WAPP - Waltham Abbey Personnel Project

1. Thomas Austen was on the Establishment as a Millwright. He was a 31 year-old married man with 4 unmarried children. He trained as a Millwright and Engineer, and was first appointed to the Board on the 1st January, 1804. He was paid 5/8d per day and "allowed 2/10d per day extra" although it is not clear for what. He was also allowed a house by the Board which was in High Bridge Street (WO54/516 dated February 1816). 2. WO54/520 dated the 28th February 1817 stated that Thomas was still a Millwright. He was then 32 and was married, with 5 unmarried children. At that date he was only earning 5/2d per day, with the same allowance of 2/10d per day extra, and still allowed a house. 3. WO54/524 dated 11th April 1818, stated that his details remained the same as those at the 28th February 1817, but that he had only 4 unmarried children. 4. List of Employees dated the 28th August 1818 (Supply 5/231) recorded the names of people to be retained between the 3rd September and the 31st December, 1818. Thomas Austin's name is on the list with his pay shown as 4/-d per day as the Superintendent for cutting materials for the Cooperage. 5. Thomas was appointed Superintendant of the Corn Mill and the Millwrights (no date given) and paid 9/-d per day. He still had five children. However, WO54/587 dated the 1st October 1833 gave this appointment date as the 5th June, 1818. He was still provided with a house, but no allowances. The property was Plot No. 65 on the Waltham Abbey Town Map, located on the north side of High Bridge Street, adjacent to the church, and then known as the Miller's House. 6. List of Employees dated the 13th September 1820 ( WO54/532) showed that Austen was still employed as the Superintendent of the Corn Mill and the Millwrights. His age was shown as 36, he was still living in Waltham Abbey, was married and had 6 children. He earned the same 9/-d per day and had no allowances, but had a house on the Establishment. The house he had been allocated was one of three built from reclaimed timbers which were located in Powder Mill Lane, and were ready for occupation in 1815. When Thomas moved into the Miller's house in 1818, it was then leased to Hugh Jones. Further details on the tenement can be found under Hugh Jones' notes. 7. A statement "of monies to which the public was entitled to receive credit between the 1st January and the 31st December, 1820, showing the amounts received by the storekeeper" dated 4th April 1821 (Supply 5/232) indicated that Thomas was still Superintendent of the Corn Mill; he had been living rent free in a Board of Ordnance house from the 21st October, 1818. The Corn Mill was in Romeland. The same information was repeated in Supply 5/232 dated the 16th February 1822 for the year 1821. 8. WO54/536 dated the 2nd April 1821 showed that Thomas was now aged 37 and had 6 children; his terms of employment, etc. remained unchanged. A footnote to this List stated "The superintendant of the Cornmill, Thos Austin, is paid from the receipts of a Water Corn Mill which he has improved and the working of which he superintends. The Profit received by the Board from the Concern exceeds £450 for year." 9. WO54/542 dated the 1st April 1823 listing those employed in the Engineers' Department, recorded that Austen was still the Superentendant of the Cornmill, that he was paid 9/-d per day for 365 days, had a coal and candle allowance of £12.10.0d per annum, and was entitled to a house. This gave him an annual income of £164.5.0d. Whilst his service details remained the same, he then had 7 children. 10 WO54/550 dated the 1st April 1825 indicated that Thomas was still paid 9/-d per day for 365 days as the Superintendant of the Cornmill, received a coal and candle allowance of £12.0.0d per annum, and that he was still entitled to a house. His service was given as just over 21 years, and his family details remained the same as before. 11 WO54/550 dated the 13th October, 1825, repeated the information given at the 1st April 1825, as did WO54/554 of the 31st December 1825 and WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826. However, Thomas was then just over 40 years' old, his service was just over 22 years and he now had 8 children. 12 WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826 was the same as the previous Return as was WO54/558 dated the 1st April 1827, with the exception that at that date Mr. Austen had just over 23 years' service and was just over 41years of age. 13 WO54/558 of the the 1st October 1827 gave the same information as the previous Return. 