Biography:
1. John Smith (1) started work at the Mills as a Labourer in the Salt Petre House on the 14th April 1792, earning 1/6d per day.
2. In August 1794, he was working in the Dusting House "dusting & glazeing powder" (Supply 5/216) as he was in August 1794 (Supply 5/216) and June 1795 (Supply 5/217)).
3. In September 1798, he was in the Dusting House and was still described as Smith (1). He was also a Private in the Volunteer Company (Supply 5/219). This document also confirmed he had started at the Mills on the 14th April 1792.
4. He did not sign the Petition on Pay and Conditions presented to the Board in February 1800 (Supply 5/220). A Report dated the 8th May 1801 (Supply 5/221) recorded that he was working as a Labourer, was married, and had 3 children. Note: In this document, anyone not an Artificer was described as a Labourer.
5. Supply 5/222 dated the 8th May 1804, recorded that he was the Foreman in the Dusting House, and that he had an allowance every 5th night of 1/-d for "watching" - presumably for fire, etc.
6. He was the Foreman in charge of 33 Millmen, 26 Corning House Labourers, 11 Dusting House men and 17 Saltpetre Refiners, according to the List of Officers and Others on the Establishment (Supply 5/222 dated the 28th March, 1805). Supply 5/224 dated the 30th January 1806, indicated that he was still employed as the Dusting House Foreman earning 2/6d per day, and had been employed with the Ordnance for 14 years.
7. In June 1807 he was described as Working Foreman of Dusting House, still paid 2/6d per day, and allowed 1/6d every third night as Rounder to superintend the watchmen (Supply 5/226 dated 18/06/1807).
8. According to the entry on Supply 5/227 dated the 23rd August 1808, Mr. Smith was still a Dusting House Foreman, then earning 2/10d per day, and every third night he was allowed 2/-d as Rounder to superintend the night workers and Watchmen on duty.
9. List of Employees dated the 29th August 1812 (Supply 5/229) confirmed that Mr. Smith was still a Dusting House Foreman, but that he then earned 3/10d per day, in addition to which, he was still a Rounder earning 2/-d every third night, as was the case at 13th February 1814 (Supply 5/230).
10 Lists of Officers & Others Employed dated the 25th June 1818 (Supply 5/231 and WO54/524) recorded that John Smith was now the Foreman of the Glazing Mill, and that he was a 46-year-old married man with 7 children. He lived in Waltham Abbey and earned 3/4d per day. In addition, he was a Rounder every fifth night, for which he was paid 1/6d each time.
11 List of Employees dated the 25th June 1818 (Supply 5/231) recorded that John Smith was the Foreman of the Glazing Mill, and that he was a 46-year-old married man with 7 children, living in Waltham Abbey. He was paid 3/4d per day and an extra 1/6d as a Rounder every fifth night.
12 By 1818, economies were to be made at the Mills by drastically reducing labour. Supply 5/231dated the 28th August 1818, recorded the names of people to be retained between the 3rd September and the 31st December 1818. The list recorded that John was no longer required as the Glazing Mill Foreman, but that he was to be retained as a Warder at the entrance gate with his pay reduced to 2/-d per day. By jumping to a List of Employees dated 19th May 1819 (Supply 5/231) it is seen that John Smith, the Warder, was 47 years old and had 7 children, which ties up with the age and number of children given in the earlier entries.
13 List of Employees dated 19th May 1819 (Supply 5/231) recorded that Smith was still employed as a Warder, that he was a married man aged 47 with 7 children who lived in Waltham Abbey and was paid 2/4d per day.
14 List of Officers on Employment dated the 13th September 1820 (Supply 5/232) stated that John Smith (2), a Warder, was now 48, was married with 7 children and still lived in Waltham Abbey. He earned the same 2/4d per day, but was now in receipt of 1/6d per night when allowed to watch.
15 List of Employees dated the 9th April 1821 (Supply 5/232) indicated that John was then 49. All other details as given in Note 16 remained the same. These details were also confirmed by WO54/536 of the same date.
16 List of Employees at the Royal Powder Mills (Supply 5/232 dated 23rd January 1822) gave the age of John (2), Warder, as 52, with nearly 31 years' service, and pay per day of 2/-d.
