Biography:
1. John Gibbs (2) was Apprenticed to the Master Sulphur Refiner on the 1st October 1834, according to a Petition to the Board dated the 7th March 1838 (Supply 5/237) from Sarah Gibbs, widow, who stated that her son was appointed as an Apprentice Sulphur Refiner upon the death of her husband, who had been a Millwright for many years. She continued that her son was then doing a man's job, and requested a pay increase for him. It was agreed by the Board to increase his money from 6/-d to 9/-d per week (Supply 5/237 dated the 1st April, 1838).
2. Return of Employees (WO54/623 dated the 1st October 1839) confirmed that John Gibbs (2) started work at the Mills on the 1st October 1834, as an Apprentice Brimstone Refiner. He was a 17-year-old bachelor with 5 years' service, and his rate of pay was £23.8.0d per annum.
3. A letter from the Storekeeper to the Board related that John, although only an Apprentice, was doing the work of a man. He recommended that the 6d being paid to James O'Brien, The Master Sulphur Refiner, be withdrawn and that Gibbs should be paid 2/4d daily (Supply 5/238 of the 20th March 1840).
4. According to a list prepared by the Royal Engineers' Office in May 1840 of property owned by the Board (WO44/133) J. Gibbs, sulphur refinery, was then living in a cottage previously occupied by Henry Coram (Coreham). This would have been in Powder Mill Lane, part of Plot 62 on the Town Map in Appendix 1.
5. The 1841 Census confirmed that a 20-year-old man by the name of John Gibbs lived in Powder Mill Lane and worked at the Gunpowder Mills as a Brimstone Refiner. In the same property were Ann Gibbs aged 20, a dressmaker, together with Caroline Gibbs aged 15, who was described as a female servant, and Kate Gibbs, aged 7 years. All were born in Essex.
