Biography:
1. Supply 5/228 dated the 21st July 1809 indicated that William Brown was a Master Carpenter. He was paid £1.15.0d for work carried out by the Engineers' Department in the Manufactory between the 15th and 21st July,1809.
2. WO54/512 dated 5th September, 1812 recorded that William was first appointed on the Establishment on the 1st August, 1806 as the Foreman Carpenter at Waltham Abbey. According to this Return, he was paid 6/4d per day for six days' work and one and a half days' pay for working on a Sunday. He was also entitled to 6/-d per week to train an Apprentice.
3. WO54/516 dated the 19th February 1816 recorded he was the Master Carpenter, a 49 year old widower with no children. He was still paid 6/4d per day on the Establishment, and this document indicated that he had trained as a Carpenter.
4. WO54/520 dated the 28th February 1817, stated that William Brown was the Master Carpenter. This Return states that he had trained as a Cabinet Maker. He was 50 years old at that date, and his family details remained the same as before. However, he was then only earning 5/10d per day, with an allowance of 6/-d per week for an Apprentice.
5. WO54/524 dated 1818 gave identical details as in Note 4, but his age was given as 52.
6. WO54/528 dated the 19th May 1819 stated that his allowance for training an Apprentice had been increased to 8/-d per week.
7. List of Employees dated the 13th September 1820 (WO54/532) recorded that William was then aged 54, lived in Waltham Abbey, and confirms that he was a widower without children. He still earned 5/10d per day with the same allowance of 6/d per week for an Apprentice.
8. WO54/536 dated the 2nd April 1821 recorded that he was aged 55 years; his terms of employment, etc., remaining unchanged.
9. WO54/536 dated the 31st December 1821 repeated the details given in the Return dated the the 2nd April 1821.
10 WO54/542 dated the 1st April 1823 listing personnel employed in the Engineers' Department, confirmed William was paid 5/10d per day for 313 days, giving him an income of £91.5.10d for the year as the Master Carpenter; his family and service details were also confirmed.
11 WO54/550 dated the 1st April 1825 listing personnel employed in the Engineers' Department, confirmed that William was still paid 5/10d per day for 313 days as the Master Carpenter, giving him the same annual income of £91.5.10d. His service was nearly 19 years, and at that date he was aged 58.
12 WO54/550 dated the 13th October, 1825 was a repeat of the record dated the 1st April 1825.
13 WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826 gave identical information as that in Notes 11 and 12, with the exception that he was 59 years of age, with service of nearly 20 years.
14 WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826 upated the previous Return.
15 WO54/558 dated the 1st April 1827 gave the same information as in the notes above. However, at that date William had nearly 21 years' service and was then over 60 years of age.
16 WO54/558 dated the 1st October 1827 contained no basic alterations since the previous Return.
17 Return dated the 1st April 1828 (WO54/562) updated the same basic information as in the notes above.
18 Return dated the1st October 1828 (WO54/562) updated his age and length of service, with family details and pay remaining unchanged.
19 WO54/566 dated the 1st April 1829, confirmed that William at that date still earned the same as in Note 11. His length of service was given as nearly 23 years, and he was just over 62 years of age.
20 Return dated the 1st October 1829 (WO54/566) updated his age and length of service, with family and pay details remaining unaltered.
21 According to Return WO54/570 dated the 1st April 1830, all details remained the same for William as in Note 11, except that his service was nearly 24 years and he was just over 63.
22 Return WO54/570 dated the 1st October 1830 confirmed that William was still the Master Carpenter, with family details and pay unchanged, but length of service and age updated.
23 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 William Brown was one of the 3 Master Artificers to be employed at Waltham Abbey and Enfield; he was the Master Carpenter and was to be paid 5/10d per day. His duties were to work with Artificers and Labourers in the Gunpowder Manufactory, consequently requiring great attention, sobriety, and steadiness of conduct.
24 WO54/575 dated April 1831 updated his age and period of service in the October 1830 Return, with all other details remaining unchanged.
25 WO54/575 dated October 1831 confirmed that William still earned 5/10d per day, giving him a total of £91.5.10d per annum as indicated in Note 11 above. He had served 25 years and was 65 years of age.
26 WO54/581 dated the 1st April 1832 updated his age and period of service in the October 1831, Return.
27 WO54/581 dated the 1st October 1832 confirmed that William still earned £91.5.10d per annum. He had by then served 26 years and was 66 years of age.
28 According to the Return dated the 1st April 1833 (WO54/587), all the details indicated in Note 27 were confirmed.
29 Under an order of the Board dated the 15th March 1833, William Brown, Master Carpenter, was to be discharged and granted a pension of £31.10.9d per annum until an opportunity to employ him again should arise (Supply 5/208 dated the 26 July 1833).
30 William retired on the 4th July 1833, and was in receipt of a pension which he was still receiving in 1837 (Supply 5/237).
