Biography:
1. Robert Simes was first employed by the Board as a casual Millwright in the Engineers' Department on the 13th September 1816, having originally trained as a Smith. He was a 38-year-old bachelor living in Waltham Abbey who was paid 5/2d per day (WO54/520 dated 20th February 1817).
2. WO54/524 dated 1818 recorded that he was married, and WO54/528 dated the 19th May 1819, indicated that he then had one child.
3. Return dated September 1820 (WO54/532) recorded that Simes was 41, and confirmed that he still lived in Waltham Abbey, was married and had one child. He was still a Millwright at 5/2d per day and worked "Occasionally as the Service required."
4. WO54/536 dated the 2nd April 1821 recorded that he was now aged 42, with all other details remaining unchanged.
5. WO54/536 dated 31st December 1821 repeated the information given in the Return dated the 2nd April 1821, except that he now had two children.
6. WO54/542 dated the 1st April 1823, confirmed that Robert was paid 5/2d per day as a Millwright for 313 days, giving him an income of £80.17.2d for the year. His family and service details were confirmed.
7. WO54/550 dated the 1st April 1825 confirmed that Robert was still paid 5/2d per day for 313 days as a Millwright, which gave him an annual income of £80.17.2d. His service was given as nearly 9 years. He was then aged 44, was married and had 2 children.
8. WO54/550 dated 13th October 1825, was a repeat of the record dated the 1st April 1825.
9. WO54/554 dated 1st April 1826 gave identical information as given in Note 8, except that he was then 45 and had served for nearly 10 years.
10 WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826 gave the same information as the previous Return.
11 WO54/558 dated 1st April 1827 provided identical information as that previously given, except at that date Mr. Simes had nearly 11 years' service and was 46.
12 WO54/558 dated 1st October 1827 contained no basic alterations from the previous Return, except that he was listed as having 3 children.
13 Return dated the 1st April 1828 (WO54/562) updated the same basic information as in the previous Return.
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 Robert earned £80.17.2d annually. His length of service was given as 12 years and he was 48 years' old.
16 Return dated 1st October 1829 (WO54/566) updated Simes' age and length of service, with family and pay details remaining unchanged.
17 According to Return WO54/570 dated the 1st April 1830, all details remained the same for Robert as before, except that his service was given as 13 years and he was then aged 49.
18 Return WO54/570 dated the 1st October 1830 confirmed that Robert was still a Millwright, and that his family details and pay remained unchanged. His length of service and age were updated.
19 A Return of Persons belonging to the Civil Establishment of the Ordnance at the Gunpowder and Small Arms Manufactories at Waltham Abbey, Faversham and Enfield showing in detail the several points of information called for by the Master General and Board's Order dated the 31st January 1831, recorded that Robert Simes was one of the three 3 Millwrights to be employed at Waltham Abbey. He was to be paid 5/2d per day, and his duties were as general service as a Millwright within the Manufactories, which required great attention, skill and sobriety, etc.
20 WO54/575 dated the 1st April 1831, updated his age and period of service in the October 1830 Return. All other details remained unchanged, except that he was then shown as having 5 children.
21 WO54/575 dated October 1831 confirmed that Robert still earned 5/2d per day, giving him a total of £80.17.2d per annum. He had served for nearly 15 years, and was aged 50.
22 WO54/581 dated the 1st April 1832 updated his age and period of service in the October 1831 Return, with all other details remaining unchanged.
23 WO54/581 dated 1st October 1832, confirmed that Robert still earned £80.17.2d per annum and that he had served 16 years. He was then 51 years of age.
24 WO54/587 dated the 1st April 1833 confirmed the information given previously, except that Robert was then 52.
25 WO54/587 dated 1st October 1833 confirmed the same basic details as before, with his age and length of service updated.
26 WO54/593 dated 1st April 1834 confirmed that Robert still earned a total of £80.17.2d per annum, and recorded that he was 53 years of age, and that his service was 17 years.
27 WO54/623 dated the 1st October1839, recorded that Simes was appointed as a Millwright on the Establishment in June 1834. He was a 54-year-old married man with 9 children living in a house in Powder Mill Lane, for which he paid rent, and at that date he had nearly 23 years' service.
28 A Return of Domestic Properties dated 28th May 1840 (WO44/133) recorded that Simes was living in a cottage previously occupied by Samuel Knowler Senior who had retired, and then by Thomas Sadd. The cottage, with a small garden of 7 perches, was listed as No. 21 in a "statement of monies due on the 31st December, 1821" (Supply5/232 dated 14th February 1822) for which he paid an annual rental of £12.10.0d (Poor rates ERO D/P 75/11/16). An analysis of the properties owned by the Board showed that the cottage was one of three built in 1815 from materials salvaged from the Horse Mills blown up in 1811. Restrictions were placed on the tenants, who were not allowed to have lodgers, and "no unnecessary diliapidations may take place on the premises being of timber etc." (Winters, p.82).
29 The 1841 Census recorded that neither Robert or his wife, Sarah, were born in the county, and listed 8 of his children living in Powder Mill Lane, Robert (20) Sarah (20) Elizabeth (15) James (13) Amelia (11) Christine (8) Help (6) and Josiah (3).
