Biography:
1. John Baldock started work in the Corning House as a Labourer on the 1st April 1792 at 1/6d per day (Supply 5/216 dated the 31st July 1792). He was still working in Corning House in July to September 1792, and in February to March, 1793 (both also supply 5/216)
2. Mr. Baldock's name does not appear again until the 31st January 1794, when he was described as" setting & drawing stoves & in the punts." This was also the case in August and December, 1794, as well as in July 1795 (Supply 5/217). He enlisted as a Private in the Volunteer Company on the 7th May 1794, according to Winters (p.49).
3. He was still a Private in the Volunteer Company in September 1798, and was working in the Corning House (Supply 5/219).
4. A signed document, Supply 5/220 of the 2nd February 1800 relating to a Petition on Pay, showed that he was illiterate and working as a General Labourer .
5. Report dated the 8th May 1801 (Supply 5/221) recorded that he was still working as a Labourer and that he was a married man with 1 child. (Note: in this document anyone who was not an artificer was described as a Labourer).
6. A Return of Artificers and Labourers dated the 3rd November 1801 (Supply 5/221) confirmed that he was still employed as a Labourer, cleaning and deepening the river, canals, and performing sundry necessary work.
7. Supply 5/222 dated the 8th May 1804 recorded that Baldock was then working as a Refiner, and his pay was given as 2/-d per day. All Refiners received an additional allowance of 1/-d per night when it was their turn "to watch" - on average every 5th night.
8. Supply 5/224 dated the 30th January 1806) confirmed that he was a Refiner in the Saltpetre House with his wage still at 2/-d per day. However, there appears to be a discrepancy as to when he started at the Mills - this document indicated he started in 1789.
9. List of Officers, Foremen and Artificers, etc. Employed - Supply 5/226 dated the 18th June 1807, recorded that Mr. Baldock was still working as a Saltpetre Refiner, earning 2/-d per day and received 1/-d for watching in turn.
10 According to the entry on Supply 5/227 dated the 23rd August 1808, Mr. Baldock was now employed as a Brimstone Refiner earning 2/3d per day, and was still allowed to watch in turn, for which he was paid 1/-d.
11 Employee List (Supply 5/228 dated the 1st September 1810, stated that he was a Saltpetre Refiner who was paid 2/-d per day, and allowed to watch in turn when not working.
12 List of Employees dated the 29th August 1812 (Supply 5/229) confirmed that Mr. John Baldock was a Saltpetre Refiner who then earned 2/8d per day, and in addition, was still allowed to watch in turn. This was also the case on the 13th February 1814, according to Supply 5/ 230.
13 List of Persons in Employment dated the 2nd March, 1816 (Supply 5/230) recorded that Mr. Baldock was still a Refiner of Saltpetre, with a length of service of 26 years, and his age was given as 64. It was recommended that he receive a daily superannuation of 2/8d, and in the attached notes was the comment that Mr. Baldock and others should be superannuated "because of the hurts they have received in this dangerous Manufactory". It also stated therein that Mr. Baldock "has been twice severely hurt in the right hand in the discharge of his duty, has become very feeble and is incapable of exerting himself at work." However, in a letter dated 6th March, 1816, (Supply 5/200), Baldock was finally awarded superannuation of only 2/-d per day for six days in the week, commencing the 1st April 1816.
14 A Supplement to a document dated the 8th November, 1818 (Supply 5/231) listed persons who had been superannuated on account of their length of service in the departments, and among the recipients was John Baldock, Saltpetre Refiner, who received a pension of 12/-d per week, commencing the 1st April 1816.
15 List of Persons receiving Superannuation (Supply 5/232 dated the 17th November, 1821) confirmed the entry above in respect of John Baldock.
16. A document dated the 6th December 1821 (Supply 5/232), gives the estimated pay of persons between the 1st January and 31st December 1822 along with their superannuated allowance, as well as "the allowance to widows and orphans of those who have lost their lives at this place". It confirmed that John Baldock, lately a Saltpetre Refiner, was in receipt of £31.4.0d superannuation annually. A similar document, Supply 5/232 dated the 28th December 1821, confirmed that the same pension would be paid in 1822. This was also noted in 1826 by Winters, p.96.
