Biography:
1. John Brown (1) was employed as a Labourer in February 1793, and paid 1/6d per day for refining Saltpetre (Supply 5/216 dated the 28th February, 1793); he continued to do so until July 1795, when he was pencilled in as a Millman, replacing R. Jameson (Supply 5/217 dated the 3rd July 1795).
2. Robert Coleman, Clerk of the Cheque, recorded that on the 29th July 1793, John Brown (along with others) was chequered (fined) one day's pay for "having gone across the Hoppit contrary to repeated orders." (Winters, p.39). According to page 52 of Winters, on the 13th February 1796 at 4.00 p.m., the Upper 15 Head Mill blew up, but although his clothes caught fire, John Brown was uninjured
3. A signed document (Supply 5/220 of the 2nd February 1800) relating to a Petition on Pay, indicated that John was literate, and was working as a Millman with a rate of pay of 2/-d per day.
4. Report dated the 8th May 1801 (Supply 5/221) confirmed that he was still working as a Millman. This Report recorded that he was also a married man with 4 children. Robert Coleman recorded in his Minute Book on the 23rd October of that year that 24 men were required to work at Faversham or be discharged. Initially Brown refused to go, but it appeared that he changed his mind (Winters, p.60).
5. A Return of Artificers & Labourers dated the 3rd November 1801 (Supply 5/221) showed that although still employed as a Millman, John was cleaning and deepening the river and canals as well as performing other sundry and necessary work. Brown possibly left his employment with the Ordnance Board, since his name does not appear in the Faversham records, nor is he recorded in the List of Employees dated the 8th May 1804 (Supply 5/222). However, WO54/536 dated the 6th February 1822, recorded that a John Brown commenced work on the 1st March 1805 as a Labourer, and it is presumed that this is the same man.
6. In the List of Foreman Artificers and Labourers employed dated the 30th January 1806 (Supply 5/224) a John Brown is described as a Foreman of the Corning House, earning 2/6d per day and that he had been employed with the Ordnance for 3 years, which is in variance with the supposition above. However, WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825 confirmed that he was appointed a Labourer on the 1st March 1805.
7. Supply 5/226 dated the 18th June,1807 described Brown as a working Foreman of the Corning Houses, with pay of 2/6d per day. In addition, as a Rounder, he was allowed 1/6d every third night to superintend the Millmen and Watchmen on duty.
8. According to an entry on Supply 5/227 dated the 23rd August 1808, Mr. Brown was still a Foreman of Corning Houses, earning 3/-d per day, and every third night he was allowed 2/-d as a Rounder to superintend the Millmen and Watchmen on duty; this was also the case in 1810 (Supply 5/228)
9. List of Employees dated the 29th August 1812 (Supply 5/229) confirmed that Mr. Brown was a Foreman of Corning Houses who then earned 4/-d per day, in addition to which, he was still a Rounder earning 2/-d. every third night.
10 According to the List dated the 13th February1814 (Supply 5/230), all of the above (9) still applied.
11 Lists of Officers & Others Employed dated the 25th June 1818 (Supply 5/231 and WO54/524) confirmed that Mr. Brown was still a Foreman of the Corning Houses. He was aged 38, resided in Waltham Abbey and was married with only 3 children. He earned 3/6d per day, in addition to which he was a Rounder at 1/6d every fifth night.
12 A List of Employees dated the 28th August 1818 (Supply 5/231) recorded the names of people to be retained between the 3rd September and the 31st December 1818. John Brown's name was on the List, but it seems his pay was reduced to 3/-d per day.
13 List of Employees dated the 19th May 1819 (Supply 5/231) confirmed that Brown was still employed as a Foreman of the Corning House, that he was a married man aged 39 with 3 children and lived in Waltham Abbey. At that date he was paid 3/4d per day, and was still a Rounder, for which he was paid 1/6d every third night. WO54/532 dated the 19th September 1820 confirmed this information, except that his allowance as a Rounder had been increased to 2/-d per night.
14 A Statement of "monies to which the public were entitled to receive credit between the 1st January and 31st December, 1821 showing the amounts received by the storekeeper" dated the 4th April 1821 (Supply 5/232), recorded that John Brown, Foreman of the Corning house, was living rent-free in a Board of Ordnance house from December, 1810. This same information is repeated in Supply 5/232 dated the 16th February 1822 for the year 1821. The location of this cottage (together with that of Benjamin Poulter who was granted a rent-free cottage at the same time) may be that described by Winters on page 97 of his book; he records that on the 24th January, 1827, William Davis, Collector of Taxes for Cheshunt, was paid the church rate for "land at the Aqueduct Lock and the two cottages at -do-" and "Aqueduct Lock lies within the Parish of Cheshunt."
15 List of Employees dated the 9th April 1821 (Supply 5/232) recorded that John Brown was 45, was married and had 4 children. He still lived in Waltham Abbey, was still a Foreman of the Corning House, and was earning the same amount as in Note 13, but was now paid 2/-d every third night as a Rounder.
16 List of Employees (Supply 5/232 dated the 23rd January 1822) indicated that John Brown, Foreman of Corning House, was aged 45, had 21 years' service and was paid 3/4d per day.
