Biography:
1. George Bloomfield started work at the Royal Powder Mills at Waltham Abbey on the 29th November 1804 (Supply 5/232) and on the 30th January 1806, he was working in the Corning House at 2/2d per day. According to Supply 5/224 dated the 30th January 1806, Bloomfield had then been with the Ordnance for 1 year.
2. Supply 5/226 dated the 18th June 1807, confirmed Mr. Bloomfield was still working in the Corning House earning the same. In addition, Corning House men were allowed to "watch in turn for which they received 1/-d."
2. According to the entry on Supply 5/227 dated the 23rd August 1808, Mr. Bloomfield was a Corning House Man then earning 2/6d per day, and "in addition to their pay, they are allowed to watch in turn, for which they receive one shilling."
3. Pay List (Supply 5/228 dated the 1st September) 1810 stated that Corning House Men were paid 2/6d day, and then allowed to watch for 1/6 per night when on duty.
4. List of Employees dated the 29th August 1812 (Supply 5/229) recorded that Mr. Bloomfield's pay as a Corning House man was then 3/3d per day, in addition to which, he was allowed to watch in turn, for which he earned 1/6d per night. This was also the case on the 13th February 1814 (Supply 5/230).
5. Lists of Officers & Others Employed dated the 25th June 1818 (Supply 5/ 231 and WO.54/524) confirmed that Mr. Bloomfield was still working in the Corning House; he was 35, resided in Waltham Abbey, and was married with 7 children. He then only earned 2/11d per day and was allowed to watch in turn, for which, at that date, he was only paid 1/-d per night.
6. A List of Employees dated the 28th August 1818 (Supply 5/231) recorded that Bloomfield was one of the men to be retained between the 3rd September and the 31st December 1818. He was given the same pay, but his watch money was then reduced to 6d per night.
7. List of Employees dated the 19th May 1819 (Supply 5/231) confirmed that Bloomfield was still in the Corning House, that he was a married man aged 36 with 7 children, lived in Waltham Abbey, was paid 2/11d per day, and was allowed to watch in turn, for which he then received 1/-d per night.
8. List of Employees dated the 13th September 1820 (Supply 5/232) updated the previous entry, with basic pay and other details remaining unchanged. However, he then had 8 children, and was allowed 1/6d per night to watch.
9. List of Employees dated the 9th April 1821 (Supply 5/232) recorded that Mr. Bloomfield was now 45; all other details remained the same as in the previous note.
10 List of Employees at the R.G.M. (Supply 5/232 dated 23rd January 1822) gives the age of Mr. Bloomfield, a Corning House Man, as only 40, with just over 17 years' service, and his pay remaining the same as before.
11 Return showing the pay, allowances and length of service and every description of the persons working for the Ordnance at the 31st December 1821 (Supply 5/232 dated the 6th February 1822) appeared to be a more detailed, and probably more accurate, Return than that dated the 23rd January 1822. It recorded that George Bloomfield, Corning House Man, was appointed on the 29th November 1804 as a Labourer. His position on the Establishment as a Corning House Man was confirmed by an order of the Board dated the 4th September 1818. He was allowed to watch in turn to guard the works, for which he received an additional 2/-d per night, which gave him a total for the year of £50.16.11d; he had just over 17 years' service, was aged 40, and was a married man with 7 children who lived in Waltham Abbey.
12 In the spring of 1822, the Ordnance Board decided to reduce the production and regeneration of gunpowder, and, therefore, the Establishment at Waltham was to be reduced. Accordingly, Empson Middleton and James Wright drew up a list of people to be dismissed (Supply 5/232 dated the 21st March, 1822) and George was one of the men who were to go on the 1st June, 1822. However, a List of People Employed at the Mills on the 1st October 1822 (Supply 5/233) indicated that George was still employed as a Corning House Man.
13 WO54/542 dated the 1st April 1823, confirmed that Bloomfield was still a Corning House Man, that his wages for the year were £48.2.0d and that this figure included an allowance for watching in turn, for which he received 2/-d. His family and service details were confirmed.
14 According to a document dated the 1st April 1823 (WO54/542 - Alteration in Return B), George had his wages reduced by £2.12.0d per annum in accordance with the Board's Orders dated the 27th December 1822 and the 15th January 1823.
