Biography:
1. James Horam was employed as a Labourer on the 28th August 1806, but later became a Bargeman with pay of 3/10d per day, according to Supply 5/229 dated the 29th August 1812.
2. Supply 5/230 dated the 13th February 1814, confirmed that Mr. Horam was still a Bargeman at that date, earning the same 3/10d per day.
3. List of Employees dated the 25th June 1818 (Supply 5/231) recorded that James was still a Bargeman. He was a married man, aged 30 ,with no children, and lived in Enfield, but, according to this Return, he only earned 3/-d per day.
4. A List of Employees dated the 28th August 1818 (Supply5/231) recorded the names of people to be retained between the 3rd September and the 31st December 1818. Horam's name was on the list with his pay remaining unchanged, but he was then not paid watch money.
5. List of Employees dated the 19th May 1819 (Supply 5/231) confirmed that Horam was still employed as a Bargeman, that he was a married man, aged 31, with no children, and lived in Cheshunt. This document also confirmed that he was paid 3/-d per day.
6. List of employees dated the 13th September 1820 (Supply 5/232) recorded that Horam was still employed as a Bargeman, with his conditions remaining unchanged from above, except that he then had one child and lived in Waltham Abbey.
7. List of Employees dated the 9th April 1821 (Supply 5/232) recorded that James was 33, lived in Waltham Abbey, and had one child; he was still paid 3/-d per day, and these details were confirmed by WO54/536 of the same date.
8. List of Employees at the Royal Powder Mills (Supply 5/232 dated 23rd January 1822) gave the age of James, Bargeman, as 37, with 16 years' service and pay per day of 3/-d.
9. 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 confirmed that James Horam, Bargeman, was appointed on the 28th August1806 at Waltham Abbey as a Labourer, with total pay for the year amounting to £46.19.0d; it also confirmed 16 years' service, that he was aged 37, was a married man with one child and that he lived in Waltham Abbey.
10 In the spring of 1822, the Ordnance Board decided to reduce the production and regeneration of gunpowder, and 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) and James Horam was one of the men to go on the 1st June 1822. However, a List of Employees dated the 10th October 1822 (Supply 5/233) showed that he had been retained, and was required to carry out any type of work required anywhere within the Manufactory.
11 WO54/542 dated the 1st April 1823 confirmed that Horam was classed as a "a Labourer for general purposes to be sent to all parts of the Manufactory wherever their services may be requested." His pay for the year was £39.0.0d, and this included an allowance for watching in turn. His family and service details were confirmed.
12 According to a document dated the 1st April 1823 (WO54/542 - Alteration in Return B), James had 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.
13 A Return dated the 1st October 1824 (WO54/546) confirmed James earned £39.0.0d per annum, which included an allowance for watching in turn, for which he received 2/-d per week. His period of service was given as 18 years, he was aged 38, was married and had two children.
14 A Return showing pay and allowances, etc. dated the 1st October 1825 (Winters, pp.93-95) confirmed previous information given, except that he now worked as a Labourer drawing stoves. It also recorded that he had been in continuous service with the Board since the 28th August 1806, and that his salary was £33.16.0d per annum.
15 WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825, confirmed his position as a general purpose Labourer within the Manufactory, and that in addition to his basic pay of £33.16.0d, he was allowed to guard the works in turn, for which he received, on average, 2/-d per week, giving him an annual income of £39.0.0d. James' family and service conditions were confirmed.
16 WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826 confirmed the basic information given in WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825, and WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826, confirmed the information given in WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826.
17 WO54/558 dated the 1st April 1827 recorded, "no alteration since the last report dated the 1st October 1826."
18 WO54/558 dated the 1st October 1827, recorded that on the 27th February 1827 James was promoted as a Corning House Man, which increased his basic pay to £42.18.0d per annum. He was still allowed to watch, which increased his annual income to £48.2.0d . At that date he had over 21 years' service; he was 40 years of age, and was married with three children.
19 Return dated the 1st April 1828 (WO54/562) gave the same information as in the previous notes, with the exception that he had now served 22 years.
20 Return dated the1st October 1828 (WO54/562) updated his age and length of service, with family details and pay remaining unchanged.
21 Return dated the 1st April 1829 (WO54/566) updated his age and length of service, family details and pay remaining unchanged.
22 WO54/566 dated 1st October 1829 stated that at that date, James still earned the same as was recorded in Note 18. His length of service was given as over 23 years, and he was now aged 41.
23 Return WO54/ 570 dated the 1st April 1830, updated his age and length of service, with family and pay details remaining unchanged.
24 WO54/570 dated the 1st October 1830, recorded that James was now 42 and had served over 24 years. His pay was still the same as given in Note 18, and all other information remained the same.
25 According to Return WO54/575 dated the 1st April 1831, James was now 43 years of age and had served 25 years. He was still earning a total of £48.2.0d as he was in 1827, some four years earlier. This Return, however, states that he was now a widower.
26 WO54/545 dated the 1st October 1831 updated his age and period of service in the April 1831 Return, with all other details remaining the same.
27 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.
28 WO54/581 dated the 1st October 1832, updated his age and period of service in the April 1832 Return, again, with all other details remaining unchanged.
29 WO54/587 dated the 1st April 1833 confirmed that James still earned a total of £48.2.0d per annum. His service was given as over 26 years, and his age as 45.
30 WO54/587 dated the 1st October 1833 recorded that James was now 46, and that he had served 27 years. He was still in receipt of an annual wage of £48.2.0d, and his family details remained the same.
31 WO54/593 dated the 1st April 1834 recorded that although James was still employed as a Corning House Man, his basic pay had been cut to £35.17.9d per annum. He was still allowed to watch in turn, which increased the annual pay to £41.1.9d. He had 4 children, and his age and service details were updated.
32 James Horam was now Bargeman in the place of James Boswell, who had been appointed as the Master Bargeman in the late summer of 1837 (Supply 5/237).
33 Return of Employees of the 1st October 1839 (WO54/623), confirmed he was a Bargeman on the 22nd September 1837, with pay of £39.0.0d per annum. He was a 52-year-old widower with 4 children.
