Biography:
1. James Speller, according to Supply 5/220 dated the 2nd February 1800 which related to a Petition on Pay, was literate and was working as a general Labourer. Supply 5/232 dated the 6th September 1822, recorded that he started at the Mills on the 24th January 1800.
2. A Report dated the 8th May 1801 (Supply 5/221) confirmed that he was working as a Labourer, that he was unmarried and earning 1/6d per day. Note: In this document, anyone not an Artificer was described as a Labourer.
3. Robert Coleman recorded in his Minute Book on the 23rd October 1801 that 24 men were required to work at Faversham or be discharged, and James Speller was one of those who agreed to go (Winters, p.60). However, the Faversham Gunpowder Personnel Register 1573-1840 does not record his name, so it can only be assumed his services were not terminated, because, according to Supply 5/222 dated the 8th May 1804, he was working in the Corning House as a Labourer. His pay was 2/1d per day, and all Labourers received an additional allowance of 1/-d per night when it was their turn to watch - on average every 5th night. (Supply 5/222 dated the 8th May 1804). Supply 5/224 dated the 30th January 1806, recorded that James Speller was employed as a Millman earning 2/3d per day, and that he had been employed with the Ordnance for 8 years (this must be a clerical error and should read 6 years).
4. Supply 5/226 dated the 18th June 1807 showed James was then working in the Dusting House earning 2/1d per day. In addition, Dusting House men were allowed to watch in turn, for which they received 1/-d.
5. According to the entry on Supply 5/227 dated the 23rd August 1808, James Speller was employed as a Millman earning 2/3d per day, and "allowed 6d per night when on duty."
6. Supply 5/228 dated the 1st September 1810 confirmed that James was still a Millman who was paid 2/3 day, and allowed 6d per night when on duty.
7. Supply 5/229 dated the 29th August 1812 recorded that Mr. James Speller was still a Millman, but that he then earned 3/-d per day, in addition to which, he was allowed 6d per night when on duty. He was still a Millman on the 13th February 1814 (Supply 5/230) with the same rate of pay and additional 6d per night when on duty.
8. List of Employees dated the 25th June 1818 (Supply 5/231) recorded that he was employed as a Labourer setting and drawing stoves. He was a married man aged 37 with 4 children, and lived in Waltham Abbey. He then earned 2/-d per day, but was not allowed to watch..
9. A List of Employees dated the 28th August 1818 (Supply 5/231) recorded the names of those employees who were to be retained between the 3rd September and the 31st December 1818. James Speller's name was on the list as a Saltpetre Refiner with his pay unchanged, and he was not allowed to watch.
10 List of Employees dated the 19th May 1819 (Supply 5/231) recorded that James Speller was now employed as a Brimstone Refiner, that he was married man aged 38 with 5 children, and that he lived in Waltham Abbey. He was paid 2/4d per day and was allowed to watch in turn, for which he received 1/-d per night.
11 List of Officers on Employment dated 13th September 1820 (Supply 5/232) stated that Mr. James Speller was 39, that he still lived in Waltham Abbey and that he had 5 children. He still earned 2/4d per day, but was then in receipt of 1/6d per night when allowed to watch.
11 List of Employees dated the 9th April 1821 (Supply 5/232) indicated that James was 40 and employed as a Saltpetre Refiner; all other entries remained the same as in Note 9.
12 List of Employees at the Royal Powder Mills (Supply 5/232 dated the 23rd January 1822) gave the age of James, Saltpetre Refiner, as 40, with 22 years' service and pay per day of 2/4d.
13 Return dated the 6th February 1822 (Supply 5/232) showed length of service and other full details of those persons employed by the Ordnance at Waltham Abbey as at the 31st December 1821, and appeared to be a more detailed and accurate Return than that of the 23rd January 1822. It recorded that James Speller, Saltpetre Refiner, was appointed a Labourer at Waltham Abbey on the 24th January 1800, and that by Orders of the Board dated 4th September 1818 and the 4th October 1819, he was confirmed 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 a total annual income of £41.14.4d. According to this Return, at the 31st December 1821 he had 22 years' service, was 40 years old, was married with 5 children , and lived in Waltham Abbey.
14 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 James Speller, Millman, who was to be retained. WO54/542 dated the 1st April 1823 recorded 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, for which he received 2/-d per week. His family and service details were confirmed.
15 According to a document dated the 1st April 1823 (WO54/542 - Alteration in Return B), James Speller had his pay reduced by £2.12.0d per annum in accordance with the Board's Orders dated the the 27th December 1822 and the15th January 1823. WO54/546 dated the 1st October 1823, recorded that he was still a Millman and that his annual pay was £44.4.0d, which included an allowance for watching the works in turn for which, on average, he received 2/-d per week.. His family details were confirmed.
16 Return showing pay and allowances, etc. dated the 1st October 1825 (Winters, pp. 93/95), confirmed previous information given, and recorded that he had been in continuous service with the Board since the 24th January 1800. His pay was given as £44.4.0d per annum.
17. The above information is repeated in WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825.
18 WO54/550 dated the 1st April 1825 gave his basic pay as £39.0.0d per annum, and he was allowed to watch in turn, which gave him, on average, 2/-d per week, making a total annual income of £44.4.0d. This Return also confirmed his previous service details but recorded that he now had 6 children.
19 WO54/554 dated the 1st Apri,l 1826 confirmed the basic information given in WO54/550 dated the 1st April 1825, and WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826 confirmed the information given in WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826.
20 WO54/558 dated the 1st April 1827, recorded that there had been no alteration to the last report of the 1st October 1826.
21 WO54/558 dated the 1st October 1827 gave the same information as before, but at that date, James Speller had nearly 28 years' service and was then 45 years of age.
22 Return dated the 1st April 1828 (WO54/562) gave the same information as given previously, with the exception that he had now served just over 28 years.
23 Return dated the 1st October 1828 (WO54/562) updated his age and length of service, with family details and pay remaining unchanged.
24 Return dated the 1st April 1829 (WO54/566) updated his age and length of service, family details and pay remaining unchanged.
25 WO54/566 dated the 1st October 1829, confirmed that at that date James still earned the same as recorded in Note 18. His length of service was given as nearly 30 years, and he was then aged 46.
26 Return WO54/ 570 dated the 1st April 1830 updated his age and length of service, family and pay details remaining unchanged.
27 WO54/570 dated the 1st October 1830, recorded that James Speller was now 47 and that he had served for nearly 31 years. His pay was still the same as in Note 18, and all other information remained unaltered.
28 According to Return WO54/575 dated the 1st April 1831, James was then 48 and had served for just over 31 years. He was still earning a total of £44.4.0d.
29 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.
30 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, therefore, his total pay had become £46.16.0d per annum.
31 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.
32 WO54/587 dated the 1st April 1833, confirmed that James still earned a total of £46.16.0d per annum. His service was given as nearly 34 years, and his age as 50.
33 WO54/587 dated the 1st October 1833, recorded that James Speller had died since the last Report.
