Biography:
1. James Wood was first employed by the Board as an occasional Labourer in the Engineers' Department on the 7th September 1812, earning 2/4d per day. He was a 47-year-old widower with no children, and lived in Waltham Abbey.
2. The above details were confirmed by WO54/520 dated the 20th February 1817.
3. WO54/524 dated 11th April 1818, recorded that Wood was still employed as a Labourer "Occasionally as required" and was still paid 2/4d per day. This was also the case in 1819 (WO54/528 dated the 19th May 1819).
4. List of Employees dated the 13th September 1820 (WO54/532) confirmed that James was still employed as a Labourer at the same rate of pay. He was then aged 51, still lived in Waltham Abbey, and it was confirmed that he was a widower without children.
5. WO54/536 dated 2nd April 1821 recorded his age as 55 years with all other entries remaining unchanged.
6. WO54/536 dated 31st December 1821 was a repeat of the previous Return dated the 2nd April 1821.
7. WO54/536 dated 31st December 1822 was a repeat of the previous Return, but his age was then given as 56.
8. WO54/542 dated the 1st April 1823 listing personnel employed in the Engineers' Department, recorded that he was then only paid 2/2d per day as a Labourer for 313 days, giving him an income of £33.18.2d for the year. He had by then served for just over 10 years, starting on the 7th May 1812, and at that date, he was 57 years of age.
9. WO54/550 dated the 1st April 1825 stated that James was still paid 2/2d per day for 313 days as a Labourer, and confirmed that this gave him an annual income of £33.18.2d. His service was given as just over 12 years, and he was then aged 59, still a widower with no children.
10 WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825 confirmed the previous entry. WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826, confirmed the previous details and gave his date of appointment as the 7th September 1812.
11 WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826 gave the same information as in the previous Return.
12 WO54/558 dated 1st April 1827 confirmed the information given in Note 11, and that at that date, James had just over 14 years' service. He was then 61 years of age.
13 WO54/558 dated the 1st October 1827 gave the same information as in the previous entries, with the exception that he had now served 15 years, and was aged just over 61.
14 Return dated the 1st April 1828 (WO54/562) updated the same basic information given in the previous notes.
15. Return dated 1st October 1829 (WO54/566) updated his age and length of service, with family and pay details remaining unchanged.
16 According to the Return dated the 1st April 1830 (WO54/570), James was still earning £33.18.2d per annum as a Labourer. By then he had served 18 years and was 64 years' old.
17 Return WO54/570 dated the 1st October 1830 confirmed that James was still working as a Labourer with family details and pay remaining the same, but his length of service and age were updated.
18 A Return of Persons belonging to the Civil Establishment of the Ordnance at the Gunpowder and Small Arms Manufactories at Waltham Abbey, Faversham and Enfield, showing in detail the several points of information called for by the Master General and Board's Order dated the 31st January 1831, recorded that James Wood was one of the 15 Labourers to be employed at Waltham Abbey Powder Mills and the Enfield Small Arms Factory. He was to be paid 2/2d per day and employed to undertake different services as a Labourer in the manufactories, where steadiness and sobriety were particuliary required (WO54/575).
19 WO54/575 dated the 1st April 1831 updated his age and period of service in the October 1830 Return, with all other details remaining unchanged.
20 WO54/575 dated October 1831 confirmed that James still earned 2/2d per day as indicated in Note 8, giving him a total of £33.18.2d per annum. At that date he had served 19 years, and was just over 65 years of age.
