Biography:
1. Thomas Carter (1) was employed as a Labourer on the 8th March 1810. According to Supply 5/228 dated the 1st September 1810, Thomas (1) was a Millman who was paid 2/3d per day, and allowed 6d per night when on duty.
2. List of Employees dated the 29th August 1812 (Supply 5/229) stated that Mr. Thomas Carter was a Corning House Man who earned 3/3d per day, and in addition, he was allowed to watch in turn, for which he earned 1/6d. per night.
3. Thomas (1) was still a Corning House Man on the 13th February 1814 (Supply 5/230) with the same rate of pay as previously, and allowed to watch in turn.
4. List of Officers on Employment dated the the 13th September 1820 (Supply 5/232) recorded that Mr. Thomas Carter was a Saltpetre Refiner, aged 53, who lived in Waltham Abbey. He was married with 9 children, but then earned only 2/4d per day, with the same allowance of 1/6d per night when watching.
5. List of Employees dated the 9th April 1821 (Supply 5/232) stated that Thomas was only 50 and still employed as a Saltpetre Refiner; all other entries remain the same as in Note 4.
6. List of Employees at the Royal Powder Mills (Supply 5/232 dated the 23rd January 1822) gave the age of Thomas, Saltpetre Refiner, as 51, with 12 years' service and pay per day of 2/4d.
7. 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 to be a more detailed and accurate Return than that of the 23rd January 1822, and confirmed that Thomas Carter (1), Saltpetre Refiner, was appointed a Labourer at Waltham Abbey on the 8th March 1810, and by Orders of the Board dated the 4th September 1818 and the 4th October 1819, as a Saltpetre Refiner. He was allowed to watch in turn to guard the works, for which he received an additional 2/-d per night, giving him total annual income of £41.14.4d. According to this Return, at 31st December 1821 he had nearly 12 years' service, was 51 years old, was married with 8 children, and lived in Waltham Abbey. He had previously trained as a Shoe Maker.
8. 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, indicated that Thomas Carter, Saltpetre Refiner, was to be retained.
9. WO54/542 dated the 1st April 1823, confirmed that Carter was still a Saltpetre Refiner, that his pay for the year was £39.0.0d, which included an allowance for watching in turn for which he received 2/-d per week. Family and service details were confirmed except that according to this Return he then only had 7 children.
10 According to a document dated the 1st April 1823 (WO54/542 - Alteration in Return B) Thomas Carter (1) had his pay reduced by £2.12.0d per annum in accordance with the Board's Orders dated the 27th December 1822 and the 15th January 1823.
11 WO54/546 dated the 1st October 1823 recorded that he was still a Saltpetre Refiner and that his annual pay was £39.0.0d, which included an allowance for watching the works in turn, for which, on average, he received 2/-d per week. His service and family details were confirmed.
12 Return showing pay and allowances, etc., dated the 1st October 1825 in Winters (pp 93-95), confirmed the previous information, and that he had been in continuous service with the Board since the 8th March 1810. His annual income was £33.16.0d. per annum.
13 WO54/550 dated the 1st April 1825 recorded that Thomas (1) was still a Saltpetre Refiner and confirmed his basic pay as £33.16.0d per annum. He was allowed to watch in turn which gave him, on average, 2/-d per week, making his total pay £39.0.0d per annum. It also confirmed his previous family and service details. These details were repeated in WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825. However, it should be noted that here are inconsistencies with his age.
14 WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826 confirmed the basic details given in WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825. WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826 confirmed the information given in WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826.
12 WO54/558 dated the 1st April 1827 recorded "no alteration since the last report dated the 1st October 1826."
13 WO54/558 dated the 1st October 1827 recorded that on the 24th February 1827, Thomas was promoted to being a Corning House Man with basic pay of £42.18.0d per annum. He was still allowed to watch in turn, which gave him a total annual income of £48.2.0d. At that date he had just over 17 years' service and was then 62 years of age, was still married and had 7 children.
14 Return dated the 1st April 1828 (WO54/562) gave the same information as in the notes above, with the exception that he had served nearly 18 years.
15 Return dated the1st October 1828 (WO54/562) updated his age and length of service, family details and pay remaining unchanged.
16 Return dated the 1st April 1829 (WO54/566) updated his age and length of service, with family details and pay unaltered..
17 WO54/566 dated the 1st October 1829, confirmed that at that date Thomas (1) still earned the same as in note 13. His length of service was given as nearly 20 years, and he was aged 63.
18 Return WO54/ 570 dated the 1st April 1830, updated his age and length of service, family and pay details remaining unchanged.
19 WO54/570 dated the 1st October 1830 stated that Thomas Carter was 64 years of age and that he had served just over 20 years. His pay was still the same as in Note 13, and all other information remained the same.
20 According to the Return WO54/575 dated the 1st April 1831, Thomas was 65 years of age and had served nearly 21 years. He was still earning a total of £48.2.0d.
21 WO54/545 dated the 1st October 1831 updated his age and period of service in the April 1831 Return. All other details remained unchanged.
22 WO54/581 dated the 1st April 1832 updated Thomas's age and period of service in the October 1831 Return.
23 WO54/581 dated the 1st October 1832 updated his age and period of service in the April, 1832 Return, and confirmed that he was still a Millman.
24 WO54/587 dated the 1st April 1833 confirmed that Thomas Carter was a Millman who still earned a total of £48.2.0d per annum. His service was given as nearly 23 years, and his age as 67.
25 WO54/587 dated the 1st October 1833 stated that Mr. Carter was 68 years of age and had served just over 23 years. He was still in receipt of an annual wage of £48.2.0d, and his family details remained the same.
26 WO54/593 dated the 1st April 1834 recorded that although Thomas was still employed as a Corning House Man, his basic wage had been cut to £35.17.9d per annum; he was still allowed to watch in turn, which increased his annual income to £41.1.9d.
27 WO54/593 dated the 1st October 1834 updated the previous Return for service and age, with conditions and pay remaining unchanged.
28 Return of Employees dated the 1st October 1839 (WO54/623) stated that since the 5th September 1837, Thomas Carter (1) had been employed as a Corning House Man with pay of £42.18. 0d; he was 72 years of age at that date, and although he was allowed to watch in turn, it appears that due to his age, he declined.
29 A transcript of the 1841 Census recorded that a Thomas Carter of a similar age was living with his wife, Elizabeth, (aged 60) in North Upshire near the Green Man. He is described therein as an Agricultural Labourer, and was born in the county.
