Biography:
1. John Speller (1) started work at the Mills as a Labourer on the 1st December 1791, earning 1/6d per day "mixing compositions" (Supply 5/215 dated the 30th January 1792). In July to September 1792, he was "Dusting & glazing powder" (Supply 5/216) and in March 1793, he returned to work grinding saltpetre and charcoal, replacing William Goodhew. He was still grinding Saltpetre in September 1793 to August 1794 (Supply 5/217) and in December 1794 (Supply 5/218). WO54/554 dated the the 1st October 1826 gave his start date as the 29th November 1791.
2. John enlisted as a Private in the Volunteer Company on the 7th May 1794, and a Report dated the 24th June 1795 on established Artificers & Labourers employed at the Powder Mills, recorded that Speller was a "Salt Petre Millman" with his pay remaining at 1/6d per day. This was also the case in July 1795 (Supply 5/217).
3. John remained a Private in Voluntary Company, according to Supply 5/219 dated September 1798.
4. A signed document, Supply 5/220 dated the 2nd February 1800 relating to a Petition on Pay, indicated that he was literate and still working as a Millman.
5. Report dated the 8th May 1801 (Supply 5/221) confirmed that he was still working as a Millman earning 2/-d per day. It also confirmed that he was a married man with 3 children.
6. A Return of Artificers and Labourers dated the 3rd November 1801 (Supply 5/221), showed that, although still employed as a Millman, he was at that time, cleaning and deepening the river and canals, and performing other sundry necessary work.
7. John was still a Millman in 1804, but his wage had increased to 2/3d per day. He also had an allowance of 3d per night when on duty "working at the mill", i.e., the night-shift rate was 2/ 6d (Supply 5/222). This was also the case in 1806 when he had been employed with the Ordnance for 14 years (Supply 5/224).
8. Speller was till employed as a Millman in June 1807 with the same pay of 2/3d per day, and allowed 3d per night when on duty (Supply 5/226).
9. According to an entry dated the 23rd August 1808 in Supply 5/227, Speller was still a Millman earning 2/3d per day, and "allowed 6d per night when on duty."
10 Supply 5/228 dated the 1st September 1810, confirmed that he was still a Millman who was paid 2/3 day, but that he was then allowed 6d night when on duty.
11 List of Employees dated the 29th August 1812 (Supply 5/229) confirmed John Speller was still a Millman but that his wage had increased to 3/-d per day, in addition to which, he was allowed 6d per night when on duty. Supply 5/230 dated the 13th February 1814, recorded that Speller was still a Millman with the same rate of pay and additional 6d per night when on duty.
12 Supply 5/231 and WO54/524 confirmed that Mr. Speller (1) was still a Millman, aged 36, residing in Waltham Abbey, and that he was married with 4 children. He earned 2/8d per day, in addition to which, he was allowed 6d per night when on duty.
13 Supply 5/231 recorded the names of the people who were to be retained between the 3rd September and 31st December 1818. John Speller's name was included, with his pay and allowances remaining unchanged.
14 List of employees dated the 19th May 1819 (Supply 5/523) confirmed that Speller was still employed as a Millman, that he was a married man of 45 with 4 children, and that he lived in Waltham Abbey. This Return recorded that he was paid 2/8d per day and that he was allowed an additional 6d when on night duties.
15 Return of Employees dated the the 13th September 1820 (Supply 5/232) updated the previous entry, with the basic details on pay, etc. remaining unchanged.
16 List of Employees dated the 9th April 1821 (Supply 5/232) recorded that Mr. Speller was 47 years of age. All of his other details remained the same as in Note 14.
17 Supply 5/232 dated the 23rd January 1822, recorded that John Speller, Millman, aged 50, had 30 years' service and was paid 2/8d per day.
18 Return showing the pay, allowances and length of service and every drescription of the persons in the employment of the Ordnance at Waltham Abbey as at the 31st December 1821 (Supply 5/232 dated the 6th February 1822) appeared to be a more detailed, and probably more accurate, Return than that dated the 23rd January 1822. It confirmed that John Speller,
Millman, was appointed on the 29th November 1791 as a Labourer at Waltham Abbey, and that his position on the Establishment as a Millman was confirmed by an Order of the Board dated the 4th September 1818. He was allowed to watch in turn to guard the works, for which he received an additional 2/-d per night, which gave him total pay for the year of £46.18.8d. He had 30 years' service, was aged 50, was a married man with 5 children, and lived in Waltham Abbey.
