Biography:
1. John Turnham was the eldest son of James and Ann (nee Robinson) whose father had worked as a Warder at the Mills (W.A.G.P., p.117). He started work at the Mills as a Bargeman on the12th April 1791, earning 1/6d per day. From April to June 1791, he was "Setting and drawing stoves and in the punts" and this was also the case again in January to March 1792 according to Supply 5/215 dated the 31st January 1792, having replaced Edward Heddy. Other entries recorded that he worked "in the punts and likewise drawing & setting stoves, landing and shipping gunpowder & stores etc." during July to September 1792 (Supply 5/216) and continued to do so up to August 1794 (Supply 5/216). By February 1793, John was working as a Bargeman. Together with John Cook and William Fuller, he was taking materials to London by barge and was apparently afraid of being "seized by the Press Gangs." for the Rex Officers at Waltham Abbey wrote to the Duke of Richmond stating that Cook, Fuller and Turnham were Gunpowder makers and Bargemen and were apprehensive of the Impress Office on the River Thames. They requested that "you will be pleased to grant them protection" (WASC 475).
2. He was still listed as a Bargeman in January 1794 (Supply 5/216). This was also the case in August 1794 (Supply 5/216) and in December 1794 (Supply 5/217), as well as in July 1795 when his was pay was given as 9/-d per week (Supply 5/217). John was listed as a Bargemaster in 1797 (Winters, p.55) and as a Bargeman in September 1798 (Supply 5/219).
3. A signed document relating to a Petition on Pay showed that he was literate and was still working as a Bargeman (Supply 5/220 dated the 2nd February 1800).
4. A Report dated the 8th May 1801 (Supply 5/221) recorded that he was working as a Labourer, that he was a married man and that he had 6 children. In this document, anyone not an Artificer was described as a Labourer.
5. A Return of Artificers and Labourers dated the 3rd November 1801 (Supply 5/221) confirmed that he was still employed as a Bargeman, but that when not in the barges he, together with the other men, were employed in cleaning and deepening the river, canals, ditches and carrying out other work necessary to be performed.
6. While transporting gunpowder to Picket Field, Bargemen were allowed double pay (Supply 5/222 dated the 8th May 1804).
7. Supply 5/222 dated the 28th March 1805 recorded that he was then a Master Bargeman, with pay of 3/-d per day.
8. Together with John Cook, he was in charge of 19 men employed in shipping gunpowder, landing and drawing stores, transporting gunpowder and in the willow plantation (Supply 5/223 dated the 28th March 1805).
9. He was described as a Master Bargeman in January 1806 (Supply 5/224) with 15 years' service.
10 A further Return (Supply 5/226 dated the 18th June 1807) recorded that Mr. Turnham was still employed as a Master Bargeman, earning 2/-d per day, which would appear to be a clerical error. In August 1808, he was earning 4/-d per day (Supply 5/227).
11 He was still employed as a Master Bargeman at 4/-d per day according to Supply 5/228 dated the 1st September 1810.
12 List of Employees (Supply 5/229 dated the 29th August 1812) recorded that he was still Master Bargeman, then earning 5/2d per day.
13 Supply 5/230 dated the 13th February 1814, confirmed that Mr. Turnham was still a Master Bargeman at that date, earning the same 5/2d per day.
14 List of Persons in Employment dated the 2nd March, 1816 (Supply 5/230) recorded that Mr. Turnham was still a Master Bargeman, aged 57, with a length of service of 26 years. It was recommended that he receive a daily superannuation of 3/-d, and in the attached notes was the comment that Mr. Turnham and others should be superannuated because "of the hurts they have received in this dangerous manufactory". It was also stated therein that Mr. Turnham had been "much injured by falls and bruises in the performance of his duty, the nature of which, and a constant exposure to wet, damp and nightwork, has confirmed the Rheumatism and other complaints so firmly upon him, as to render him totally unable to continue the performance of his duty." However, in a letter dated 6th March, 1816 (Supply 5/200) Mr. Turnham was finally awarded superannuation of 3/6d per day for 6 days in the week, commencing on the 1st April 1816.
15 A Supplement to a document dated the the 8th November 1818, (Supply5/231) listed persons who had been superannuated on account of their length of service in the departments, and among the recipients was John Turnham, Master Bargeman, who received a pension of £1.1.0d per week, which commenced on the 1st April 1816.
16 List of Persons receiving superannuation (Supply 5/232 dated the 17th November, 1821) confirmed entry No. 14 above.
17 A document dated the 6th December 1821 (Supply 5/232) gave the estimated pay of persons between the 1st January and 31st December 1822 along with their superannuated allowance, as well as "the allowance to widows and orphans of those who have lost their lives at this place". It was confirmed that John Turnham, lately a Master Bargeman, was in receipt of £54.12.0d superannuation per annum. A similar document, Supply 5/232 dated the 28th December, 1821, confirmed that the same pension would be paid in 1822. On p.96 of his book, Winters recorded that this was also the case in 1826.
18 Turnham was still in receipt of a pension in 1837 (Supply 5/237).
19 The 1841 Census recorded that John and his wife, Sarah, were living in Blackboy Alley, together with the Shaddock family.
20 John was buried at Waltham Abbey on the 13th September 1842. Sarah, his wife, was buried at Waltham on the 31st March 1844, aged 84.
