Biography:
1. Jeremiah Aylin was working as a "Labourer refining Saltpetre & in other parts of the manufactory" with pay of 2/-d per day. He received an additional allowance of 1/-d per night when it was his turn "to watch" - on average every 5th night. (Supply 5/222 dated the 8th May 1804). Supply 5/224 dated the 30th January 1806, states that Jeremiah was then employed as an extra Bargeman earning the same 2/-d per day. At that date his service was 2 years. According to a further List (Supply 5/226 dated the 18th June 1807), Mr. Aylin was still employed as a Bargeman at the same rate of 2/-d per day.
2. On the 16th June 1808 the Board purchased two tenements from a Miss Jones on the north side of High Bridge Street, and the sketch map attached to the document clearly shows that they formed part of High Bank or Bank Cottages. The two tenants then in occupation were "Alsop and Aylin" (WO44/681A). Aylin's tenement has been identified as that at the western end of 5 cottages on the north side of High Bridge Street known as Bank Cottages and shown as Plot No. 48 on the Waltham Abbey Town Map.
3. On the 23rd August 1808 (Supply 5/227) Mr. Aylin, while still a Bargeman, then earned 3/-d per day, as he did in September, 1810 (Supply 5/228 dated the 1st September, 1810).
4. Supply 5/229 dated the 29th August 1812, stated that his pay had been increased to 3/10d per day, and that of the 13th February 1814 (Supply 5/230) confirmed that Mr. Aylin was still a Bargeman earning the same 3/10d per day.
5. List of Employees dated the 25th June 1818 (Supply 5/231) stated that Mr. Aylin was then Master Bargeman; he was a married man, aged 32 with 4 children, who lived in Waltham Abbey and then earned 4/2d per day.
6. 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. Mr. Aylin's name was included with his pay unchanged.
7. List of Employees dated the 19th May 1819 (Supply 5/231) showed that Mr. Aylin was still employed as a Master Bargeman (later to be described as a Bargemaster), a married man aged 33 with 4 children, and confirmed that he lived in Waltham Abbey and was paid 4/2d per day.
8. List of Employees dated the 13th September 1820 (Supply 5/232) confirmed that Aylin was still employed as a Master Bargeman; his pay remained the same, but he then had 5 children.
9. 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" dated the 4th April,1821 (Supply 5/232) recorded that Jeremiah had been living in a house purchased by the Board of Ordnance on the 4th May 1821, and that he was paying an annual rent of £8.9.0d. This house, Tenement No. 27, has been identified as being on the north side of High Bridge Street to the west of Powder Mill Lane, third from the end at the western end of a group of tenements known as the Bank Cottages. (Part of Plot No.1432 on the 1842 Waltham Abbey Tithe Map, or Plot 709 on the 1825 Waltham Abbey Town Map). The same information was repeated in Supply 5/232 dated the 16th February 1822 for the year 1821.
10 List of Employees dated the 9th April 1821 (Supply 5/ 232) indicated that Jeremiah was then 34. All other details remained the same as before, and this is confirmed by WO54/536 of the same date.
11 List of Employees (Supply 5/232 dated 23rd January 1822) gave the age of Jeremiah, "Master Barge Man", as 38, with 18 years' service and pay per day of 4/2d.
12 Return showing the pay, allowances and length of service of those employed in the Ordnance at Waltham Abbey as at the 31st December 1821 (Supply 5/232 dated the 6th February 1822) was a more detailed, and probably more accurate, Return than that dated the 23rd January 1822. It stated that Jeremiah Aylin, Master Bargeman, was appointed on the 1st March 1804, as a Puntman at Waltham Abbey, with pay for the year amounting to £65.4.2d. His service was given at that date as nearly 18 years, his age as 38, and confirmed that he was a married man with 3 children living in Waltham Abbey.
13 In the spring of 1822 the Ordnance Board decided to reduce the production and regeneration of gunpowder, so the Establishment at Waltham was to be reduced accordingly. Empson Middleton and James Wright drew up a list of people to be dismissed (Supply 5/232 dated the 21st March, 1822). The men were subsequently dismissed on the 1st June and 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 and forwarded their Petitions to the Board for their consideration. Jeremiah Aylin does not appear to have signed a Petition, but the Storekeeper wrote to the Board on the 21st July 1822, recommending that he receive two weeks' pay to ease his financial hardships. However, the Board's response does not appear to have been recorded.
