WAPP - Waltham Abbey Personnel Project

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Biography:

1. Benjamin Archer was born in 1760 according to Supply 5/212 dated 27th November 1788. WO54/558 dated the 1st April 1827 gave his start date as the 17th March, 1788. In records dated the 27th November 1788 and the 24th January 1789, it was noted that he was "promised to be continued" because he had previously worked for Mr Walton (Winters, pp.31/32). 2. Benjamin's pay was 1/6d per day on the 21st March, 1789 (Supply 5/212). 3. He was described as "cutting and planting willow trees, cutting canal at the new Corning House, removing earth to the Store, unloading barge of coals and charring wood" in Supply 5/213 dated the18th April 1789 and Supply 5/214 dated September 1789 recorded that he was 29 years old and was employed attending the stoves. 4. Benjamin was working in the stores for 1/6d per day in March, 1790 (Supply 5/214) and this was still the case in August & September 1790 (Supply 5/215 dated the 11th December, 1790), April and June, 1791, as well as January and July to September 1792 (all Supply 5/215). 5. He was officially described as a "Storeman" in 1793 (Supply 5/216 dated the 28th February,1793), and was still in the same position in August, September and October 1793 (also Supply 5/216) August and December, 1794 (Supply 5/217) and July, 1795 (Supply 5/219). He was paid an extra 6d per night when on night duty, according to Supply 5/219 dated the 3rd July 1795. 6. Benjamin enlisted as a Private in the Volunteer Company on the 7th May 1794. 7. He was included as a Storeman in Supply 5/219 dated September, 1798. 8. A signed document - Supply 5/220 of the 2nd February 1800 - relating to a petition on pay, showd that he was illiterate and still working as a Storeman. 9. Report dated the 8th May 1801 (Supply 5/221) recorded that he was then working as a Labourer. (Note: in this document, anyone who was not an Artificer was described as a Labourer). The Report stated that he was a married man with 1 child. 10 A Return of Artificers & Labourers dated the 3rd November 1801 (Supply 5/221) showed that although he was still employed as a Storeman, Benjamin was then engaged in cleaning and deepening the river, canals, ditches and any other work necessary, and on the 26th February, 1802, he was paid 2/-d for catching 8 moles (Winters p.61). 11 Benjamin was still working as a Storeman, but his pay had increased to 2/-d per day. All Storemen received an additional allowance of 1/-d per night when it was their turn "to watch" - on average every fifth night. (Supply 5/222 dated the 8th May 1804). 12 Shown as a Warder in the List of Foremen, Artificers and Labourers Employed dated the 30th January 1806, he was still earning 2/-d per day, and by that date had 17 years' service. 13 Benjamin was still a Warder in 1807 and 1808, and, according to the List of Officers, Foremen and Artificers, etc. Employed dated the 23rd August 1808 (Supply 5/227) his income was still 2/-d per day and he was allowed to watch. 14 Supply 5/228 dated the 1st September 1810 confirmed that he was a Warder at 2/- per day, as well as being allowed to watch in turn. This was also the case in August, 1812, although he was then paid 2/8d per day, and List of Employees (Supply 5/229 dated the 29th August 1812) stated he was a Rounder every third night, being paid 2/-d for this duty. 15 List of Employees (Supply 5/230 dated the 13th February 1814) stated that Benjamin Archer was still employed as a Warder at the same 2/8d per day and a Rounder at 2/-d every third night. 16 List of Employees dated the 25th June 1818 (Supply 5/231) confirmed that Benjamin was still a Warder, aged 58, but was now a widower with 1 child. He lived in Waltham Abbey but at that date only earned 2/4d per day. Although still allowed to watch in turn, he only received 1/-d per night for this duty as opposed to the 2/-d he was paid previously. 17 A List of Employees dated the 28th August 1818 (Supply 5/231) recorded the names of people to be retained between the 3rd September and the 31st December, 1818. Benjamin was retained with his pay unchanged, and this was confirmed by the Board's Order dated ther 30th September 1818, which also showed that he was the Warder at the Refining House Gate, and had a cottage in High Bridge Street. 18 List of Employees dated the 19th May 1819 (Supply 5/231) stated that Archer was still employed as a Warder. He was aged 59, with 1 child, and his pay remained unchanged. Subsequent Returns by the Royal Engineers showed that he lived in a cottage owned by the Board on the opposite side of High Bridge Street from the Refinery in the Storehouse Yard, and marked as Plot No. 21 on the Town Map (WO44/133) 19 List of Officers on Employment dated 13th September 1820 (Supply 5/232) stated that Benjamin was then 60 and that he was married with 1 child, although later records still stated he was a Widower. He was still a Rounder, but was then in receipt of 2/-d every third night. 20 List of Employees dated the 9th April 1821 (Supply 5/232) indicated that Benjamin was a 61-year-old widower, with all other details remaining the same as before. 21 List of Employees (Supply 5/232 dated 23rd January 1822) gave the age of Benjamin, Warder, as 62, with 34 years' service and pay per day of 2/4d. 22 Return dated 6th February 1822 (Supply 5/232) recorded length of service and other full details of those persons employed by the Ordnance at Waltham Abbey as at the 31st December 1821. This appears to be a more detailed and accurate Return than that of the 23rd January 1822. Benjamin was confirmed as a Warder by the Board's Order dated the 4th September, 1818. He was allowed to watch in turn to guard the Works, for which he received an average of 2/-d per week, by order of the Board dated the 30th June 1820, which gave him annual pay of £41.14.4d, and he had a "house as porters lodge". He had served nearly 34 years, was now 62 years of age, lived in Waltham Abbey, and was a still a widower with 1 child. 