Biography:
1. James Dunn was working as a Brimstone Refiner in 1806, and received 2/-d per day in this capacity. At that date, he had 9 months' service.
2. Still employed as a Brimstone Refiner, his pay had increased to 2/3d per day, and in addition, Brimstone Refiners were allowed to watch in turn, for which they received 1/-d ( Supply 5/226 dated the 18th June 1807).
3. According to the entry in Supply 5/227 dated the 23rd August 1808, Mr. Dunn was still employed as a Brimstone Refiner earning 2/3d. per day, and "in addition to their pay, they are allowed to watch in turn, for which they receive one shilling."
4. Supply 5/228 dated the 1st September 1810, confirmed that James was a Brimstone Refiner who was paid 2/3d day, and allowed to watch in turn for 1/6d night.
5. List of Employees dated the 29th August 1812 (Supply 5/229) confirmed that James was a Brimstone Refiner who now earned 3/-d per day, and in addition, was allowed to watch in turn, for which he earned 1/6d. per night. This was also the case according to the Return dated 13th February 1814 (Supply 5/230).
6. Lists of Officers & Others Employed dated the 25th June 1818 (Supply 5/231 and WO54/524) recorded that James was a Mixing House man, that he lived in Waltham Abbey, was 55, single, and earned 2/8d per day. He was allowed to watch in turn, for which he was paid 1/-d per night.
7. 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. Dunn's name was on the List, but his pay had been reduced to 2/-d per day.
8. List of Employees dated the 19th May 1819 (Supply 5/231) confirmed that Dunn was still employed as a Brimstone Refiner and a single man aged 56, still living in Waltham Abbey. At that date he was paid 2/4d per day, and was allowed to watch in turn for 1/-d per night.
9. Supply 5/232 dated the 13th September 1820, updated the previous entry, with the basic details on pay, etc. remaining unchanged. However, he was now allowed 1/6d per night to watch.
10 A statement "of monies to which the public were entitled to receive credit between the 1st January and the 31st December 1821 showing the amounts received by the storekeeper" dated the 4th April 1821, (Supply 5/232) recorded that James Dunn was living in a house purchased by the Board of Ordnance (Tenement No. 34) with a rent of £5.4.0d per annum. The property, together with its small garden, was identified as being on the north side of High Bridge Street to the west of its junction with Powder Mill Lane (part of Property 714 on the 1825 Waltham Abbey Town Map or Plot 1434 on the 1842 Tithe Map). This same information is repeated in Supply 5/232 dated 16th February 1822 for the year 1821.
11 List of Employees dated the 9th April 1821 (Supply 5/232) recorded that Mr. James Dunn was now 57; all other entries remained the same as in Note 9.
12 Supply 5/232 dated the 23rd January 1822, gave the age of Mr. James Dunn, Brimstone Refiner, as 63, with nearly 17 years' service and pay per day of 2/4d.
13 Return showing the pay, allowances and length of service and every description of the persons in the employment of the Ordnance at Waltham Abbey as at the 31st December 1821 (Supply 5/232 dated the 6th February 1822) appeared to be a more detailed, and probably more accurate, Return than that dated the 23rd January 1822. It stated that James Dunn, Brimstone Refiner, was appointed 13th August 1805 as a Labourer. His position on the Establishment as a Brimstone Refiner was confirmed by Orders of the Board dated the 4th September 1818 and the 4th October 1819. He was allowed to watch in turn to guard the works for which he received an additional 2/-d per night, which gave him a total for the year of £41.14.4d. He had nearly 17 years'service, was aged 63 years, and was a single man living in Waltham Abbey.
14 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). The men, including James Dunn, were subsequently dismissed on the 1st June of that year. 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. James Dunn was one of 4 men who signed a second Petition on the 12th July, saying that he had been away unsuccessfully looking for work. He was awarded 2 weeks' pay to ease his financial burden.
