Biography:
1. Henry Hodgson was a Labourer who started in the Corning House at 1/6d per day on the 11th December 1792. He continued to work in the Corning House in August to September 1793 (Supply 5/216) and January to December 1794 (also Supply 5/216). Robert Coleman, Clerk of the Cheque, recorded that on the15th May 1793, Henry Hodgson had been chequered for "coming to work in liquor" and was ordered off his watch until the 1st June. (Winters' Centenary Memorial, p.39). Henry enlisted as a Private in the Volunteer Company on the 7th May 1794 (Supply 5/219).
2. He was promoted to Foreman by July 1795, with his pay remaining unchanged, "& as rounder every 3rd night 1/6" (Supply 5/217).
3. He was still a Private in Volunteer Company according to Supply 5/219 dated September 1798.
4. Supply 5/220 of the 2nd February 1800 - a Petition on Pay - showed that Hodgson was illiterate, and was working as a Foreman in the Corning House. He was still a Rounder.
5. In a letter to the Board (Supply/220 dated the 19th April 1801) the Board was informed that the new Corning House blew up on the 18th April with a tremendous explosion. Nine men, including Henry Hodgson, were in the building, and were killed, together with four horses.
6. A Petition (Supply 5/194 dated the 24th April 1801) signed by their widows and in two cases, their mothers, requested "relief in their distress."
7. Supply 5/220 dated the 29th April 1801 was a statement of the ages of children and the circumstances of the widows and children. Henry left a widow, Frances, aged 57 (another source says 51) with two sons, "the oldest in deep decline, and the youngest, an Apprentice who is kept in clothing by the widow."
8. Supply 5/194 dated 5th May 1801, recorded that pay and allowances were to be continued to Mrs. Hodgson, "...until her eldest son shall recover his health, or until his decease, after which, she is to receive half her husband's pay."
9. The Board queried payments made to the widows; Hodgson's basic pay was 12/-d per week, plus 1/6d "on account of the severity of the times." The Ordnance Board decreed that the widow's pension should be based upon her husband or son's basic pay, and should not include the extra "due to the severity of the times." On the 23rd May (Supply 5/194) the Board agreed that the pension awarded to Mrs. Hodgson should be 12/-d per week.
