Biography:
1. William Bride started work in the Corning House as a General Labourer on the 21st April 1794 earning 1/6d per day (Supply 5/216 dated the 31st August 1794), but by December 1794, he had been transferred to the Dusting House. He was still in the Dusting House between in September 1798, and was a Private in the Voluntary Company (Supply 5/219).
2. A signed document (Supply 5/220 of the 2nd February 1800) relating to a Petition on Pay showed that he was illiterate and was still working as a General Labourer.
3. A Report dated the 8th May 1801 (Supply 5/221) recorded that he was working as a Labourer, was a married man, and had 2 children. In this document, anyone not an Artificer was described as a Labourer.
4. A Return of Artificers and Labourers dated the 3rd November 1801 (Supply 5221) confirmed that he was still employed as a Labourer, and was cleaning and deepening the river and canals, etc., and performing sundry necessary work.
5. Recorded as working in the Dusting and Corning Houses as a Labourer, his pay was then 2/1d per day; 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).
6. Bride was still earning 2/1d per day in the Dusting House on the 30th January 1806, and at that date he had served 12 years (Supply 5/224).
7. Still working in the Dusting House and earning 2/1d per day, in addition, Dusting House men were allowed to watch in turn, for which they received 1/-d (List of Officers, Foremen and Artificers, etc. Employed - Supply 5/226 dated the 18th June 1807).
8. According to the entry on Supply 5/227 dated the 23rd August 1808, Mr. Bride was still employed as a Dusting House Man but then earned 2/3d per day, and "in addition to their pay, they are allowed to watch in turn, for which they receive one shilling."
9. Supply 5/228 dated the 1st September 1810 confirmed that he was still a Dusting House Man who was paid 2/3d day, and allowed to watch for 1/6d per night.
10 List of Employees dated the 29th August 1812 (Supply 5/229) confirmed that Mr. Bride was still a Dusting House Man whose wage had increased to 3/-d per day, and in addition, he was allowed to watch in turn, for which he earned 1/6d. per night.
11 Still employed as a Dusting House Man earning 3/-d per day as well as being allowed to watch in turn, for which he received 1/6d per night (Supply 5/230 dated the 13th February 1814).
12 List of Persons in Employment dated the 2nd March 1816 (Supply 5/230) recorded that Mr. Thomas (clerical error) Bride was a Dusting House Man with 22 years' service, and that he was aged 56, and daily superannuation of 3/-d was recommended. In the attached notes was the comment that Mr. William Bride and others should be superannuated because "of the hurts they have received in this dangerous Manufactory". It was also stated therein that Mr. Bride, "being very severely ruptured, is quite unfit for any exertion." However, in a letter dated 6th March 1816 (Supply 5/200), Mr. Bride was finally awarded superannuation of only 2/6d per day for six days in the week, commencing on the 1st April 1816.
13 A supplement to a document dated the 8th November 1818 (Supply 5/231) listed persons who had been superannuated on account of their length of service in the departments. Among the recipients was William Bride, Dusting House Man, who received a pension of 15/-d per week which commenced on the 1st April 1816.
14 List of Persons Receiving Superannuation (Supply 5/232 dated the 17th November 1821) confirmed entry No. 13 above in respect of William Bride.
15 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 William Bride, lately a Dusting House Man, was in receipt of £39 superannuation per annum. A similar document, (Supply 5/232 dated the 28th December, 1821) recorded that the same pension would be paid in 1822, as well as in 1826 according to Winters (p.96).
