Biography:
1. A 'Chillis, J' was recorded as a "new entrant" in Supply 5/224 dated the 30th January 1806, and employed as a Brinstone Refiner with pay of 2/-d per day. The name of J. Chillis does not appear again in the records until 1812 when the name John Chillis appears, and it is assumed that this is one and the same man.
2. List of Employees dated the 29th August 1812 (Supply 5/229) recorded that a John Chilis was employed as a Saltpetre Refiner at 2/8d per day, and in addition, when not working extra, was allowed to watch in turn. This remained the case on the 13th February 1813 (Supply 5/230).
3. In a letter from the Office of Ordnance dated the 3rd November 1817 (Supply 5/201) it was stated that the Ordnance Surgeon, Mr. Hilton, has "represented the life of John Chillis, a Labourer... to be in danger for want of proper trusses to be used by him in a case of Hernia occasioned by his work in the manufactory, and which cannot be reduced". As a consequence, directions were given to the Director General of the Ordnance Medical Department "to cause two trusses of the description you have stated, to be immediately forwarded to Waltham Abbey for the use of this man."
