Biography:
1. Thomas Freeman (1) started work as a Labourer "setting & drawing stoves and clearing willow plantation" on the 1st September 1798, earning 1/6d per day. He was also a Private in the Volunteer Company (Supply 5/219).
2. A signed document, Supply 5/220 of the 2nd February 1800 relating to a Petition on Pay, showed that he was illiterate and was still working as a Labourer.
3. A Report dated the 8th May 1801 (Supply 5/221) confirmed he was a Labourer, that he was married and had 1 child. Note: in this document, anyone not an artificer, was described as a Labourer.
4. A List of Officers and Others Employed (Supply 5/222 dated the 8th May 1804) recorded that Thomas was working as a Labourer in the "Engineers' Dept. Established", earning 1/6d per day with "one day extra allowed per week agreeable to the Board's Order dated 12th March 1801."
5. Supply 5/224 dated the 30th January 1806, described Thomas as a "Salt Petre Millman" who earned 2/-d per day; at that date he had 6 years' service with the Ordnance Board.
6. He was still a "Salt Petre Millman" in June 1807 (Supply 5/226), and a note said that in addition to his pay he was allowed to watch in turn, for which he received 1/-d.
7. According to the entry on Supply 5/227 dated the 23rd August 1808, Mr. Freeman was then employed as a Charcoal Millman earning 2/3d per day, and "in addition to their pay, they are allowed to watch in turn, for which they receive one shilling."
8. Supply 5/228 dated the 1st September 1810, recorded that Thomas was a Mixing House man who was paid 2/3d per day, and allowed to watch in turn for 1/6d per night.
9. Supply 5/229 - WO54/512) confirmed that Thomas (1) was still a Mixing House man, but that he then earned 3/-d per day, in addition to which he was allowed to watch in turn, for which he received 1/6d per night.
10 List of Officers & Others Employed dated the 25th June 1818 (WO54/524) stated that Thomas was a 37-year-old married man with 5 children living in Cheshunt, earning 2/8d per day and allowed to watch in turn, for which he was paid 1/-d per night.
11 A List of Employees dated the 28th August 1818 (Supply 5/231) gave the names of people to be retained between the 3rd September and the 31st December 1818. Freeman's name was on the List with his pay reduced to 2/-d per day, and he was not paid watch money.
12 In a letter dated September 1818 (Supply 5/231) it is stated "We respectfully beg leave to add the names and stations of those persons whom it will be necessary to discharge in consequence of this arrangement." Thomas Freeman's name was included.
13 List of Employees dated the 19th May 1819 (Supply 5/231) indicated that Freeman was still employed as a Mixing House Man, was married and was aged 37, with 5 children. At that time he lived in Waltham Abbey and was paid 2/4d per day, as well as again being allowed to watch in turn, for which he was paid 1/-d per night.
14 List of Officers on Employment dated 13th September 1820 (Supply 5/232) recorded that Thomas (1) was 38 with 5 children, and then lived in Cheshunt. His pay was still 2/4d per day, but he was now in receipt of 1/6d per night when allowed to watch.
15 A Return dated the 9th April 1821 (Supply 5/232) indicated that Thomas was now 40, and that all other details remained the same as in Note 14.
16 List of Employees (Supply 5/232 dated 23rd January 1822) recorded that Thomas's service was nearly 25 years, and that he was still paid 2/4d per day.
17 Return dated 6th February 1822 (Supply 5/232) recorded the 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 (1) was appointed a Labourer at Waltham Abbey on the 1st September 1798, and later became a Mixing House Man. He had an annual income of £36.10.4d, and according to this Return at the 31st December 1821, he had just over 23 years' service, was 42 years old, was married with 5 children, and lived in Cheshunt.
18 List of Employees dated the 21st March 1822 (Supply 5/232) of persons to form an Establishment to regenerate 2000 barrels of gunpowder as well as to make 100 or 200 barrels of gunpowder annually, indicated that Thomas Freeman, "Mixing House Man", was to be retained.
19 Return dated the 1st October 1825 (Winters, pp.93-95) confirmed the previous information given, Thomas was a Mixing House Man and had been in continuous service with the Board since the 1st September 1798. His basic pay - with no allowance for watching - was £33.16.0d per annum.
20 Return dated the 1st April 1823 confirmed that Freeman was still a Mixing House Man, and 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. His family and service details were the same as recorded as previously.
21 According to a document dated the 1st April 1823 (WO54/542 - Alteration in Return B) Thomas (1) had his pay reduced by £2.12.0d per annum, in accordance with the Board's Orders dated 27th December 1822 and 15th January 1823.
22 WO54/546 dated the 1st October 1823, confirmed that he was still a Mixing House Man and that his annual remuneration was £39.0.0d, which included an allowance for watching the works in turn, for which, on average, he received 2/-d per week. He then had 6 children.
23 WO54/550 dated the 1st April 1825, gave 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 annual earnings £39.0.0d. This Return also confirmed his previous family and service details, and the information was repeated in WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825.
24 WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826 confirmed the basic information given in WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825.
25 WO54/558 dated the 1st April 1827 recorded "no alteration since the last report dated the 1st October 1826."
26 Supply 5/205 dated the 28th May 1827, recorded that Thomas Freeman requested that he be allowed the tenancy of a cottage at a rental of 2/-d per week, being the same rent paid by the woman who "has quitted the premises." This was the cottage in Powder Mill Lane occupied by John Simpson and then granted to his widow for a period of 12 months.
27 WO54/558 dated the 1st October 1827 recorded the same information as in the notes above. At that date Thomas had nearly 29 years' service and was then aged 44.
28 Return dated the 1st April 1828 (WO54/562) confirms the information given in the notes above, with the exception that he had then served for just over 29 years.
29 Return dated the1st October 1828 (WO54/562) updated his age and length of service, with family details and pay remaining unchanged.
30 Return dated the 1st April 1829 (WO54/566) updated his age and length of service, again with his family details and pay remaining unaltered..
31 According to the Return dated the 1st October 1829 (WO54/566)
Thomas Freeman (1) had died sometime between April and October of 1829.
