Biography:
1. John Simpson (2) was recorded as an Apprentice in the Mixing House in February 1793 at 1/-d per day (Supply 5/216 dated the 28th February 1793). A Return dated the 24th June 1795 (Supply 5/217) recorded that he actually began his Apprenticeship on the 1st December 1792, and this date was confirmed by Winters, p. 94).
2. John was still an Apprentice in January 1794 on the same rate of pay (Supply 5/216) as well as in August 1794 (also Supply 5/216). However, by December 1794, his pay had increased to 1/6d per day (Supply 5/217).
3. John's name does not appear in the list of those who joined the Volunteer Company in September 1798 (Supply 5/219) nor did he sign a Petition on Pay in 1800 (Supply 5/220) so it would seem, therefore, that left the Ordnance employment before completing his Apprenticeship. He is recorded as John Simpson (2) in a Return dated the 30th January 1806, wherein it was stated he was employed as a Milllman earning 2/3d per day (Supply 5/224) and the same document recorded that he had been employed with the Ordnance for 8 years. A Return dated the 1st April 1827 (WO54/558) gave his starting date as the 8th May 1805, which indicates that he had left the Ordnance employment but had returned at a later date.
4. It was recorded that John, Jnr. was employed as a Refiner in the Saltpetre House at 2/-d per day in June 1807, with a note "when not working allowed to watch in turn." (Supply 5/226).
5. According to the entry on Supply 5/227 dated the 23rd August 1808, Mr. Simpson was still employed as a Saltpetre Refiner earning 2/-d per day, and "when not working extra, they are allowed to watch in turn."
6. Supply 5/228 dated the 1st September 1810, recorded that he was still a Saltpetre Refiner who was paid 2/-d per day, and was allowed to watch in turn.
7. List of Employees dated the 29th August 1812, recorded that John, Jnr. (2) was still a Saltpetre Refiner but that he then earned 2/8d per day, and in addition, when not working extra, he was allowed to watch in turn. On the 13th February 1814, this was still the case.
8. List of Employees dated the 25th June 1818 (Supply 5/231) confirmed that John Simpson (2) was still a Saltpetre Refiner; in addition, it was recorded that he was a married man aged 35 with 4 children, living in Enfield and earning 2/4d per day, as well as being allowed to watch in turn, for which he was paid 1/-d per night.
9. A proposed List of Employees dated the 28th August 1818 (Supply 5/231) recorded the names of people who were to be retained between the 3rd September and the 31st December, 1818. John Junior (2) was included on the list with his pay unchanged, but he was then not allowed to watch.
10 List of Employees dated the 19th May 1819 recorded that Simpson (2) was employed as a Brimstone Refiner, that he was a married man aged 36 with 4 children and that he lived in Enfield. He was paid 2/4d per day and was allowed to watch in turn, for which he received 1/-d per night (Supply 5/231).
11. List of Officers on Employment dated the 13th September 1820 (Supply 5/232) recorded that Mr. Simpson (2) was then 37, still lived in Enfield and still earned 2/4d per day, but that he was then in receipt of 1/6d per night when allowed to watch. At that date he had 5 children.
12 List of Employees dated the 9th April 1821 (Supply 5/232) recorded that John was 38 and employed as a Saltpetre Refiner; all other entries remained the same as in Note 11.
13 List of Employees (Supply 5/232 dated the 23rd January 1822) gave the age of John Jnr. (also 2), Saltpetre Refiner, as 40, with 24 years' service and pay per day of 2/4d.
14 Return dated the 6th February 1822 (Supply 5/232) recorded 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 appeared to be a more detailed and accurate Return than that of the 23rd January 1822. John Simpson, Jnr. (also 2) Saltpetre Refiner, was appointed an Apprentice to the Master Mixer at Waltham Abbey on the 1st December 1792, and by Orders of the Board dated 4th September 1818 and the 4th October 1819, as a Saltpetre Refiner. He was allowed to watch in turn to guard the works, for which he received an additional 2/-d per night, giving him total annual pay of £41.14.4d. According to this Return, at the 31st December 1821, he had 24 years' service, was 40 years old, was married with 5 children, and lived in Enfield. He was originally trained as a Cutler.
15 List of Persons to form an Establishment at Waltham Abbey to regenerate 2000 barrels of gunpowder as well as to make 100 or 200 barrels of gunpowder annually, recorded that John Simpson, Saltpetre Refiner, was to be retained (Supply 5/232 dated the 21st March 1822).
