board's commands to transmit to you on the other side hereof a list of the men who have been burnt and otherwise hurt by the fire which lately (16th June 1801) destroyed the Corning House at Waltham Abbey; and I am to desire the storekeeper will pay the men all their pay until they are recovered." (Supply 5/195).
2. In that list dated 23rd June 1801 (Supply 5/195) it was stated, "we beg to represent the situation of the poor men who were burnt when the Corning House took fire 16th instant while under repair" and included John Shields, a Carpenter. It continued, "These men are burnt in a dreadful manner, their pain is very great..." and, "Our surgeon has represented the necessity of the men most burnt having immediate assistance in wine, as a considerable Suppuration is come on their constitutions. They cannot Support it without wine, and we have directed wine to be immediately provided to them, and request your permission for our continuing to Supply these poor men with such wine or other proper Support as their surgeon may think their respective situations require."
Winters (op.cit., p. 59) recorded that the men were employed in repairing the Corning House which blew up on the 18th April 1801, and made it clear that the fire was caused "from the blow of a copper hammer on pit wheel."
3. In a letter to the Board dated the 29 July 1801 (Supply 5/221) it was recorded that the men who were burnt at the Corning House on the 16th June had requested that they were reimbursed for the loss of clothing. The list included Mr. Shields, whose claim amounted to £1.9.6d in all - for a hat (4/-d) shirt (4/-d) neckcloth (1/6d) jacket (6/-d) and sheets (14/-d). The same letter went on to say that Mr. Shields, amongst others, suffered so much that he wished for death to release him from his torture, and that it was a matter of surprise that he was recovering. The constant attention the men needed meant that their wives could not undertake seasonal work (haymaking) at which they could earn sufficient to pay the rent. It was requested that financial allowances were made.
4. In a letter dated 29th February 1806 containing a Petition from Mr. Shields' widow, Elizabeth, aged 63 (Supply 5/224) it is evident that John Shields died two months earlier, having been severely burnt in the Corning House fire of 1801. The surgeon was of the opinion that "his days were shortened therefrom". It also stated that Mrs. Shields was a "hard-working woman of an exceeding honest good character..." and "...has had a great many children, none of which are in circumstances to render her any assistance, and now through age and infirmities not able to work and, therefore, is greatly necessitated." She, therefore, asked for "some small weekly allowance to keep her from poverty and want."
