Biography:
1. Samuel Jones was appointed on the 16th July 1789 at the age of 14 as an Apprentice Millwright, at 1/-d per day (Supply 5/213 dated the 22nd August, 1789)/ He was possibly related to Edward Jones, the Gunpowder Mills' Millwright.
2. Samuel was still an Apprentice in December 1794, but his wage had been increased to 1/10d per day (Supply 5/217).
3. After serving his 7-year Apprenticeship on the 1st March 1796, Samuel was taken on the Establishment
4. Samuel was still working as a Millwright in February 1800, and a signed document, Supply 5/220 of the 2nd February 1800 relating to a Petition on Pay, indicated that he was literate.
5. A Report dated the 8th May 1801 (Supply 5/221) recorded that he was working as a Millwright, was unmarried and his pay had been increased to 3/-d per day. Note: In this document, anyone not an Artificer was described as a Labourer.
6. In a letter dated the 23rd June 1801 (Supply 5/195) it was stated that the writer "had the Board's commands to transmit to you on the other side hereof a list of the men who have been burnt and otherwise hurt by the fire which lately (16th June 1801) destroyed the Corning House at Waltham Abbey; and I am to desire the storekeeper will pay the men all their pay until they are recovered." Samuel Jones, Millwright employed by the Engineers' Department was one of those burnt.
7.The list, also dated 23rd June, 1801, (Supply 5/195) included Mr. Jones, and therein stated, "we beg to represent the situation of the poor men who were burnt when the Corning House took fire 16th instant while under repair." It further stated that Mr. Jones and two others were "Burnt so as to prevent them working, but they may soon be well." and "Our surgeon has represented the necessity of the men most burnt having immediate assistance in wine, as a considerable Suppuration is come on their constitutions. They cannot Support it without wine, and we have directed wine to be immediately provided to them, and request your permission for our continuing to Supply these poor men with such wine or other proper Support as their surgeon may think their respective situations require."
Winters, in his book "Centenary Memorial", maked it clear that the men were employed in repairing the Corning House which blew up on the 18th April 1801, and that the fire was caused "from the blow of a copper hammer on pit wheel."
8. In a letter to the Board dated the 29 July 1801 (Supply 5/221), it was stated that the men who were burnt at the Corning House on the 16th June had requested that they be reimbursed for the loss of clothing. Mr. Jones' claim amounted to 5/-d in all for a hat.
9. Pay List (Supply 5/228 dated the 21st July 1809) stated that Samuel Jones, Millwright, was paid 17/6d for work carried out by the Engineers' Department in the Manufactory between the 15th and 21st July 1809.
