WAPP - Waltham Abbey Personnel Project

About WAPP
  
103 / 962

Biography:

1. James Boswell was a Labourer in the Corning House in May 1804, and paid 2/-d per day (Supply 5/222 dated the 8th May 1804). 2. According to the List of Foreman Artificers and Labourers Employed dated the 30th January 1806, Mr. Boswell was employed in the Mixing House earning 2/-d per day, and by that date had 2 years' service (Supply 5/224). 3. He was still in the Mixing House in June 1807, when a note says that " in addition to his pay he is allowed to Watch in Turn for which he receives 1/-d." 4. List of Employees dated the 29th August 1812 (Supply 5/229) recorded that Mr. James Boswell was a Corning House Man who earned 3/3d per day, in addition to which, he was allowed to watch in turn, for which he earned 1/6d per night. 5. Boswell was still a Corning House Man on the 13th February 1814 (Supply 5/230) with the same rate of pay, and allowed to watch in turn, for which he received 1/6d per night. 6. List of Employees dated the 25th June 1818 (Supply 5/231) stated that James Boswell was then a Bargeman. He was a married man, aged 30, with 3 children who lived in Waltham Abbey and then earned 3/-d per day. 7. List of Employees dated the 19th May 1819 (Supply 5/231) confirmed that Boswell was still employed as a Bargeman, but was now a widower, aged 31, with 3 children. He still lived in Waltham Abbey, and was paid 3/-d per day. 8. List of Employees dated the 13th September 1820 (Supply 5/232) confirmed that Boswell was still employed as a Bargeman, with his conditions, etc. remaining unchanged, except that one of his children had died. 9. A statement "of monies to which the public were entitled to receive credit between the 1st January and the 31st December 1821 shewing the amounts received by the storekeeper" dated the 4th April 1821 (Supply 5/232) recorded that James Boswell had been living in a house purchased by the Board of Ordnance on the 4th May 1821, and paid rent of £8.9.0d per annum. This house, Tenement No. 29, has been identified as being on the north side of High Bridge Street to the west of Powder Mill Lane at the western end of a group of tenements known as the 'Bank Cottages'. It was part of Plot No. 1432 on the 1842 Waltham Abbey Tithe Map, or Plot 709 on the 1825 Waltham Abbey Town Map. The same information is repeated in Supply 5/232 dated the 16th February 1822 for the year 1821. His rent was reduced to £5.4.0d annually with effect from the 6th April 1829 (Supply 5/237). 10 List of Employees dated the 9th April 1821 (Supply 5/232) recorded that James was now 33, with all other details remaining the same as in Notes 7 and 8 and is confirmed in WO54/536 of the same date. 11 List of Employees (Supply 5/232 dated the 23rd January 1822) gave the age of James Boswell, Bargeman, as 36, with nearly 19 years' service and pay per day of 3/-d. 12 Return showing the pay, allowances and length of service and every description of the persons in the pay and employ of the Ordnance at Waltham Abbey as at the 31st December 1821 (Supply 5/232) recorded that James Boswell, Bargeman, was appointed on the 1st January 1804, as a Labourer. His total wage for the year amounted to £46.19.0d, he had nearly 19 years' service, was aged 36 years, lived in Waltham Abbey and had 3 children. 13 List dated the 21st March 1822 (Supply 5/232) of persons to form an Establishment at Waltham Abbey to regenerate 2000 barrels of gunpowder as well as to make 100 or 200 barrels of gunpowder annually, recorded that James Boswell, Bargeman, was to be retained. 14. WO54/542 dated the 1st April 1823 showed that Boswell was still listed as a Bargeman, and that his pay for the year was still £46.19.0d, which included an allowance for watching in turn. His family and service details were confirmed. 15 According to the Return dated the 1st October 1824 (WO54/546) James still earned £46.19.0d per annum as a Bargeman. His period of service was given as nearly 22 years, he was then aged 38, was a widower and had 3 children. 16. Return showing pay and allowances, etc. dated the 1st October 1825 (Winters, pp. 93-95) confirmed previous information given and recorded that James had been in continuous service with the Board since the 1st January 1804. His pay was confirmed at £46.19.0d. per annum. 17 WO54/550 dated the 1st April 1825 confirmed that he was still a Bargeman, gave his basic wage as £46.19.0d per annum, and also confirmed his previous family and service details, as did WO54/550 of the 1st October 1825. 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 confirmed the information given in WO54/554 dated the the 1st April 1826, and stated he was "employed with the barges transporting gunpowder and stores". 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 in the notes above. At that date James had 24 years' service and was 40 years of age. 21 Return dated the 1st April 1828 (WO54/562) recorded the same information as given previously, with the exception that he had now served over 24 years. 22 Return dated the1st October 1828 (WO54/562) updated his age and length of service, with family details and pay remaining unchanged. 23 Return dated the 1st April 1829 (WO54/566) updated his age and length of service. 24 Return showing Employees at the 1st October 1829 (WO54/566) confirmed that James Boswell still earned in total £46.19.0d per annum, that his service was 26 years, that he was 41, and that he was a widower with three children. 25 According to Return WO54/570 dated the 1st April 1830 all details remained the same for James as in Note 24, except that his service was given as nearly 27 years and he was then aged 42. 26 Return WO54/570 dated the 1st October 1830 confirmed the information given in Note 24, and WO54/570 dated April 1831 updateed the October 1830 Return. 27 WO54/545 dated the 1st October 1831 updated his age and period of service in the April 1831 Return, with all other details remaining unchanged. 28 WO54/581 dated the 1st April 1832 updated his age and period of service in the October 1831 Return, with all other details remaining the same. 29 James was away from work through sickness between the 7th to 30th September 1832, and the Board agreed to pay him 30 days' sick pay at 3/-d per day (Supply 5/207 dated the 26th October, 1832). 30 WO54/581 dated the 1st October 1832 updated his age and period of service in the April 1832 Return, with all other details remaining the same. 31 WO54/587 dated the 1st April 1833, confirmed that James still earned £46.19.0d in his capacity as a Bargeman. His period of service was given as nearly 29 years, and he was aged 45. 32 WO54/587 dated the 1st October 1833 updated the previous entry; he was still shown as a widower with 3 children. 33 WO54/593 dated the 1st April 1834 recorded that James was still employed as a Bargeman. However, his basic annual wage by then had been reduced to £39.3.0d, His period of service was given as just over 30 years and his age, 46. In this Return, however, he was shown as being married and having only 2 children, so it must be assumed that one had died. 34 WO54/593 dated the 1st October 1834 confirmed the information given in the note above; he was 47, and had served nearly 31 years. 35 Following the death of John Nigh, Master Bargeman, on the 20th August 1837, the Ordnance Office at Waltham Abbey recommended that James Bosewell should be appointed in Nigh's place (Supply 5/237). 36 Return of Employees dated the 1st October 1839 (WO54/623) confirmed that he was employed as a Master Bargeman with pay of £65.4.2d per annum. His other details were unchanged. 37 In a letter from the Deputy Storekeeper to the Board dated the 12th March 1841, it was stated that Master Bargeman, James Boswell, was to be at the West India Docks in four days. 38. A transcript of the 1841 Census showed that James, a Bargeman, was living in Silver Street with a Mary Saunders, aged 25, and that both were born in the County. Their house was on the north side of High Bridge Street at the western end of a row of tenements known as Bank Cottage, being part of Plot No. 48 on the Waltham Abbey Town Map.