15 According to the Return dated the 1st October 1824 (WO54/546) George earned £39.0.0d per annum, which included an allowance of 2/-d for watching in turn. His period of service was given as nearly 20 years, he was then aged 44, was married and had 7 children.
16 Return showing pay and allowances, etc., dated the 1st October 1825 (Winters, pp 93-95) confirmed the previous information given, except that Bloomfield then worked as a Labourer drawing stoves. It also recorded that he had been in continuous service with the Board since the 29th November 1804, and that his pay was £33.16.0d per annum.
17 WO54/550 dated the 1st April 1825, confirmed that he was a general purpose Labourer, that his basic pay was the same as in the previous Return, that he was allowed to watch in turn which gave him, on average, 2/-d per week, and confirmed his previous family and service details. WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825 also confirmed the previous details.
18 WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826 confirmed the basic information given in WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825. WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826 recorded the same information given in WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826, but by then he had nearly 22 years' service. The information given showed that whilst he was not dismissed, he was generally demoted.
19 WO54/558 dated the 1st April 1827 recorded "no alteration since the last Report dated the 1st October 1826."
20 WO54/558 dated the 1st October 1827 gave the same information as recorded in the notes above, but that at that date George had nearly 23 years' service and he was then 46 years of age.
21 Return dated the 1st April 1828 (WO54/562) gave the same information as in previous notes. At that date he had served over 23 years.
22 Return dated the1st October 1828 (WO54/562) updated his age and length of service, with his family details and pay remaining unchanged.
23 Return dated the 1st April 1829 (WO54/566) also updated his age and length of service, and again, family details and pay remained unchanged.
24 Return showing employees at the 1st October 1829 (WO54/566) confirmed that George still earned in total £39.0.0d per annum, that his service was just over 24 years, that at that date he was 47 years of age, and that he was married with 7 children.
25 According to Return WO54/570 dated the 1st April 1830, all details remained the same for George as in the previous note, except that his service was given as just over 25 years and he was now aged 48.
26 Return WO54/570 dated the 1st October 1830 confirmed the information given previously, except that his service was now nearly 26 years. WO54/575 dated April 1831, updated the October Return and recorded that Bloomfield he was still employed as a General Labourer within the Manufactory.
27 WO54/545 dated the 1st October 1831, updated his age and period of service in the April 1831 Return. However, at that time, he was employed as a Millman at the same rate of £39 per annum, but allowed to watch in turn, which gave him, on average, an extra 2/-d per week, making his total annual pay £44.4.0d. He was aged 50 with 27 years' service, married, and had 7 children.
28 WO54/581 dated the 1st April 1832 updated his age and period of service in the October 1831 Return. He was then employed as a Millman in place of John Simpson, and paid a basic rate of £39 per annum, by an order dated the 31st May 1831. In addition, he was allowed night duties at 6d per night, which at that date gave him an annual wage of £46.16.0d. His family details remained unchanged.
29 WO54/581 dated the 1st October 1832 updated his age and period of service in the April 1831 Return, with all other details remaining unaltered.
30 WO54/587 dated the 1st April 1833 confirmed that George still earned a total of £46.16.0d per annum as a Millman. His service was given as nearly 29 years, and his age as 51. This Return, however, stated that he only had 6 children.
31 WO54/587 dated the 1st October 1833, recorded that George was now 52 years of age and that he had served 29 years. He was still in receipt of an annual wage of £46.16.0d, and all other details remained the same.
32 WO54/593 dated the 1st April 1834, recorded that although George was still employed as a Millman, his basic pay had been cut to £32.12.6d per annum; he was still allowed to watch in turn and also received an extra 6d when working at night, which increased his annual wage to £39.3.0d.
33 WO54/593 dated the 1st October 1834 updated the previous Return for service and age, with conditions and pay remaining unchanged.
34 Return of Employees dated the 1st October 1839 (WO54/623) confirmed he was still employed as a Millman with total pay of £46.16s 0d, which included an allowance to watch in turn. His other details remained unchanged.
35 Sometime between 1835 and 1840, George moved into a cottage in Powder Mill Lane, which was previously occupied by John Lockyer (WO44/133). The cottage was on Plot No. 63 on the Waltham Abbey Town Map, and the 1841 Census confirmed the location, listing George, together with his wife, Mary, and daughter, Eliza, aged 25, as the occupants, all of whom were born in Essex.
