Biography:
1. John Wayman started work as a Labourer in the Refining House on the 10th October 1794, and in December 1794, was earning 1/6d per day.
2. He was still working as a Refiner in September 1798, and was a Private in the Volunteer Company (Supply 5/219 of September, 1798).
3. A signed document, Supply 5/220 of the 2nd February 1800 relating to pay, indicated that he was literate and was still working as a Refining House Labourer.
4. A Report dated the 8th May 1801 recorded that he was then working as a Labourer, and that he was a married man with 1 child. In this document, anyone who was not an Artificer was described as a Labourer (Supply 5/221).
5. A Return of Artificers and Labourers dated the 3rd November 1801 (Supply 5/221) confirmed that John was still employed as a Refiner, but as there was "a considerable depot of Salt Petre, etc." he was directed by the Comptroller to take care of the Refining and Salt Petre storehouses.
6. Wayman's pay increased to 2/-d per day, and all Refiners 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 he was still a Saltpetre Refiner with pay of 2/-d per day, and that at date he had just over 11 years' service.
7. John was still a Refiner in the Salt Petre House at 2/-d per day and allowed to watch in turn (Supply 5/224 of August 1808). Supply 5/228 dated the 1st September 1810, confirmed Wayman's previous details as regards pay and watch allowance.
8. Wayman was employed as a Warder in August 1812 at the same 2/-d per day. (List of Employees - Supply 5/229 dated the 29th August 1812).
9. Supply 5/230 dated the 13th February 1814 confirmed that Mr. Wayman was still a Warder at that date, but that he was then earning 2/8d per day, and that in addition, he was a Rounder at 2/-d every third night.
10 According to letters to the Board dated 29th November and 3rd December 1814 (Supply 5/200) Mr. Wayman apparently died of a rupture brought about by "various hurts he had received over the 20 years he had worked for the Mills", and his wife, Mary, aged 61, had petitioned the Board because she had been left destitute. In her Petition of the 29th November 1814, she stated that she was "very infirm" and "therefore humbly prays that your honours in your wisdom will be pleased in consideration of the deceased being twenty years in your
service, think of her and admit her a partaker of that bounty which has so often been extended to dry the tears of distress." In a letter from the Office of Ordinance dated 9th December 1814 it said that, "Mrs. Wayman, in consequence of the services of her late husband and her advanced age rendering her incapable of earning her livelihood" was "to be placed upon the Charity List at 3/6d per week" from the date of her husband's death.
11 A document dated the 8th November 1818 (Supply 5/231) listed "persons to whom pensions or charitable allowances granted by the Honourable Board as widows, orphans or relations of those who have lost their lives in this Manufactory, or who have been superannuated on accounts of trusts received, or for length of service in the departments". Among the recipients was Mary, whose husband had been a Warder, and who was in receipt of a
pension of 3/6d per week which had started on the 5th November, 1814.
12 Mary Wayman was still in receipt of her pension of £9.2.0d per annum in 1821 (Supply 5/232 dated the 17th November 1821) and a similar document, Supply 5/232 dated the 28th December, 1821, confirmed that the same pension would be paid in 1822. This was also confirmed in 1826 (Winters, p.96).