17 Return showing the pay, allowances and length of service and every description of the persons in the employment of the Ordnance at Waltham Abbey as at the 31st December 1821 (Supply 5/232 dated the 6th February 1822) appeared to be a more detailed, and probably more accurate, Return, than that dated the 23rd January 1822. It recorded that John Brown, Foreman of Corning House, was appointed on the 1st March 1805 as a Labourer at Waltham Abbey, was appointed Foreman of Corning House on the 4th September, 1818, and that his total earnings for the year amounted to £52.3.4d. He was allowed to act as a Rounder, for which he received an additional £12.3.4d annually, and he had served for nearly 17 years. He was aged 45, and was a married man with 4 children, living in Cheshunt. Note: previously there had been three Corning House Foremen who were generally described as working Foremen. Brown's appointment as Foreman is possibly from the date he he had been appointed as sole Foreman.
18 List dated the 21st March 1822 (Supply 5/232) of persons to form an Establishment at Waltham Abbey to regenerate 2,000 barrels of gunpowder as well as to make 100 or 200 barrels of gunpowder annually, recorded that John Brown, Foreman of Corning House, was to be retained.
19 List of Employees dated the 1st October, 1822 (Supply 5/233) contained similar information as in Note 17, and confirmed that Brown had a rent-free cottage for his family to look after the waters.
20 WO54/542 dated the 1st April 1823 gave Brown's earnings for the year as £64.6.8d, which included an allowance for being a Rounder every third night to superintend the watchmen, for which he received 2/-d. His family and service details were confirmed, and he was still entitled to a cottage owned by the Board. Details given in WO54/546 dated the 1st October 1823, included his date of appointment as a Labourer as on the 1st March 1805, as Foreman on the 4th September 1818 and reconfirmed on the 22nd May 1822.
21 WO54/550 dated the 1st April 1825 gave his wage as £52.3.4d per annum, with an allowance of 2/-d for being a Rounder every third night, giving him a total wage of £64.6.8d per annum. It also confirmed his previous family and service details.
22 Return showing pay and allowances, etc., dated the 1st October 1825, confirmed the previous information given and recorded that he had been in continuous service with the Board since 1805 and that his total wage was £77.1.6d per annum (Winters, pp. 93-95). The actual Return of that date confirmed that Brown was earning £65.4.2d and that he was rounding every third night at 2/-d by an order of the Board dated the 30th June 1820, which gave him an annual income of £77.1.6d. He had a cottage for his family to look after the water, and had been promoted to Foreman of Stoves and Magazines on the 25th May 1825 because Braddock had been promoted to Master Refiner of Saltpetre. He had nearly 24 years' service, and at that date was 49 years of age..
23 WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826 confirmed the basic information given in WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825.
24 WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826 confirmed the information given in WO54/554 dated the the 1st April 1826.
25 WO54/558 dated the 1st April 1827, recorded "no alteration since the last Report dated the 1st October 1826."
26 WO54/558 dated the 1st October 1827. gave the same information as in the notes above. At that date John Brown (1) had nearly 26 years' service and was then 51 years of age.
27 Return dated the 1st April 1828 (WO54/562) gave the same information as in theprevious notes.
28 Return dated the1st October 1828 (WO54/562) updated his age and length of service, with family details and pay remaining unchanged.
29 Return dated the 1st April 1829 (WO54/566) updated his age and length of service, with family details and pay remaining unchanged. He stll had a cottage "to look after the water".
30. WO54/566 dated the 1st October 1829 recorded that at that date John still earned the same as in Note 22. His length of service was given as nearly 25 years, and he was now aged 52.
32 Return WO54/ 570 dated the 1st April 1830 updated his age and length of service, with family and pay details remaining unaltered.
33 WO54/570 dated the 1st October 1830, recorded that Mr. Brown was now 53 years of age and that he had served nearly 26 years. His earnings were still the same as in Note 22, and all other information remained the same.
34 According to Return WO54/ 575 dated the 1st April 1831, John Brown, as a Foreman of the Stoves and Magazines, earned a total of £77.1.6d, and had served 26 years. At that date he was 54 years of age.
35 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. He was still occupying a cottage paid for by the Board "to look after the water."
36 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.
37 WO54/581 dated the 1st October 1832 recorded that John Brown earned a total of £77.1.6d per annum. All other details remained the same, except that at that date he was 56 years of age and had served nearly 28years. On this Return, no mention is made of Mr. Brown occupying a cottage that was paid for by the Board.
38 WO54/587 dated the 1st April 1833 confirmed that John Brown still earned a total of £77.1.6d per annum. His service was given as 28 years and his age as 56. This Return confirmed that he was occupying a cottage paid for by the Board, and that he continued to "look after the water."
39 WO54/587 dated the 1st October 1833 confirmed the above details, but he was now 57 years of age.
40 WO54/593 dated the 1st April 1834 updated the October Return for service and age, with conditions and pay unchanged.
41 WO54/593 dated the 1st October 1834, updated the previous Return for service and age, with conditions and pay remaining unchanged.
42 List of Domestic Properties prepared by the Royal Engineers dated the 20th December 1834, recorded that John Brown (as well as John Goats) was living on Aqueduct Island, and that the rent of his cottage was £5.4.0d per annum (Supply 5/237).
43 On the 16th April 1836, two Mills exploded when shut up and not at work; John Brown, Rounder, was called before Lt. Col. Moody as a witness, according to Winters, p.103).
44 Return of Employees dated the 1st October 1839 (WO54/623) stated that his income was £65.13.7d per annum; he was still entitled to a cottage "for the family to look after the water." and had been in the service of the Ordnance for just over 34 years.
45 A Return of Domestic Property prepared by the Royal Engineers' in May 1840 (WO44/133) recorded that James Brown (this is a clerical or transcript error) was still the Foreman of Stoves, that he was the first occupant of the cottage and "this occupant is a married man, & has the cottage free of rent, as his wife is a kind of Watch on bargemen taking more water than is necessary."
