Biography:
1. William Smith was described as a Labourer "setting & drawing stoves and clearing willow plantation" in September 1798, earning 1/6d per day. He was also a Private in the Volunteer Company
2. A signed document, Supply 5/220 dated the 2nd February 1800 relating to a Petition on Pay, shows that he was illiterate and was still working as a general Labourer.
3. A Report dated the 8th May 1801 (Supply 5/221) recorded that he was working as a Labourer refining Saltpetre, earning 1/6d per day. He was a married man, and had four children. Note: in this document, anyone not an Artificer was described as a Labourer.
4. Robert Coleman recorded in his Minute Book on the 23rd October 1801 that 24 men were required to work at Faversham or face dismissal, and Smith was one who agreed to go (Winters, p.60). However, the Faversham Gunpowder Personnel Register 1573-1840 did not record his name, so it can only be assumed that his services were terminated and that he was subsequently re-engaged.
5. An occasional Labourer by the name of William Smith appeared in the Engineers' Department records in 1812, earning 2/8d per day for a six-day week (WO54/512 dated September 1812).
6. A Report dated the 13th February 1814, recorded that a William Smith was working as a Saltpetre Refiner earning 2/8d per day, and when not working extra was allowed to watch in turn (Supply 5/230)