17 Return dated 6th February 1822 (Supply 5/232) recorded 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 a more detailed and accurate Return than that of the 23rd January 1822. John Smith (2) was appointed a Labourer at Waltham Abbey on the 14th April 1792, and confirmed as a Warder by the Board's Order dated 4th September, 1818. He was allowed to watch in turn to guard the Works, for which he received an average of 2/-d per week by order of the Board dated 30th June, 1820, giving him an annual income of £41.14.4d. He also had a house "as porters lodge". He had served nearly 30 years, was 52 years of age, lived in Waltham Abbey, and was married with 7 children. His Porter's House/Lodge (Watch House) has been located as at the main entrance to the Manufactory, by the Engineers' yard on the west side of Powder Mill Lane, being Plot No. 91 on the Town Map in Appendix 1, and was to remain the family home until the late 1820's (Supply 5/232).
18 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, included John Smith, Warder (Supply 5/232 dated the the 21st March 1822).
19 WO54/542 dated the 1st April 1823, recorded that Smith was still a Warder and that his pay for the year was £39.0s.0d, which included an allowance for watching in turn. His family and service details were confirmed and he still occupied a house belonging to the Board..
20 According to a document dated 1st April 1823 (WO54/542 - Alteration in Return B), John Smith (2), Warder, had his pay reduced by £2.12.0d per annum in accordance with the Board's Orders dated the 27th December 1822 and the 15th January 1823.
21 According to the Return dated the 1st October 1824 (WO54/546) John (2) - Warder - still earned £39.0.0d per annum, which included an allowance for watching in turn, for which he received 2/-d per week. This Return stated he had a "Cottage as Porters Lodge". His period of service is given as nearly 33 years, he was aged 52, was married and had 7 children.
22 Return showing pay and allowances, etc., dated the 1st October 1825 (Winters, pp.93-95) confirmed previous information and recorded that he had been in continuous service with the Board since the 14th August 1788. This date was incorrect and should have been the 14th August, 1792. His pay was given as £42.18.0d. per annum, and again, Winters is incorrect.
23 WO54/550 dated the 1st April 1825 confirmed that Smith was still a Warder, and gave his basic pay as £33.16s.0d per annum. He was still allowed to watch in turn which gave him, on average, 2/-d per week, giving him a total of £39.0.0d per annum. His previous family and service details were confirmed, and he still occupied the cottage as a Porter's Lodge. WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825, confirmed his service and family details and WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826, confirmed the information given in WO54/554 dated 1st April 1826.
24 WO54/558 dated the 1st April 1827 recorded, "no alteration since the last report dated the 1st October 1826."
25 WO54/558 dated the 1st October 1827, gave the same information as in the previous notes and at that date John Smith had nearly 36 years' service and was then 54 years of age.
26 Return dated the 1st April 1828 (WO54/562) gave the same information as in the previous notes, except that that he had then served 36 years.
27 Return dated the the1st October 1828 (WO54/562) updated his age and length of service, with family details and pay remaining unchanged.
28 Return showing employees at the the 1st October 1829 (WO54/566) confirmed that John Smith (Warder) still earned in total £39.0.0d per annum, and recorded that his service was nearly 38 years, that he was then 55 years of age, was married and had 7children.
29 According to Return WO54/570 dated the 1st April 1830, all details remained the same for John Smith, Warder, as in Note 27, except that his service was given as 38 years, and he was then aged 56. In addition, it would appear that he now only earned £33.16.0d per annum. He was no longer a Rounder according to this Return.
30 Return WO54/570 dated the 1st October 1830 confirmed the information given in Note 29, except that his service was then nearly 39 years.
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.
33 WO54/581 dated the 1st October 1832 updated his age and period of service in the April 1832 Return, with all other details remaining unchanged. He was still the Warder at the entrance to the Mills.
34 WO54/587 dated the 1st April 1833, stated that John Smith (1) still earned £33.16.0d in his capacity as a Warder. His period of service was given as nearly 41 years, and he was then aged 59 and retained his cottage as a Porter's Lodge. According to this Return he was a widower with only 6 children.
35 WO54/587 dated the 1st October 1833 recorded that his basic details were unchanged, but his age and length of service were updated.
36 WO54/593 dated the 1st April 1834, recorded that John (1) was still employed as a Warder. His period of service was given as nearly 42 years and his age, 60.
37 WO54/593 dated the 1st October 1834, confirmed that John Smith (1 - Foreman and Warder) still earned a basic wage of £33.16.0d per annum, that he was 61, had served 42 years, and had 6 children.
38 John Smith retired in 1840 and his pension started on the 20th March 1840. His position was filled by William Livesey, acting Sergeant Major to the Cadet Company, and a retired regular soldier. However, Smith was allowed to act as the Warder until the 31st March 1840 "due to difficulty in finding suitable accommodation." (Supply 5/238). He had been offered a cottage on the south side of High Bridge Street on the site of the old Tanyard, but due to its poor state of repair he had refused to occupy it (WO54/133).
