Biography:
1. Thomas Bates was transferred from Royal Gunpowder Factory at Faversham to the Waltham Mills, but quit the service on the 4th January 1788, "on account of the smallness of their Wages and the great difficulty they found to get any one to Lodge them except Publicans, because they were so black and Dirty by being engaged in Manufacturing Gunpowder. Thos. Bates, among seven (signed)" (Supply 5/113).
2. Although this note is out of sequence, Bates started at Faversham on the 1st November 1787, and and finally transferred to Waltham on the 1st February 1788 (Supply 5/217 dated the 24th June 1789). Furthermore, it appeared that he did not "quit" employment in the Ordnance, since in 1806 he had 18 years' service (Supply 5/224 dated the 30th January 1806).
3. In March 1789, Thomas Bates was grinding "salt petre and charcoal, etc.", and for this, he was paid 1/6d per day (Supply 5/212).
4. According to Supply 5/213 dated the 18th April 1789, Thomas was "cutting and planting willow trees, cutting of canal at the new Corning House, removing earth to the Store, unloading barge of coals & charring wood."
5. In August & September 1789, he was grinding salt petre, charcoal and brimstone, being paid 1/6d per day (Supply 5/213).
6. Supply 5/214 of September 1789, recorded that he was 23 and employed to grind Brimstone and Charcoal.
7. He was still grinding Saltpetre and charcoal, etc. in March 1790, for which he was paid the same 1/6d per day (Supply 5/214).
8. He was described as grinding salt petre, etc. on the 14th August 1790 (Supply 5/215).
9. On the 11th December 1790, he was working in the Corning House and still being paid 1/6d per day (Supply 5/215).
10 Bates was working in the Corning House January to March 1792, and was paid 1/6d per day as previously. (Supply 5/215)
11 In April, 1792, he was "mixing composition" (Supply 5/215 dated the 16th April, 1792).
12 Between July and September 1792, he was "in the country charring wood." (Supply 5/216 dated the 31st July 1792).
13 Thomas was working on the punts in February and March 1793, before returning to the country again cutting wood (Supply 5/216 dated the 28th February 1793), and was still in the country in August and September, 1793 (Supply 5/216).
14 In January 1794, he was working in "the punts and drawing & setting stoves", while in August, 1794, he was "charring wood", still being paid 1/6d per day (Supply 5/216).
15 In December 1794 he was grinding Saltpetre, etc. (Supply 5/2170
16 In June and July of 1795, Mr. Bates is described as a "Charcoal Burner" (Supply 5/217 dated the 24th June 1795).
17 Bates became a Cylinderman at Waltham Abbey on the 1st November 1797, before transferring to West Sussex on the 14th January 1798 (Supply 5/219 dated September 1798).
18 A Report dated the 8th May 1801 (Supply 5/221) recorded that he was working as a Labourer and was unmarried. Note: In this document, anyone not an Artificer was described as a Labourer.
19 A Return of Artificers & Labourers dated the 3rd November 1801 (Supply 5/221), showed that he was still employed in the Cylinders in Sussex. The same document said that since the cylinders had been out of repair, Bates had been employed in stacking timber in the yards, and levelling and preparing the ground where the cylinders were to be resited. For this he was paid 2/-d per day.
20 Supply 5/224 dated the 30th January 1806 confirmed that he was employed as a Cylinderman with pay at 2/-d per day; he had 18 years service, and was still based in West Sussex.
21 In a further Return dated the 18th June 1807 (Supply 5/226), it was confirmed that Thomas was still a Cylinderman in West Sussex.
22 According to the List of Officers, Foremen, Artificers, etc. Employed dated the 23rd August 1808 (Supply 5/227), Mr. Bates was still employed as a Cylinderman earning 2/-d per day.
23 Employment List dated the 1st September 1810 (Supply 5/228) confirmed that Mr. Bates was still a Cylinderman at 2/-d per day, as he was in 1813 (Supply 5/229 dated the 29th August, 1813) on the same rate of pay as previously, and still based in West Sussex.
24 Staff List dated the 1st September 1810 (Supply 5/228) confirmed that he was still employed as a Cylinderman at 2/-d per day.
25 List of Employees (Supply 5/229 dated the 29th August 1812) confirmed Mr. Bates was still a Cylinderman in West Sussex, but his wage was then 2/8d. per day. This entry appears to be the last for Thomas Bates.
