Biography:
1. Benjamin Guinn (1) was a Labourer by trade who was set to work by Daniel Cornish in October 1787 at 1/6d per day, possibly renovating the Mills following their purchase by the Government from Mr Walton (Supply 5/212 dated the 27th November 1788). It was noted in a record dated 27th November 1788, that he was promised to be continued since he was previously employed by Mr Walton (Winters, p.31). In Supply 5/212 dated the 29th January 1789, he was described as a Saltpetre Millman, earning 1/6d per day.
2. He is described as "cutting and planting willow trees, cutting of canal at the new Corning House, removing earth to the Store, unloading barge of coals & charring wood." in Supply 5/213 dated the 18th April 1789, and Supply 5/214 dated September 1789 recorded that he was 22 years of age and employed as a Labourer refining Salt Petre.
3. Supply 5/214 dated the 27th March 1790, confirmed that he was Refining Saltpetre under John Baker, and that he was still in the Refining House in January 1792 (Supply 5/215). This was also the case in July to September 1792 (Supply 5/216), February to September 1793, and January1794 (Supply 5/216) as well as in August 1794 (also Supply 5/216).
4. He apparently went to work drunk on Christmas Day 1794, and was chequered (fined) two days' pay by Robert Coleman, the Clerk of the Cheque (Winters, p.44).
5. Benjamin had been promoted to Millman by December 1794, and was paid 2/-d per day (Supply 5/217 dated the 21st December, 1794).
6. Millmen were paid an extra 3d per night when on duty (Supply 5/217 dated the 3rd July 1795).
7. Benjamin joined the Volunteer Company as a Private on the 7th May 1798 (Supply 5/219 dated September 1798).
8. Supply 5/220 dated the 2nd February 1800 relating to a Petition on Pay, indicated that he was illiterate and confirmed he was still working as a Millman.
9. A Report dated the 8th May 1801 (Supply 5/221) stated that he was still working as a Millman, and that he was a married man with 3 children.
10 A Return dated the 3rd November 1801 (Supply 5/221) recorded that, although still employed as a Millman, he was also cleaning and deepening the river and canals, and was performing other sundry necessary work.
11 Benjamin was still employed as a Millman in 1804 (Supply 5/222 dated the 8th May 1804) but his wage had been increased to 2/3d per day, and he also had an allowance of 3d per night when on duty, i.e., the night-shift rate was 2/6d. This was also the case on the 30th January 1806 (Supply 5/224) when he had been employed with the Ordnance for 17 years, as well as on the 18th June 1807 (Supply 226).
12 Supply 5/227 dated the 23rd August 1808, confirmed that Mr. Guinn was still a Millman earning 2/3d per day, and he was "allowed 6d per night when on duty."
13 Supply 5/228 dated the 1st September 1810 recorded that he was still a Millman earning 2/3d per day, as well as being allowed 6d per night when on duty.
14 List of Employees dated the 29th August 1812 (Supply 5/229) confirmed that Mr. Guinn was still a Millman, but that he now earned 3/-d per day, in addition to which, he was allowed 6d per night when on duty. This was also the case on the 13th February 1814 (Supply 5/230).
15 List of Employees dated the 25th June 1818 (Supply 5/ 231 and WO54/524) recorded that Mr. Guinn was aged 52, resided in Waltham Abbey, and was married with six children. He then only earned 2/8d per day, in addition to which, he was allowed 6d per night when on duty.
16 A 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; Guinn's name was included with pay of 2/-d per day, and his allowances remained unchanged.
17 In a memo dated the 25th January 1819 (Supply 5/202) the Board agreed with the Surgeon's request that Benjamin Guinn be provided with a truss.
18 List of employees dated the 19th May 1819 (Supply 5/231) confirmed that Guinn was still employed as a Millman, that he was married man, aged 53, with 6 children, and lived in Waltham Abbey. He was paid 2/8d per day and allowed an additional 6d when on night duty.
19 Supply 5/232 dated the 13th September 1820, updated Benjamin's previous entry with the basic details on pay, etc. remaining unchanged.
20 A statement "of monies to which the public were entitled to receive credit between the 1st January and the 31st December 1821, shewing the amounts received by the storekeeper" (Supply 5/232 dated the 16th February 1821) recorded that Benjamin (1) was living in a house purchased by the Board of Ordnance (Tenement No. 42) with a rent of £7.16.0d per annum, which covered his house, garden and a large shed. The property and its small garden has been identified as being one of a terrace of 5 tenements on the south side of High Bridge Street, opposite its junction with Powder Mill Lane. It was part of Property No. 1972 on the 1825 Waltham Abbey Town Map, or Plot 1415 on the 1842 Tithe Map.
21 Supply 5/232 dated the 9th April 1821, recorded that Mr. Guinn was aged 53, was married and had six children. He still lived in Waltham Abbey, and as a Millman was earning the same amount as in Note 17. When on night duty he was still allowed 6d.
22 List of Employees dated the 23rd January 1822 (Supply 5/232) gave Benjamin's age as 53, and recorded that he was paid 2/8d per day. It confirmed he was a Millman, and that he had 34 years' service at that date.
