Biography:
1. George Baldock started as a Labourer in the Corning House on the 21st July 1793 with pay of 1/6d per day. He was still in the Corning House in January, 1794, and enlisted
as a Private in the Volunteer Company on the 7th May 1794 (Winters, p.42).
2. Baldock was Grinding Saltpetre, Charcoal and Brimstone in August (Supply 5/216) and December 1794 (Supply 5/217).
3. Supply 5/217 dated July 1795 recorded that he was working as a Refiner.
4. Supply 5/219 dated September 1798 indicated that by then he had become a Millman, with pay of 2/-d per day, and that he was still a Private in the Voluntary Company
5. A signed document, Supply 5/220 of the 2nd February 1800, relating to a Petition on Pay, showed that he was illiterate and was still working as a Millman.
6. Report dated the 8th May 1801 (Supply 5/221) confirmed that he was still working as a Millman, was a married man and that he had 5 children.
7. He was working as a Millman in 1813 (Winters, p.76) and in a Report dated the the 13th February 1814, a George Baldock is recorded as a Brimstone and Saltpetre Millman, earning 2/8d per day and that he was also allowed to watch in turn, for which he received 1/6d per night (Supply 5/230).
8. Lists of Officers & Others Employed dated the 25th June 1818 (Supply 5/231 and WO54/524) confirmed that George Baldock was now a Saltpetre Refiner; he was a married man, living in Waltham Abbey, earning 2/4d per day. He was allowed to watch in turn, for which he was paid 1/-d per night.
9. A List of Employees dated the 28th August 1818 (Supply 5/231) recorded the names of people to be retained between the 3rd September and the 31st December 1818. Baldock's name is included with his pay unchanged, but he was then not paid watch money. However, in a letter dated September, 1818 (Supply 5/231), it is stated "We respectfully beg leave to add the names and stations of those persons whom it will be necessary to discharge in consequence of this arrangement." and that list included a Mr. Baldock, Saltpetre Refiner.
10 List of Employees dated the 19th May 1819 (Supply 5/231) confirmed that George was still employed as a Brimstone Refiner, a married man aged 46, and recorded that he had 9 children. He lived in Waltham Abbey, was still paid 2/4d per day and was allowed to watch in turn, for which he received 1/-d per night.
11 List of Officers on Employment dated the 13th September 1820 (Supply 5/232) recorded that Mr. George Baldock was 47 and that he still lived in Waltham Abbey. According to this Return, he then only had 8 children and still earned 2/4d per day, but he then received 1/6d per night when allowed to watch in turn.
12 List of Employees dated the 9th April 1821 (Supply 5/ 232) recorded that George was 48 and had 9 children; all other entries remained the same as previously.
13 List of Employees (Supply 5/232 dated the 23rd January 1822) gave the age of George, Saltpetre Refiner, as 47, with 18 years' service and pay per day of 2/4d.
14 Return dated the 6th February 1822 (Supply 5/232) recorded length of service and other full details of those persons employed by the Ordnance at Waltham Abbey as at the 31st December 1821. This appeared a more detailed and accurate Return than that of the 23rd January 1822; George Baldock, Saltpetre Refiner, was appointed a Labourer at Waltham Abbey on the 21st July 1793, and by Orders of the Board dated the 4th September 1818 and 4th October 1819, as a Saltpetre Refiner. He was allowed to watch in turn to guard the works, for which he received an additional 2/-d per night, giving him a total annual income of £41.14.4d. According to this Return, at the 31st December 1821 he had 16 years' service, was 47 years old, was married with 9 children, and lived in Waltham Abbey.
15 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 the men were subsequently dismissed on the 1st June. Several Petitions were submitted by the men asking for financial assistance; many were long-service employees in their middle age, and they pointed out that they had little hope of finding employment after the hay and corn harvest had been gathered. The Storekeeper at Waltham was sympathetic and forwarded their Petitions to the Board for their consideration. George Baldock was one of the Petitioners, and he was awarded two weeks; pay to ease his financial burden.
