Biography:
1. John Baker was a Labourer and Refiner at the Royal Laboratory from the 25th November, 1779 to the 13th April 1789, when he joined the Powder Mills at Waltham Abbey as "Master Refiner of Salt Petre". He was paid 2/6d per day (Supply 5/213 dated the18th April 1789). This is confirmed by Winters (p.33) who gave the date as the 7th April 1789, but on page 69 of his book, this becomes the 12th April 1789. Supply 5/214 dated September 1789, recorded that he was 33 years of age and employed as "Head Saltpetre Refiner" at 2/6d per day. Still Head Refiner in January 1792, September, 1792, August 1793 and the 31st January 1794 ((Supply 5/216), when his wage was increased to 3/-d. per day.
2. John was still Head Refiner in August and December of 1794.
3. Report on Pay and Allowances for Artificers and Labourers - Supply 5/217 dated 3rd July 1795 - confirmed his pay as 3/-d per day, together with an annual allowance of £4.4.0d for coals and candles.
4. Sergeant in the Volunteer Company (Supply 5/219 dated September, 1798).
5. Letter to the Board dated the 3rd December, 1798 (WO13/202) signed by Robert Coleman and James Wright, stated that John Baker had died, and that he had left 4 orphaned children, a girl aged 12 and three boys aged 11, 8 and 7 respectively. They had enquired what assistance the parish would give to the children and had been advised that this would be 4d per week. The eldest boy, Thomas, had been Apprenticed to his father to clean bags at the Refining House and received 3/6d per week. Wright and Coleman now requested that the Board employed the other two boys " cleaning Salt Petre sacks" at 9d per day, increasing to 1/-d per day as soon as they had "grown useful". They also stated that Baker's brother-in-law worked as a Labourer in the Refining House, but having a family of his own, he could not look after "these poor orphans." The Board's findings and decision are not recorded.
