Biography:
1. Supply 5/220 dated the 30th January 1806 recorded that Henry Brown was employed as a Millman in 1805, with a rate of pay of 2/3d per day. In June 1807 he was still a Millman earning 2/3d per day, but was also allowed 3d per night when on duty.
2. According to the entry on Supply 5/227 dated the 23rd August 1808, Mr. Brown was still a Millman earning 2/3d per day, but was then "allowed 6d per night when on duty." This was also the case in 1810 (Supply 5/228 of the 5th September 1810).
3. List of Employees dated the 29th August 1812 (Supply 5/229) confirmed that Mr. Brown was still a Millman who earned 3/-d per day, in addition to which, he was allowed 6d per night when on duty. This was also the case on the 13th February 1814 (Supply/230) with the same rate of pay and additional 6d per night when on duty.
4. Lists of Officers & Others Employed dated the 25th June 1818 (Supply 5/231 and WO54/524) recorded that Henry Brown was 56, resided in Waltham Abbey, and was married with 8 children. He earned 2/8d per day, in addition to which, he was allowed 6d per night when on duty.
5. 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. Henry Brown's name was on the list as a Saltpetre Refiner who was paid 2/-d per day. However, a second List dated the 3rd September showed that he was retained as a Millman, and still paid 2/8d per day (Supply 5/231).
6. List of Employees dated the 19th May 1819 (Supply 5/231) confirmed that Brown was still employed as a Millman, that he was a married man of 57 with 8 children, and lived in Waltham Abbey. He was still paid 2/8d per day and was allowed an additional 6d when on night duties.
7. List of Employees dated the 13th September 1820 (Supply 5/232) updated the previous entry.
8. List of Employees dated the 9th April 1821 (Supply 5/232) recorded that Mr. Brown was 58 and confirmed he was married with 8 children. He still lived in Waltham Abbey, remained a Millman and was earning the same amount as in (6) above.
9. List of Employees at the Royal Powder Mills (Supply 5/232 dated the 23rd January 1822) stated that Henry Brown, Millman, was aged 59, had 17 years' service and was paid 2/8d per day, with an extra 6d when on night duties.
10 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 & WO54/536 dated the 6th February 1822) appears to be a more detailed, and probably more accurate, Return than that dated the 23rd January 1822. It stated that
Henry Brown, Millman, was appointed on the 12th November 1804 as a Labourer at Waltham Abbey, that his position on the Establishment as a Millman was confirmed by an Order of the Board dated the 4th September 1818, and that he was allowed to watch in turn to guard the works, for which he received an additional 2/-d per night. This gave him a total wage for the year of £46.18.8d. He had just over 17 years' service, was aged 59 years, was married with eight children, and lived in Waltham Abbey.
11 List dated the 21st March, 1822 (Supply 5/232) of persons to form an Establishment at Waltham Abbey to regenerate 2000 barrels of gunpowder as well as to make 100 or 200 barrels of gunpowder annually, included Henry Brown, Millman, who was to be retained.
12 WO54/542 dated the 1st April 1823 confirmed that Brown was still a Millman, and that his wages for the year were £44.4.0d, which included an allowance for watching in turn, for which he received 2/-d per week. His family and service details were confirmed.
13 According to a document dated the 1st April 1823 (WO54/542 - Alteration in Return B) Mr. Henry Brown had his earnings reduced by £2.12.0d per annum in accordance with the Board's Orders dated the 27th December 1822 and the 15th January 1823.
14 WO54/546 dated the 1st October 1823 recorded that he was still a Millman and that his annual earnings amounted to £44.4.0d, which included an allowance for watching the works in turn, for which, on average, he received 2/-d per week. His age was given as 62, he was a widower with 8 children, and his starting date was confirmed.
15 Return showing pay and allowances, etc. dated the 1st October 1825 (Winters, pp.93-95) confirmed the previous information given and recorded that he had been in continuous service with the Board since the 12th November 1804. His wage was £44.4.0 per annum. WO54/550 dated the 1st April 1825 gave his earnings as £39.0.0d per annum, he was allowed to watch in turn for which he received, on average 2/-d per week, and this gave him an annual income of £44.4.0d. This Return also confirmed his previous family and service details, and all of this information is repeated in WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825. WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826 confirmed the basic information given in WO54/550 dated the the 1st October 1825.
16 Winters, on p.95 of his book, states "...on the 13th March, 1826, Henry Brown ...injured by the late explosion..."
17 WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826 confirmed the information given in WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826.
18 Supply 5/205 dated the 14th March, 1827 stated that the Board agreed that Henry Brown could occupy a cottage in Powder Mill Lane previously occupied by William Davis, and the rent was set at £5.4.0d per annum. The cottage in question formed part of plot 63 of Drayson's 1833 Town Map.
19 WO54/558 dated the 1st April 1827 recorded "no alteration since the last report dated the 1st October 1826."
20 WO54/558 dated the 1st October 1827 gave the same information as in the notes above. At that date Henry Brown had nearly 23 years' service, and was then 64 years of age.
21 Supply 5/205 dated the 31st January 1828, stated that The Director General of the Ordnance Medical Department agreed that Henry Brown should be supplied with a truss to prevent him "incurring" further injury.
22 Return dated the 1st April 1828 (WO54/562) contained the same information as in previous notes. He had by then served just over 23 years.
23 Return dated the1st October 1828 (WO54/562) updated his age and length of service, with family details and pay remaining unchanged.
24 Return dated the 1st April 1829 (WO54/566) updated his age and length of service, family details and pay still remaining unaltered.
25 WO54/566 dated the 1st October 1829, confirmed that at that date Henry still earned the same as recorded in note 15. His length of service was given as nearly 25 years, and he was a widower, aged 65, with 8 children.
26 Return WO54/ 570 dated the 1st April 1830 updated his age and length of service, with family and pay details remaining unchanged.
27 A footnote to the Return dated the 1st October 1830 recorded that John Fleming was appointed Labourer "in the room of Henry Brown" on the 12th May 1830; in other words, it appears that Henry Brown's services were terminated, or, possibly, that he retired on that date, because his name no longer appears in the lists of employees.
28 Supply 5/207 dated the 15th July 1831 indicated that the Board agreed that Henry should be superannuated at the rate of £10 per annum.
29 He was still in receipt of a pension in 1837 (Supply 5/237).
30 The 1841 Census described Henry as an Ordnance Pensioner, aged 80, living in Powder Mill Lane with a Henry Brown, Labourer, who was, presumably, one of his sons. Henry was not born in the county.
