Biography:
1. In a letter dated 6th September 1814 (Supply 5/230) John Lockyer, Snr., stated that his son and Apprentice, John Lockyer, Junior, had served the legal time of his Apprenticeship, and humbly solicited The Honourable Board to grant him another Apprentice. Messrs. Matthews, Breeze and Wright confirmed in the letter that the facts were as stated, and requested the Board direct the Assistant to the Ordnance Solicitor to prepare the usual kind of Indentures for Apprenticing a Thomas Martin, Junior, son of Thomas Martin, Senior, to be Mr. Lockyer's new Apprentice. Master Thomas Martin, Junior, was described therein as a "stout lad about thirteen years old".
2. Thomas Martin (2) was, therefore, Apprenticed to the Master Refiner of Brimstone. He was a single man aged 15 who lived in Waltham Abbey and earned 6/-d per week (Supply 5/231 dated the 25th June 1818).
3. A List of Empoyees 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. Thomas Martin's name was included, with his pay increased to 6/2d per week.
4. Return dated the 19th May 1819 (Supply 5/231) confirmed that Thomas Martin was still Apprenticed to the Master Refiner of Saltpetre, and recorded that he was then 17 years of age; He lived in Waltham Abbey, and was paid 6/2d per week.
5. List of Employees dated the 13th September 1820 (Supply 5/232) confirmed that Martin was still an Apprentice, but that his pay had increased to 6/4d per week.
6. Return dated the 9th April 1821 (Supply 5/232) recorded that Thomas was now 19, apprenticed to the Master Refiner of Brimstone, and that his wage had increased to 6/8d per week.
7. Return (Supply 5/232 dated the 23rd January 1822) gave Thomas's age as 19 and confirmed that he was still an Apprentice who had served for over 6 years. He was then earning 7/-d per week.
8. Return (Supply 5/232 dated the 6th February 1822) showing the pay, allowances and length of service and every drescription of the persons in the pay and employment of the Ordnance at Waltham Abbey as at the 31st December 1821, confirmed that Thomas was appointed as an Apprentice to the Master Refiner of Brimstone on the 8th September 1815, and then as a Gunpowder Maker, with total pay for the year amounting to £17.13.0d. He was aged 18 years, a single man living in Waltham Abbey, with over 6 years' service.
9. Return dated the 1st October 1822 showing the alterations made since the Return dated the 1st February 1822 (WO54/536) recorded that Thomas Martin, Apprentice, had completed his Aprenticeship with the Master Refiner of Brimstone, and had been discharged by the Board's order dated the 22nd May 1822.