14 Return dated the 1st April 1828 (WO54/562) although updating the same basic information, gave his full job description as Superintendant of the Cornmills and Machinery, and Second-class Clerk of Works. (WO54/587 dated the 1st October 1833 gave his appointment date as the 24th December, 1827). His basic pay was 12/6d per day for 366 days, giving him an annual wage of £228.15.0d. 15. Return dated the1st October 1828 (WO54/562) updated his age and length of service; his pay remained unchanged but he was now listed as having only 7 children, and this was confirmed in the 1841 Census. 16 WO54/566 dated the 1st April 1829 recorded that Thomas earned only £228.2.6d annually at that date; his length of service was given as nearly 15 years, and he was 43 years of age. 17 Return dated the 1st October, 1829 (no reference) updated his age and length of service, with his family and pay details remaining unchanged. 18 According to Return WO54/570 dated the 1st April 1830, all details remained the same for Thomas Austen as before, except that his service was just over 15 years and he was nearly 44 years of age. 19 Return WO54/570 dated the 1st October 1830 confirms the previous information given, except that his service was 16 years and that he was 44 years of age. 20 A Return of Persons Belonging to the Civil Establishment of the Ordnance at the Gunpowder and Small Arms Manufactories at Waltham Abbey, Faversham and Enfield, showing in detail the several points of information called for by the Master General and Board's Order dated the 31st January, 1831, recorded that Thomas Austen was to be in charge of the Flour Mill and Superintendant of Machinery in Mill Work (i.e., the Powder Mills). He was to be paid the same £228.2.6d per annum, and provided with a house. His presence was required constantly, and he was to have a practical knowledge of mechanics connected with Gunpowder and Small Arms Manufactories, and Flour Mills. He was also to have honesty and attention to his accounts, since all the money for the work at the Grist Mill was to pass through his hands. 21 WO54/575 dated April 1831 updated his age and period of service in the October 1830 Return, and all other details remained unchanged. 22 WO54/575 dated October 1831 confirmed that Mr. Austen still earned a total of £228.2.6d per annum. He had then served nearly 17 years and was aged 45. 23 WO54/581 dated the 1st April 1832 updated his age and period of service in the October 1831 Return, with all other details remaining the same. 24 WO54/581 dated the 1st October 1832 confirmed that he still earned £228.2.6d per annum. He had by then served nearly 18 years and was just over 46 years old. These details remained the same in WO54/587 dated the 1st April 1833 and in the Return dated the 1st October 1833 (WO54/587). 25 WO54/593 dated the 1st April 1834 stated that Thomas still earned a total of £228.2.6d per annum, that he was still entitled to a house, that he was nearly 48 years of age, and that his service was just over 19 years. 26 WO54/593 dated the 1st October 1834 recorded that Thomas was the Superintendent of the Corn Mills and that he was a Clerk of Works, Second Class, having been appointed to this position on the 24th December 1827. His wage was £282.2.6d as before, he was still entitled to a house and his service and family details were updated. This Return also recorded that he was taken on to the Establishment on the 31st August 1807 as a Millwright, which tied in with his length of service. 27 Return of Employees dated the 1st October, 1839 (WO56/623), gave a potted history of Austen's career. He was apppointed a Millwright to the Ordnance Board on the 31st August 1807. On the 12th January, 1814, he was appointed Superintendent of Machinery, before later becoming the Superintendent of the Cornmill. On the 24th December 1827, he was appointed Second Class Clerk of the Works, with the title of Superintendent of Machinery and Corn Mill. His wages came out of the profits of the Corn Mill, and in 1839, he was entitled to a house. He was a married man aged 53, with 9 children. 28 According to the 1841 Census, the family was living in High Bridge Street North, and all members were born in the county. The family consisted of wife Mary (50) and children, Mary (31) Sarah (25) twins James and Caroline (20) William (12) and Henry, aged 10, i.e., 6 children living at home. .