23 Return showing the pay, allowances and length of service and every description of the persons in the pay and employment of the Ordnance at Waltham Abbey as at the 31st December 1821 (Supply 5/232 dated the 6th February 1822) appeared to be a more detailed,and probably more accurate, Return than that dated the 23rd January 1822. It recorded that Benjamin Guinn, Millman, had been appointed as a Labourer on the 22nd October 1787. His position on the Establishment as a Millman was confirmed by an order of the Board dated the 4th September 1818, and confirmed that he was allowed to watch in turn to guard the works, for which he received an additional 2/-d per night. This gave him total annual pay of £46.18.8d. He had served just over 34 years, was aged 53, and was a married man with six children who lived in Waltham Abbey.
24 Supply 5/232 dated the 21st March 1822, was a list of persons to form an Establishment to regenerate 2000 barrels of gunpowder as well as to make 100 or 200 barrels of gunpowder annually, and recorded that Benjamin Guinn, Millman, was to be retained.
25 According to a document dated the 1st April 1823 (WO54/542 - Alteration in Return B), Benjamin (1) had his pay reduced by £2.12.0d per annum in accordance with the Board's Orders dated the 27th December 1822 and the 15th January 1823.
26 WO54/542 dated the 1st April 1823 confirmed that Guinn was still a Millman and that his pay for the year was £44.4.0d, which included an allowance opf 2/-d per week for watching in turn. His family and service details were confirmed. These details were repeated in WO54/546 dated the 1st October 1823.
27 Return showing pay and allowances, etc., dated the 1st October 1825 (Winters, pp.93-95) confirmed previous information given and recorded that Benjamin (1) had been in continuous service since the 22nd October, 1787. His annual pay was confirmed at £44.4.0d.
28 WO/550 dated the 1st April 1825 gave his basic pay as £39.0.0d per annum; he was allowed to watch in turn, which gave him, on average, 2/-d per week, making total pay of £44.4.0d per annum. It also confirmed his previous family and service details, and all of this information was repeated in WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825.
29 WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826 confirmed the basic information given in WO54/550 dated 1st October 1825, and WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826 confirmed the information given in WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826.
30 WO54/558 dated the 1st April 1827, recorded "no alteration since the last Report dated the 1st October 1826."
31 WO54/558 dated the 1st October 1827 confirmed the previous information, but at that date Benjamin had served nearly 40 years, and was now 60 years of age.
32 Return dated the 1st April 1828 (WO54/562) gave the same information as provided in the previous notes, except that he had then served just over 40 years.
33 Return dated the1st October 1828 (WO54/562) updated his age and length of service, with family details and pay remaining unchanged.
34 Return dated 1st April 1829 (WO54/566) also updated his age and length of service with family details and pay unaltered..
35 WO54/566 dated 1st October 1829 recorded that at that date Benjamin still earned the same £44.4.0d as in Note 27. His length of service was given as nearly 42 years, and he was then aged 61.
36 Return WO54/ 570 dated the 1st April 1830 updated his age and length of service, family and pay details remaining unchanged.
37 WO54/570 dated the 1st October 1830, recorded that Benjamin Guinn (1) was now 62 and that he had served nearly 43 years. His pay was still the same as in Note 27, and all other information remained the same.
38 According to the Return WO54/575 dated the 1st April 1831, Benjamin was then 63 years of age and had served nearly 44 years. He was still earning a total of £44.4.0d.
39 WO54/545 dated the 1st October 1831, updated his age and period of service in the April 1831 Return, with all other details remaining unchanged.
40 WO54/581 dated the 1st April 1832 updated his age and period of service in the October 1831 Return, with all other details remaining unchanged except that he was then allowed night duties at 6d per night, and was receiving pay of £46.16.0d per annum.
41 WO54/581 dated the 1st October 1832 updated his age and period of service in the April 1831 Return, with all other details remaining unaltered.
42 WO54/587 dated the 1st April 1833, confirmed that Benjamin Guinn (1) still earned a total of £46.16.0d per annum. His service was given as just over 45 years, and his age as 65.
43 WO54/587 dated the 1st October 1833, recorded that Mr. Guinn was 66 years of age, and that he had served nearly 46 years. He was still in receipt of an annual wage of £46.16.0d, and his family details remained the same.
44 WO54/593 dated the 1st April 1834 recorded that although Benjamin was still employed as a Millman, his basic pay had been cut to £32.12.6d per annum. He was still allowed to watch in turn, and also received an extra 6d when working at night, which increased his annual pay to £39.3.0d.
45 WO54/593 dated the 1st October 1834, updated the previous Return for service and age, with conditions and pay unchanged.
46 The 1825 Rateable Value of Waltham Abbey showed that Benjamin was living next to widow Hudson (D/DHF B29), so it would appear that he had taken over the property from Thomas Mason, and would, therefore, be Plot 52 on the Town Map in Appendix 1. However, a Return of Properties prepared by the Royal Engineers' Office dated the 20th December 1834 listing the houses and cottages owned by the Board, recorded that Benjamin Guinn had the rent on his cottage in Powder Mill Lane reduced to £5.4.0d per annum with effect from the 6th April 1829 (Supply 5/237) and this tenement was part of Plot 62 on the Town Map in Appendix 1.
47 A letter from the Storekeeper to the Board dated the 2nd September 1837(Supply 5/238) recorded that Benjamin Guinn, Millman, was aged 70, and that he "is too infirm to be trusted with supervising the Mill, and it is proposed to superanuate him." He was retired on the 22nd October 1837, having completed 50 years' service. His position was filled by Joseph Perry (Supply 5/237).
48 Supply 5/238 of the 22nd September 1840, recorded that Benjamin Guinn, Pensioner, formerly a Millman, died on the 20th September 1840, and that his pension was paid to his daughter, Sarah Adams (Supply 5/238).
