Biography:
1. Joseph Cannon was employed as a Labourer "drawing and setting stoves and in the willow plantation." He was paid 2/8d per day and allowed to watch in turn according to List of Employees dated the 29th August 1812 (Supply 5/229).
2. On the 13th February 1814, Joseph was recorded as a Punt Man, still earning 2/8d per day and allowed to watch in turn (Supply 5/230). His name does not appear in subsequent Returns so it is assumed that he was one of those dismissed at the cessation of the Napolionic Wars.
3. However, according to the Return of Employees dated the 1st April 1830 (WO54/570), Joseph Cannon was appointed as a Labourer in the Engineers' Department on the 27th August 1829. His rate of pay was given as 2/2d per day for 313 days, making a total of £33.18.2d annually. His length of service was given as 6 months; he was 40 years old, married with 6 children, and had not been brought up to any trade.
4. Return WO54/570 dated the 1st October 1830 recorded that Joseph was still working as a Labourer and that his family details and pay were unchanged; his length of service and age in this Return were updated.
5. 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 Joseph Cannon was one of the 15 Labourers to be employed at Waltham Abbey Powder Mills and the Enfield Small Arms Factory; he was paid 2/2d per day and employed to undertake different services as a Labourer in the Manufactories, where steadiness and sobriety were particuliary required (WO54/570)
6. WO54/575 dated April 1831 updated his age and period of service in the October 1830 Return, with all other details remaining unchanged.
7. WO54/575 dated October 1831 confirmed that Joseph still earned 2/2d per day as indicated in Note 3, giving him a total of £33.18.2d per annum. At that date he had served 2 years and was aged just over 41.
8. 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.
9. WO54/581 dated the 1st October 1832 confirmed that Joseph Cannon still earned £33.18.2d per annum. His service was given as 3 years and at that date he was 42.
10 WO54/587 dated the 1st April 1833, gave the same information as in note 9 above, except that Joseph was aged 43, and had served for just over 3 years.
11 WO54/587 dated the 1st October 1833, confirmed that his basic details remained unchanged, but his age and length of service were updated.
