WAPP - Waltham Abbey Personnel Project

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Biography:

1. William Archer was a Casual Labourer in the Engineers' Department earning 2/8d per day for a six-day week (WO54/512 dated September 1812). 2. WO54/516 dated February, 1816, confirmed that William was initially employed as a Casual Labourer earning 2/8d per day in the Engineers' Department on the 25th July 1812. He was a 21-year-old bachelor living in Waltham Abbey. Apparently, this was also the case in February 1817, but at that date his pay had dropped to 2/4d per day (WO54/520). 3. Return dated the1st October 1828 (WO54/562) simply stated that William Archer was employed temporarily on the 19th September 1828. 4. WO54/566 dated the 1st April 1829, stated that at that date he earned £33.18.2d annually. His length of service was given as 6 months, and his age as just over 33. At that date he had 4 children. 5. Return dated the 1st October 1829 (WO54/566) updated his age and length of service; family and pay details remaining unchanged. 6. According to Return WO54/570 dated the 1st April 1830 all details remained the same for William as in Note 4, except that his service was eighteen months and he was aged just over 34. 7. Return WO54/570 dated the 1st October 1830 confirmed that William was still working as a Labourer, family details and salary remained unchanged but length of service and age updated. 8. A Return of Persons belonging to the Civil Establishment of the Ordnance at the Gunpowder and Small Arms Manufactories at Waltham Abbey, Faversham and Enfield, showing in detail the several points of information called for by the Master General and Board's Order dated the 31st January 1831, recorded that William Archer was one of the 15 Labourers to be employed at Waltham Abbey Powder Mills and the Enfield Small Arms Factory; he was to be paid 2/2d per day and had to undertake different services as a Labourer in the Manufactories, where steadiness and sobriety were particularly required (WO54/575). 9 WO54/575 dated April 1831 updated his age and period of service in the October 1830 Return, with all other details remaining unchanged. 10 WO54/575 dated October 1831 confirmed that William still earned 2/2d per day, giving him a total of £33.18.2d per annum.. He had then served 3 years and was aged 36. 11 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. 12 WO54/581 dated the 1st October 1832 confirmed that William still earned £33.18.2d per annum. His service was given as 4 years, and at that date he was 37 years old. 13 WO54/587 dated the 1st April 1833 and WO54/587 dated 1st October 1833, confirm his basic details were unchanged. His age and length of service were updated and he still had 4 children. 14 WO54/593 dated the 1st April 1834 recorded that he still earned a total of £33.18.2d per annum, that he was just over 51, and that his service was 12 years, 6 of which were in his present job. 15 In 1839 he was still a Labourer paid 2/2d per day, with an estimated annual income of £33.18.2d. He was a married man, then with 5 children, living in Waltham Abbey. He had 11 years' service (WO54/623 dated the 1st October 1839). 16 A transcript of the 1841 Census recorded that he and his wife Mary, sons William (20), George (15), Charles (8), and James (4), and daughters Martha (10), Helen (4) and Emma (1), were living in Silver Street. It also confirmed that he was a Labourer and that all the family were born in the County.