Biography:
1. Peter Clark was working as a Labourer earning 1/6d per day, and was married with 5 children. (Supply 5/221 dated the 8th May 1801). Note: In this document, anyone not an Artificer was described as a Labourer.
2. In his book "Centenary Memorial" (p.59) Winters stated that men were employed in repairing the Corning House which blew up on the 18th April 1801 and that Peter Clark was one of those men. He also recorded that the fire was caused "from the blow of a copper hammer on pit wheel."
3. In a letter dated the 23rd June 1801 (Supply 5/195) it was stated that the writer had "the Board's commands to transmit to you on the other side hereof a list of the men who have been burnt and otherwise hurt by the fire which lately destroyed (16th June, 1801) the Corning House at Waltham Abbey; and I am to desire the storekeeper will pay the men all their pay until they are recovered." The list included Peter Clark, and therein stated that "we beg to represent the situation of the poor men who were burnt when the Corning House took fire 16th instant while under repair." It further stated "These men are burnt in a dreadful manner, their pain is very great…" and "Our surgeon has represented the necessity of the men most burnt having immediate assistance in wine, as a considerable Suppuration is come on their constitutions. They cannot Support it without wine, and we have directed wine to be immediately provided to them, and request your permission for our continuing to Supply these poor men with such wine or other proper Support as their surgeon may think their respective situations require."
4. In a letter to the Board dated the 29th July 1801 (Supply 5/221), it is stated that the men who were burnt at the Corning House on the 16th June, had requested that they be reimbursed for the loss of clothing. The list included Mr. Clark, whose claim amounted to £2.12.6d in all - for a hat (4/-d), stockings (2/6d), shirt (5/6d), coat (6/6d), Breeches (4/-d), waistcoat (6/-d) and sheets (£1.4.0d.). The same letter went on to say that Mr. Clark, amongst others, suffered so much that he wished for death to release him from his torture, and that it was a matter of surprise that he was recovering. The constant attention the men needed meant that their wives could not undertake seasonal work (haymaking), at which they could earn sufficient to pay the rent. It was requested that financial allowances be made.
5. A Return of Artificers and Labourers dated the 3rd November 1801 (Supply 5/221) stated that Mr. Clark and others had been so severely burnt in the Old Corning house, that it would be dangerous to expose him with the other men in repairing the river banks at that time, but that instead, he should perform trifling jobs as they occurred.