16 WO54/542 dated the 1st April 1823, confirmed that Simpson was still a Saltpetre Refiner and that his pay for the year was £39.0.0d, which included an allowance for watching in turn, for which he received 2/-d per week. His family and service details were confirmed.
17 According to a document dated the 1st April 1823 (WO54/542 - Alteration in Return B) John Simpson, Jnr. (also 2) 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.
18 A Return dated the 1st October 1824 (WO54/546) confirmed that John, Jnr., Saltpetre Refiner, still earned a total of £39 per annum, which included an allowance for watching in turn of 2/-d per week. His period of service was given as 32 years, he was then aged 41, was married and had 5 children. This Return also stated he was brought up in the trade of Gunpowder Making.
19 Return showing Pay and Allowances, etc. dated the 1st October 1825 (Winters, pp.93-95) confirmed previous information given, and recorded that Simpson had been in continuous service with the Board since the 1st December 1792. His pay was £33.16.0d. per annum, but Winters ws in error because Simpson's service was not continuous.
20 WO54/550 dated the 1st April 1825, confirmed that Simpson was still a Saltpetre Refiner and that his basic pay was £33.16.0d per annum. He was allowed to watch in turn which gave him, on average, 2/-d per week, making his total annual pay £39.0.0d. This document also confirmed his previous family and service details, and is repeated in WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825.
21 WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826, confirmed the basic information given in WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825. WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826 confirmed the information given in WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826. However, from the 1st October 1826, he is recorded as John Simpson (1) because his father had died.
22 WO54/558 dated the 1st April 1827 recorded, "no alteration since the last report dated the 1st October 1826", although his starting date was confirmed as the 8th May 1805.
23 WO54/558 dated the 1st October 1827, gave the same information as in the previous notes although at that date he had nearly 23 years' service, and he was then 43 years of age.
24 Return dated the 1st April 1828 (WO54/562) provided the same information as previously given.
25 Return dated the1st October 1828 (WO54/562) updated his age and length of service, with family details and pay remaining unchanged.
26 Return dated the 1st April 1829 (WO54/566) updated his age and length of service, with family details and pay unchanged.
27 Return showing employees at the 1st October 1829 (WO54/566) confirmed that John Simpson (1) earned in total £39.0.0d per annum, that his service was just over 24 years, that he was 44 years of age, was married and had 5 children.
28 According to Return WO54/570 dated the 1st April 1830, all details remained the same for John Simpson (1) as in Note 27, except that he was then aged 45.
29 WO54/570 dated the 1st October 1830 recorded that John Simpson (1) was now 45 years of age, and that he had served just over 25 years. His occupation was given as a Millman, and his pay as £44.4.0d per annum. All other information remained the same.
30 According to Return WO54/575 dated the 1st April 1831, John Simpson was still employed as a Millman; he was 45, and had served for just over 25 years. He was still earning a total of £44.4.0d.
31 WO54/545 dated the 1st October 1831, updated his age and period of service in the April 1831 Return. However, he was then employed as a Saltpetre Refiner, with his pay reduced to a total, including his watch allowance, of £39.0.0d per annum.
32 Supply 5/207 dated the 8th August, 1832, recorded that John Simpson and three others were cautioned for being absent from their work for a whole day without leave, and warned that a repeat would result in their dismissal.
33 WO54/581 dated the 1st October 1832, updated his age and period of service in the October 1831 Return. It also recorded that Simpson was then a General Labourer within the Manufactory.
34 WO54/587 dated the 1st April 1833, recorded that at that date John (1) was still earning £39.0.0d annually. His period of service was given as 28 years, and his age as 46.
35 WO54/587 dated the 1st October 1833, recorded that his details were the same as in the previous Return, except that he had now served just over 28 years and that he was 47.
36 WO54/593 dated the 1st April 1834 recorded that John was still employed as a Labourer, that his basic pay had been cut to £28.5.6d per annum, and that he was still allowed to watch in turn, which increased his annual pay to £33.9.6d. His age and service details were updated.
37 WO54/593 dated the 1st October 1834 confirmed the information given in previous Return; he was then 48 and had served just over 29 years.
38 A Return of Domestic Properties for 1840 dated the 22nd May 1840, recorded that John Simpson had lived in one of the cottages on the north side of High Bridge Street known as Bank Cottages, forming part of Plot No.48 on the Town Map in Appendix 1, for which he paid 2/-d per week rent (Supply 5/237). However, by 1840 he had been dismissed from the Mills for drunkeness, and from the 1841 Census, it appeared that he was working as a Farm Labourer, was a widower and was then living with the Durridge family in Sewardstone Street.
