Biography:
1. Thomas Rudge was first employed by the Board on the 17th June 1813 as an occasional Labourer earning 2/4d per day in the Engineers' Department. He was a 44-year-old married man with 7 children who lived in Waltham Abbey (WO54/516 dated February 1816).
2. WO54/520 dated the 28th February 1817 recorded that he was then paid 2/4d per day, and that all other details remained unchanged.
3. WO54/524 dated 11th April 1818, confirmed he was still employed as a Labourer "Occasionally as required" at 2/4d per day, and this was also the case in 1819 (WO54/528 dated the 19th May 1819).
4. List of Employees dated the 13th September 1820 ( WO54/532) confirmed that Thomas Rudge was still employed as a Labourer at 2/4d per day. He was then 48, still lived in Waltham Abbey, and was still married with 7 children.
5. WO54/536 dated the 2nd April 1821, recorded that he was aged 49 years with 7 children, and that his terms of employment, etc. remained unchanged.
6. WO54/536 dated 31st December 1821, was repeat of the Return dated the 2nd April 1821.
7. WO54/542 dated the 1st April 1823, recorded that he then only earned 2/2d per day as a Labourer for 313 days, giving him an income of £33.18.2d for the year. He had nearly 10 years' service starting on the 17th June 1813. He was aged 50, a married man living in Waltham Abbey with 7 children
8. WO54/550 dated the 1st April 1825 confirmed that Thomas, as a Labourer, was still paid 2/2d per day for 313 days, which gave him an annual income of £33.18.2d. His service was given as nearly 12 years, he was aged 52, was married and had 7 children, abd the number of children remained constant at 7 for all further entries.
9. WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825 confirmed the previous entry. WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826 gave the same detail as in October 1825, and confirmed his date of appointment as the 17th June 1813.
10 WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826 gave the same information as in the previous Return.
11 WO54/558 dated 1st April 1827, gave the same information as those given in the previous notes. However, at that date, Thomas had nearly 14 years' service and was 54 years of age.
12 WO54/558 dated the 1st October 1827, updated the previous information given.
13 Return dated the 1st April 1828 (WO54/562) updated the same basic information.
14 Return dated the1st October 1828 (WO54/562) updated his age and length of service, with family details and pay remaining unchanged.
15 WO54/566 dated 1st April 1829, confirmed that at that date Thomas still earned the same as given in Note 8. His length of service was given as just over 15 years and he was aged 66, although on double checking, the Clerk was in error - his correct age at the time was 56.
16 Return dated the 1st October 1829 (WO54/566) updated his age and length of service, with family and pay details remaining unchanged, and his age entered correctly as just over 56.
17 WO54/587 dated the 1st April 1833, recorded that Thomas was 60 and had served 20 years. He was still in receipt of an annual wage of £33.18.2d.
18 WO54/587 dated the 1st October 1833 gave the same basic details, with his age and length of service updated,
19 WO54/593 dated 1st April 1834 confirmed that Thomas still earned £33.18.2d per annum, and stated that at that date, he had served 21 years, and that his age was 61.
20 Thomas retired on the 21st November 1834 with a pension, which he was still receiving in 1837 (Supply 5/237).