23 In the spring of 1822, the Ordnance Board decided to reduce the production and regeneration of gunpowder, and 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 the 21st March, 1822). Benjamin Archer was one of the men to be dismissed on the 1st June, 1822. However, a List of Employees dated the1st October1822 (Supply 5/233) recorded that Benjamin had been retained and was living at a Porters Lodge, likely to have been within the Manufactory. The same list showed that he was required to undertake general work wherever his services were required. 24 WO54/542 dated the 1st April 1823 showed that Archer was classed as a "a Labourer for general purposes, to be sent to all parts of the Manufactory wherever their services may be requested." His pay for the year was £33.16.0d, and his family and service details are confirmed as before, except that there appeared to be confusion with his age, which in this Return was shown as 63. He still had a house belonging to the Board as a "porters lodge." 25 According to a further document dated the 1st April 1823 (WO54/542 - Alteration in Return B), Benjamin Archer had his pay reduced by £2.12.0d per annum, in accordance with the Board's Orders dated the 27th December 1822 and 15th January 1823. 26 Return dated the 1st October 1824 (WO54/546) stated Benjamin still earned £39.0.0d per annum, which included an allowance for watching in turn, for which he received 2/-d per week. His period of service was given as nearly 37 years and he was then aged 65. 27 Return showing Pay and Allowances, etc., dated the 1st October 1825 (Winters, pp.93-95) confirmed the previous information, except that Benjamin then worked as a Labourer drawing stoves. It also confirmed that he had been in continuous service with the Board since the 17th March 1788, and that his pay was £33.16.0d per annum. 28 WO54/550 dated the 1st April 1825, indicated he was still a general purpose Labourer, that his basic pay was £33.16.0d per annum, and that he was allowed to watch in turn which gave him, on average, 2/-d per week, or total earnings of £39.0.0d. It also confirmed his previous family and service details and that he was still occupying a cottage as a Porters Lodge. WO54/550 dated the1st October 1825 confirmed his service and family details. 29 WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826 confirmed the basic information given in WO54/550 dated the the 1st October 1825, as did WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826. 30 WO54/558 dated the the 1st April 1827 and another with the same reference dated the 1st October 1827, record no alterations since the Report of the the 1st October 1826. At the 1st October 1827, Benjamin Archer had nearly 40 years' service and was then 67 years of age. 31 Return dated the 1st April 1828 (WO54/562), gave the same information as in previous Returns, with the exception that he had served a full 40 years. 32 Returns dated the 1st October 1828 and the 1st April 1829 (WO54/562 & WO54/566) updated his age and length of service, family details and pay remaining unchanged. He still had a cottage as a porter's lodge. 33 Return showing Employees at the 1st October 1829 (WO54/566) indicated that Benjamin still earned in total £39.0.0d per annum, that his service was just over 41 years, that he was 68 years of age, was a widower and had 1 child. 34 According to Return WO54/570 dated the 1st April 1830, all details remained the same as before, except that he was then 69 years of age. 35 Return WO54/570 dated the 1st October 1830, confirmed the information given previously, except that his service was given as over 42 years. 36 WO54/575 dated the 1st April 1831 recorded that he was then 70 years old with 44 years' service, and that he was still employed as a General Duties Labourer. His pay remained at £33.16.0d per annum. He was still allowed to watch in turn at an additional 2/-d per week, giving him a total of £39.0.0d per annum as before, and he still occupied a cottage at the entrance to the Saltpetre Refinery (Supply 5/237). 37 WO54/545 dated the 1st October 1831 updated his age and period of service in the April 1831 Return; all other details remained unchanged. WO54/581 dated the 1st April 1832 updated his age and period of service in the October 1831 Return, as did WO54/581 dated the 1st October 1832. 38 WO54/587 dated the 1st April 1833 confirmed that at that date Benjamin was still earning £39.0.0d annually. His period of service was given as 45 years, and his age as 72. 39 WO54/587 dated the 1st October 1833 showed that Mr. Archer's details were the same as in the previous Return, except that he had then served just over 45 years and was 73 years' old. 40 WO54/593 dated the 1st April 1834, recorded that although Benjamin was still employed as a General Labourer within the Manufactory, his basic pay had been cut to £28.5.6d per annum, but, allowed to watch, his total pay for the year amounted to £33.9.6d. He was still a widower, had a cottage as a porter's lodge, and his age and service details were updated. 41 WO54/593 dated the 1st October 1834 confirme the information given previously except that he was aged 74 and had served just over 46 years. 42 Benjamin retired with a pension on the 26th November 1834, which, according to Supply 5/237, he was still receiving in 1837. 43 A Return of Properties prepared by the Royal Engineers' Office dated the 20th December 1834 showing the houses, etc. owned by the Board, recorded that Benjamin had retired and that it was proposed to let his cottage to G. Redpath (Supply 5/237). However, Redpath does not appear to have occupied the cottage. Benjamin had remained a widower, still living in the Porter's Lodge at the entrance to the Refinery. A list of Domestic Properties attached to the Royal Powder Mills at Waltham Abbey dated the 28th May 1840 recorded that Benjamin had died, and that Charles Clayden (Clayton) "now occupied his cottage" (WO54/133).