Biography:
1. Thomas Belsham worked in the Corning House earning 2/2d per day, according to Supply 5/224 dated the 30th January 1806, and at that date he had 6 months service.
2. List of Officers, Foremen and Artificers, etc. Employed - Supply 5/226 of the 18th June 1807 - stated that in addition, Corning House Men were allowed to watch in turn, for which they received 1/-d.
3. Belsham was still employed as a Corning House man with the same basic details, according to List of Officers, Foremen and Artificers, etc. Employed - Supply 5/226 dated the 18th June 1807.
4. According to the entry on Supply 5/227 dated the 23rd August 1808, Mr. Belsham was still a Corning House Man, who then earned 2/6d. per day, and "in addition to their pay, they are allowed to watch in turn, for which they receive one shilling."
5. Supply 5/228 dated the 1st September 1810, confirmed the previous Return's information, except that Mr. Belsham was then in receipt of 1/6d when allowed to watch.
6. At 11.15 a.m. on the 27th November 1811, there was a huge explosion at No. 4 Press House; the ensuing fire engulfed the Corning House together with the Reel House, which also exploded. There was much damage to the town with many windows shattered, and reports in the press record that the explosion was heard as far away as Hackney, Blackwall and Marylebone (Winters, p.72). Among those killed was Thomas Belsham, who left a widow, Ann, and sons, Benjamin, aged 18, Thomas, aged 14 and daughter, Louisa, aged 16. These 3 children were in service, but he also had another 5 children at home - William aged 13, Joshua aged 4, John aged 2, Mary aged 8, and Ann aged 6, according to a letter dated the 3rd December 1811 (Supply 5/229). Winters on p.87, stated that Ann received a weekly pension of 17/6d commencing the 14th December 1811, although this date differs to that given in the document below (Note 7).
7. A document dated the 8th November 1818 (Supply 5/231) lists persons to whom pensions or charitable allowances were granted by the Hon. Board, as widows, orphans or relations of those who had lost their lives in the manufactory, or who had been superannuated on account of trusts received, or for length of service in the departments. Among the recipients was Thomas's widow, Ann, who received a pension of 17/6d per week commencing the 28th November, 1811.
8. Mrs. Belsham was still in receipt of her pension in 1821 (Supply 5/232 dated the 17th November, 1821).
9. A document dated the 6th December 1821 (also Supply 5/232) gave 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". Therein it was confirmed that Ann's superannuation should continue at £45.10.0d per annum. A similar document, Supply 5/232 dated the 28th December 1821 confirmed that the same pension would be paid in 1822. This is also mentioned as the case in 1826 in Winters, (p.96).
10 Mrs. Belsham was still in receipt of a pension in 1837 (Supply 5/237).
