Biography:
1. James Austen, an 18-year-old bachelor living in Waltham Abbey, was employed as a Casual Labourer earning 2/8d per day in the Engineers' Department according to WO54/516 dated 19th February 1816, yet WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826, clearly indicated that he was "…brought up…to the trade " of Millwright, and started on the 9th April, 1814.
2. WO54/520 dated the 28th February 1817 recorded that James was then aged 19, and married. He earned 5/2d per day as a Millwright, and was employed "occasionally as the Service required." This information is confirmed in WO54/524 dated 1818 and WO54/528 dated the 19th May 1819.
3. List of Employees dated the 13th September 1820 (WO54/532) confirmed that James was still employed as a Millwright, but that he was then aged 22 and lived in Waltham Abbey. This Return, however, stated that he was a single man. He still earned 5/2d per day, had no allowances, and was employed "occasionally as the Service required."
4. WO54/536 dated the 2nd April 1821, recorded that he was now aged 23, still single and that his Terms of Employment, etc. remained unchanged. He was not listed in the Return for December 1821 (WO54/536).
5. WO54/542 dated the 1st April 1823 - Personnel Employed in the Engineers' Department -confirmed that James was still paid 5/2d per day as a Millwright for 313 days, giving him an income of £80.17.2d for the year. He was now married but without children.
6. WO54/550 dated the 1st April 1825 listing Personnel Employed in the Engineers' Department, stated that James was still paid 5/2d per day for 313 days as a Millwright. His service was nearly 10 years, and he was now aged 25, was married and had 2 children.
7. WO54/550 dated 13th October 1825, was a repeat of the record dated the 1st April 1825, but states that James was a widower with two children. It is possible, therefore, that his wife had died in childbirth.
8. WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826 gives identical information as in the previous note, except that James then had 11 years' service.
9. WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826, and WO54/558 dated the 1st April 1827, both give the same basic information as before. However, James had now served 12 years, and was 27 years of age. WO54/558 dated the 1st October 1827, confirmed the basic information given in the previous Return, but stated that he had only 1 child.
10 Although no link has been found, it seems possible that he was related to Thomas Austen ,since they both started at Waltham Abbey in 1814, and both were Millwrights.
