Biography:
1. James Cole was working in Corning House earning 2/2d per day (Supply 5/224 dated the 30th January 1806) and had been employed with the Ordnance since the 8th September 1804 (Supply 5/232)..
2. Supply 5/226 dated the 18th June 1807 confirmed he was still working in the Corning House earning the same amount as before, but in addition, Corning House Men were allowed to watch in turn, for which they received 1/-d each time.
3. An entry on Supply 5/227 dated the 23rd August 1808 stated that Mr. Cole was a "Foreman of Reeling Houses" earning 2/10d per day, and "in addition to their pay, they are allowed to watch in turn, for which they receive one shilling and six pence", as was the case in 1810 and 1811.
4. List of Employees dated the 29th August 1812 (Supply 5/229) confirmed that Mr. Cole was still a Reeling House Foreman, but that he then earned 3/10d per day, in addition to which, he was still watching in turn at 1/6d. per night.
5. According to the List of Employees dated the 13th February 1814 (Supply 5/230) the information regarding Mr. Cole remained the same as in Note 4.
6. Lists of Officers & Others Employed dated the 25th June 1818 (Supply 5/231 and WO54/524) state that James was working in the Corning House, that he was 32 and resided in Waltham Abbey, and that he was married with 4 children. He earned 2/11d per day and was allowed to watch in turn, for which he was paid 1/-d per night.
7. A List of Employees dated the 28th August 1818 (Supply 5/231) gave the names of people to be retained between the 3rd September and the 31st December 1818; Cole's name was included, with his pay reduced to 2/6d per day, and he was not allowed to watch.
8. James, according to the List of Employees dated the the 19th May 1819 (Supply 5/231) was employed in the Corning House, was a married man aged 33 with 4 children, lived in Waltham Abbey, was paid 2/11d per day, and was allowed to watch in turn, for which he received 1/-d per night.
9. List of employees dated the 13th September 1820 (Supply 5/232) updated the above entry, the basic details on pay, etc. remaining unchanged, except that they were now allowed 1/6d per night to watch..
10 List of Employees dated the 9th April 1821 (Supply 5/232) recorded that James was then 34; all other entries remained the same as in Note 9.
11 List of Employees at the Royal Powder Mills (Supply 5/232 dated 23rd January 1822) gave James's age as 36. He still worked in the Corning House and at that time had just over 17 years' service, with pay per day of 2/11d.
12 Return showing the pay, allowances and length of service and every description of the persons working at the Ordnance, Waltham Abbey, as 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 James Cole, Corning House Man, was appointed on the 8th September 1804, and that 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 36, was a married man with 4 children and lived in Waltham Abbey. In addition, it recorded that he originally trained as a Pin Maker.
13 Supply 5/232 (List dated the 21st March, 1822 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) included James Cole, Corning House Man.
14 WO54/542 dated the 1st April 1823 confirmed that Cole was still a Corning House Man, and that his pay for the year was £48.2.0d which included an allowance for watching in turn, for which he received 2/-d per week. His family and service details were confirmed.
15 According to a document dated the 1st April 1823 (WO54/542 - Alteration in Return B), James had had his pay reduced by £2.12.0d per annum in accordance with the Board's Orders dated the 27th December 1822 and the 15th January 1823. WO54/546 dated the 1st October 1823 confirmed that he was still a Corning House Man and that his annual earnings were £48.2.0d, which included an allowance for watching the works in turn, for which, on average, he received 2/-d per week. His service and family details were confirmed.
16 Return showing pay and allowances, etc., dated the 1st October 1825 (Winters, pp.93-95) confirmed previous information given, and recorded that he had been in continuous service with the Board since the 8th September, 1804. His pay was given as £42.18.0d per annum.
17 WO54/550 dated the 1st April 1825 recorded that James was still a Corning House Man, and gave his basic salary as £42.18.0d per annum. He was allowed to watch in turn which gave him, on average, 2/-d per week, making a total remuneration of £48.2.0d per annum. His previous family and service details were also confirmed . All of this information was repeated in WO54/550 dated the 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, and WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826, confirmed the details given in WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826.
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, however, James had nearly 23 years' service and he was then aged 43.
21 Return dated the 1st April 1828 (WO54/562) gave the same information as in the notes above, with the exception that he had served just over 23 years.
22 Return dated the 1st 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) also updated James' age and length of service, with family details and pay unaltered.
24 WO54/566 dated the 1st October 1829 stated that at that date James still earned the same as recorded in Note 17. His length of service was given as nearly 25 years and he was then aged 44.
25 Return WO54/ 570 dated the 1st April 1830 updated his age and length of service, with family and pay details remaining unchanged.
26 WO54/570 dated the 1st October 1830 recorded that James was 45 and that he had served for nearly 26 years. His pay was still the same as in Note 17.
27 According to Return WO54/575 dated the 1st April 1831, James was 46 and had served just over 26 years. He was still earning a total of £48.2.0d per annum.
28 WO54/545 dated the 1st October 1831 updated his age and period of service in the April 1831 Return and all other details remained unchanged.
29 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.
30 WO54/581 dated the 1st October 1832 updated his age and period of service in the April, 1832 Return.
31 WO54/587 dated the 1st April 1833 confirmed that James still earned a total of £48.2.0d per annum. His service was given as just over 28 years, and his age as 48.
32 WO54/587 dated the 1st October 1833 recorded that James was 49 years of age and had served 29 years. He was still in receipt of annual pay of £48.2.0d, and his family details remained the same.
33 WO54/593 dated the 1st April 1834 recorded that although James was still employed as a Corning House Man, his basic pay had been cut to £35.17.9d per annum, although he was still allowed to watch in turn, which increased his pay £41.1.9d per annum. He still had 4 children, and his age and service details had been updated.
34 WO54/593 dated the 1st October 1834 updated the previous Return for service and age, with conditions and pay remaining unchanged.
33 Return of employees dated the 1st October 1839 (WO54/623) confirmed that he was still employed as a Corning House Man with annual pay of £42.2.0d, which included an allowance to watch in turn. His other details remained unchanged.
34 James Cole's name did not appear in the 1841 Census for Waltham Abbey.
33 On the 13th April 1843, some 40 barrels of gunpowder exploded in the Corning House, together with another 20 in the Press House; 7 men were killed, and much damage was caused in the town. Among those killed was James Cole (Winters, p.106).
34 A graphic description of the explosion and damage caused, etc. was given in the London Illustrated News dated the Saturday, the 22nd April 1843 (WAAC). James left a widow and 4 children.
35. James was buried on Saturday, the 15th April 1843, in Waltham Abbey churchyard.
