Biography:
1. John Carr, according to a letter (Supply 5/229 dated the 3rd October 1811) was approved as an Apprentice to Master Worker, William Newton. John was to lodge with his father, John Carr, Shoemaker of Waltham Abbey. His Apprenticeship started on the 30th September 1811 according to WO54/542 dated the 1st April 1823.
2. Supply 5/229 dated the 29th August 1812, confirmed that John was still Apprenticed to the Master Worker and earned 6/-d. per week, with his Master getting 6/-d per week for this Apprentice.
3. At the 13th February 1814 (Supply 5/230) his situation was the same, and his Master was still getting 6/-d per week.
4. List of Employees dated the 25th June 1818 (Supply 5/231) confirmed that John Carr was still Apprenticed to the Master Worker. He was a single man, aged 19, and lived in Waltham Abbey. At this date he earned 7/-d per week.
5. A List of Employees dated the 28th August 1818 (Supply 5/231) showed the names of the people to be retained between the 3rd September and the 31st December 1818; Carr's name was included, with his pay increased to 9/-d per week.
6. Petition from John Carr dated the 6th January 1819 (Supply 5/202) recorded that at that date he had completed his Apprenticeship under the Master Worker, and begged that he remain at the Mills to support himself and his family. The Board agreed to retain him as an Artificer under the Master Worker.
7. List of Employees dated the 19th May 1819 (Supply 5/231) recorded that John Carr was employed as Brimstone Refiner. He was still single, aged 20, and lived in Waltham Abbey. He was paid 2/4d per day, and was allowed to watch in turn, for which he received 1/-d per night.
8. List of Officers on Employment dated the 13th September 1820 (Supply 5/232) stated that John was 22, still single, still lived in Waltham Abbey and still earned 2/4d per day as a Saltpetre Refiner. However, he received 1/6d per night when allowed to watch in turn.
9. List of Employees dated the 9th April 1821 (Supply 5/232) indicated that John's details remained the same as in Note 8.
10. List of Employees at the Royal Powder Mills (Supply 5/232 dated the 23rd January 1822) gave the age of Mr. Carr, Saltpetre Refiner, as 23, with just over 10 ten years' service, and pay per day of 2/4d.
11. Return dated the 6th February 1822 (Supply 5/232) showed length of service and other full details of those persons employed by the Ordnance at Waltham Abbey as at the 31st December 1821. This appeared a more detailed and accurate Return than that of the 23rd January 1822, i.e., it stated that John Carr, Saltpetre Refiner, was Apprenticed to the Master Worker on the 30th September 1811 and by Orders of the Board dated 4th September 1818 and the 4th October 1819, became a Saltpetre Refiner. His annual pay was £41.14.4d, and according to this Return, at the 31st December 1821, he had just over 10 years' service, was 23, was single and lived in Waltham Abbey.
12 In the Spring of 1822, the Ordnance Board decided to reduce the production and regeneration of gunpowder and the Establishment at Waltham was to be reduced; accordingly, Empson Middleton and James Wright drew up a list of people to be dismissed (Supply 5/232 dated the 21st March 1822). John Carr was one of the men who was to be dismissed on the 1st June, 1822. However, a List of Employees dated the 10th October 1822 (Supply 5/233) recorded that he was retained as a General Workman carrying out whatever type of work was required anywhere within the Manufactory.
13 WO54/542 dated the 1st April 1823, confirmed that Carr was classed as a "a Labourer for general purposes to be sent to all parts of the Manufactory wherever their services may be requested." His pay for the year was £33.16.0d, and his service details were confirmed.
14 According to a document dated the 1st April 1823 (WO54/542 - Alteration in Return B), John Carr had his pay reduced by £2.12.0d per annum, in accordance with the Board's Orders dated the the 27th December 1822 and the 15th January 1823.
15 According to the Return dated the the 1st October 1824 (WO54/546) John earned £39.0.0d per annum, which included an allowance for watching in turn, for which he received 2/-d per week. His period of service was given as 13 years, he was then aged 26, and he was still single. He had trained as a Gunpowder Maker.
16 Return showing pay and allowances, etc., dated the 1st October 1825 (Winters', pp. 93/95) confirmed the previous information given. It also recorded that he had been in continuous service with the Board since the 18th September 1811, and that his earnings were £33.16.0d. per annum.
17 WO54/550 dated the 1st April 1825, recorded that he was employed as a General Purpose Labourer and confirmed his basic pay as £33.16.0d per annum. He was still allowed to watch in turn, which gave him, on average, 2/-d per week, making his total pay £39.0.0d. WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825 confirmed the information given 6 months earlier.
18 WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826, confirmed the basic information given in WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825, except that he was then a married man.
19 WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826 confirmed the information given in WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826 but recorded that he then had 1 child.
20 WO54/558 dated the 1st April 1827 recorded "no alteration since the last Report dated the 1st October 1826." except that his length of service started at the end of his Apprenticeship in January 1819.
21 WO54/558 dated the 1st October 1827 gave the same information as in the notes above. He was then 28 years of age, married, and had 1 child.
22 Return dated the 1st April 1828 (WO54/562) gave the same information as in the notes above, with the exception that he served 9 years at that date.
23 Return dated the 1st October 1828 (WO54/562) showed no alteration to the details given in the April Return above.
24 Return dated the 1st April 1829 (WO54/566) updated his age and length of service, with pay unchanged, but recorded that he then had 2 children.
25 Return of Employees at the 1st October 1829 (WO54/566) indicated that Mr. Carr, as in Note 17, still earned in total £39.0.0d per annum, that his service was over 10 years, that he was 29, was married and had 2 children.
26 According to Return WO54/570 dated the 1st April 1830, all details remained the same for John Carr as in Note 25, except that his service was 11 years and he was now aged 30.
27 Return WO54/570 dated the 1st October 1830 confirmed the information given in the previous Return.
28 WO54/575 dated April 1831 updated the October 1830 Return, and confirmed he was still employed as a General Labourer within the Manufactory.
29 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.
30 WO54/581 dated the 1st April 1832 updated his age and period of service in the October 1831 Return.
31 WO54/581 dated the 1st October 1832 recorded that John was dismissed by the Board's Order No. 1082 dated the 26th September 1832.