19 List dated the 21st March 1822 (Supply 5/232) 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 Speller, Millman, who was to be retained.
20 WO54/542 dated the 1st April 1823, confirmed that Speller was still a Millman and that his pay for the year was £44.4.0d, which included an allowance for watching in turn at 2/-d per week. His family and service details were confirmed.
21 According to document dated the 1st April 1823 (WO54/542 - Alteration in Return B) John Speller (1) 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. WO54/546 dated the 1st October 1823 recorded that he was still a Millman and that his annual wage was £44.4.0d, which included an allowance for watching the works in turn which, on average, earned him 2/-d per week. His service and family details were confirmed.
21 Return showing pay and allowances, etc., dated the 1st October 1825 (Winters, pp 93/95) confirmed the previous information given and that he had been in continuous service with the Board since the 29th November 1791. His pay was £44.4.0d per annum.
22 WO54/550 dated the 1st April 1825 gave his basic pay as £39.0.0d per annum, and recorded that he was allowed to watch in turn, which gave him, on average, 2/-d per week, i.e., a total annual income of £44.4.0d. It also confirmed his previous family and service details. These details were repeated in WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825.
23 WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826 confirmed the basic information given in WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825, and, in turn, WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826 confirmed the information given in WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826.
24 WO54/558 dated the 1st April 1827 recorded that there was no alteration since the Report dated the 1st October 1826."
25 WO54/558 dated the 1st October 1827 recorded the same information as in the notes above. At that date John Speller had nearly 36 years' service and he was then 56 years of age.
26 Return dated the 1st April 1828 (WO54/562) confirmed the same information as in the previous notes, with the exception that he had now served just over 36 years.
27 Return dated the1st October 1828 (WO54/562) updated his age and length of service, with family details and pay remaining unchanged.
28 Return dated the 1st April 1829 (WO54/566) updated his age and length of service, with family details and pay remaining the same.
29 WO54/566 dated the 1st October 1829 confirmed that at that date John (1) still earned the same as in Note 22. His length of service was given as nearly 38 years, and that at that date he was aged 57.
23 Return WO54/ 570 dated the 1st April 1830 updated his age and length of service, with family and pay details remaining unchanged.
24 WO54/570 dated the 1st October 1830 recorded that John Speller (1) was now 58 years of age and that he had served for nearly 39 years. His pay was still the same as in Note 22, and all other information remained the same.
25 According to the Return WO54/575 dated the 1st April 1831 John Speller (1) was now 59 and had served for just over 39years. He still earned a total of £44.4.0d per annum.
26 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.
27 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, except that he was then allowed night duties at 6d per night and his annual pay had, therefore, increased to £46.16.0d.
28 WO54/581 dated the 1st October 1832 updated his age and period of service in the April 1831 Return, with all other details remaining unchanged.
29 WO54/587 dated the 1st April 1833 confirmed that Mr. Speller (1) still earned a total of £46.16.0d per annum. His service was given as just over 41 years, and his age as 61.
30 WO54/587 dated the 1st October 1833 stated that John Speller (1) was 62 years of age and had served for 41 years. He was still in receipt of an annual wage of £46.16.0d, and his family details remained the same.
31 WO54/593 dated the 1st April 1834 recorded that although John was still employed as a Millman, his basic pay had been cut to £32.12.6d per annum. He was still allowed to watch in turn and also received an extra 6d when working at night, which increased his annual pay to £39.3.0d. His age and service details were updated.
32 On the 16th April 1834, two Mills exploded, and, when not at work, John Speller, Millman, was called before Lt.Col. Moody as a witness (Winters, p.103).
33 WO54 dated the 1st October 1834 (no reference found), updated the April 1834 Return for service and age, with his conditions and pay remaining unchanged.
34 John Speller, Millman, died, and his wife, Sarah, was awarded a pension with effect from the 18th November 1836 (Supply 5/237).
