Biography:
1. William Clark commenced work in the autumn of 1805 as a Labourer, "Drawing and Setting Stoves etc.", earning 2/-d per day (Supply 5/224 dated the 30th January 1806).
2. According to the List of Officers, Foremen and Artificers, etc. Employed - Supply 5/226 dated the 18th June 1807 - William then worked in the Corning House earning 2/2d per day. In addition, Corning House men were allowed to watch in turn, for which they received 1/-d.
3. Supply 5/227 dated the 23rd August 1808, confirmed Mr. Clark was still employed as a Corning House Man, but with his pay increased to 2/6d. per day, and, again, "in addition to their pay, they are allowed to watch in turn, for which they receive one shilling."
4. Pay List (Supply 5/228 dated the 1st September 1810) confirmed the information given in Note 3.
5. List of Employees dated the 29th August 1812 (Supply 5/229) recorded that Mr. Clark was still a Corning House Man, but that he now earned 3/3d per day, in addition to which, he was allowed to watch in turn, for which he earned 1/6d per night.
6. William was still a Corning House Man on the 13th February 1814 with the same rate of pay and allowed to watch in turn, for the same 1/6d per night (Supply 5/230).
7. Lists of Officers & Others Employed dated the 25th June 1818 (Supply 5/231 and WO54/524) confirmed that William Clark was still working in the Corning House, that he was 38, resided in Waltham Abbey, and was married with 1 child. He then earned 2/11d per day and was allowed to watch in turn, for which he was paid only 1/-d per night.
8. A List of Employees dated the 28th August 1818 (Supply 5/231) showed the names of people to be retained between the 3rd September and the 31st December 1818, and Clark's name was not on that list. However, a second list dated the 3rd September, modified the cut- back and Clark was retained on the same wage, although he was then not allowed to watch.
9. List of Employees dated the 19th May 1819 (Supply 5/231) recorded that Clark was still employed in the Corning House and that he was a married man aged 39, with 1 child. He lived in Waltham Abbey, was paid 2/11d per day and was allowed to watch in turn, for which he received 1/-d per night.
10 List of Officers on Employment dated the 13th September 1820 (Supply 5/232) recorded that Mr. William Clark was now 40. He then lived in Cheshunt, earned only 2/4d per day as a Saltpetre Refiner, but was allowed 1/6d per night when watching in turn.
11 List of Employees dated the 9th April 1821 (Supply 5/232) confirmed that William was 40, was married with 1 child, but was then employed as a Saltpetre Pefiner; all other entries remained the same as in Note 5.
12 List of Employees at the Royal Powder Mills (Supply 5/232 dated the 23rd January 1822) gave the age of William, Saltpetre Refiner, as 42, with 16 years' service and pay per day of 2/4d.
13 Return dated the 6th February 1822 (Supply 5/232) showed length of service and other full details of the 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. William Clark, Saltpetre Refiner, was appointed a Labourer at Waltham Abbey on the 13th June 1805, and by Orders of the Board dated 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 pay of £41.14.4d. According to this Return, at the 31st December 1821, he had 16 years' service, was 42 years of age, was married with 1 child, and lived in Cheshunt.
14 In the spring of 1822, the Ordnance Board decided to reduce the production and regeneration of gunpowder. The Establishment at Waltham was to be reduced, and, accordingly, Empson Middleton and James Wright drew up a list of people to be dismissed (Supply 5/232 dated the 21st March 1822). The list included William Clark, and the men were subsequently dismissed on the 1st June. Several Petitions were submitted by the men asking for financial assistance; many were long-service employees in their middle age, and they pointed out that they had little hope of finding employment after the hay and corn harvest had been gathered. The Storekeeper at Waltham was sympathetic and forwarded their Petitions to the Board for their consideration. William Clark was one of the petitioners, and as a consequence he was awarded two weeks' pay to ease his financial burden.
