Biography:
1. George Adams was a Punt Man earning 2/-d per day. At that date he had one year's service dated the 30th January 1806 (Supply 5/224). In June 1807 and August 1808 he was still working as a Punt Man earning the same 2/-d per day, but allowed to Watch in Turn (Supply 5/227).
2. Employed as a Millman in 1810, his pay increased to 2/3d per day, and he was allowed 1/6d per night when on duty (Supply 5/228 dated the 1st September 1810).
3. List of Employees dated the 29th August 1812 (Supply 5/229) stated that George was still a Millman, but that he earned 3/-d per day, in addition to which, he was allowed 6d per night when on duty. This was still the case on the 13th February 1814 (Supply 5/230).
4. Supply 5/231 and WO 54/524 dated the 25th June 1818, stated that George Adams was then a Saltpetre Refiner. He was a married man, aged 40, with three children, living in Waltham Abbey, then earning only 2/4d per day. He was allowed to watch in turn, for which he was paid 1/-d per night.
5. A List of Employees dated the 28th August 1818 (Supply 5/231) shows the names of people to be retained between the 3rd September and the 31st December, 1818. George Adams' name was on the List with his pay unchanged, but he was then not allowed to Watch.
6. List of Employees dated the 19th May 1819 (Supply 5/231) indicates that Adams was then employed as a Brimstone Refiner. He was still paid 2/4d per day and was still allowed to watch in turn, for which he received 1/-d per night.
7. List of Officers on Employment dated 13th September 1820 (Supply 5/232) stated that George was working as a Saltpetre Refiner. His rate of pay remained at 2/4d per day, but he then received 1/6d per night when allowed to watch.
8. List of Employees dated the 9th April 1821 (Supply 5/232) indicated that George was still a Saltpetre Refiner. All other entries remained the same as previously.
9. List of Employees at the Royal Powder Mills (Supply 5/232 dated 23rd January 1822) gave the age of George Adams as 33 and that he was working as a Saltpetre Refiner, with 19 years' service and pay per day of 2/4d.
10 Returns showing the pay, allowances, length of service and giving every description of the persons in the employment of the Ordnance at Waltham Abbey at the 31st December 1821 (Supply 5/232 dated the 6th February 1822 and the 23rd January 1822) recorded that George Adams, Saltpetre Refiner, was appointed on the 1st September, 1804 to work in the Corning House at Waltham Abbey. 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, giving him a total wage for the year of £41.14.4d. According to this Return, he had just over 17 years' service, was aged 41 years, and was a married man with 3 children living in Waltham Abbey. He had previously trained as a Brazier.
11 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 who were to leave (Supply 5/232 dated the 21st March, 1822) 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, forwarding their Petitions to the Board for consideration. George Adams was one of 4 men who signed (with a cross) a second Petition on the 12th July, saying that he had been away unsuccessfully looking for work. He was consequently awarded two weeks' pay to ease his financial burden.
12 A transcript of the 1841 Census shows that he and his wife, Phoebe, were living in Green Yard. In addition, it appeared that he was then working as a Labourer.
