Biography:
1. John Essex was promised to be started at the Mills as a Labourer in the Corning House and on the glazing engine, on the 9th February 1789, according to Supply 5/212 dated the 27th January 1789.
2. Supply 5/212 dated the 21st March 1789, recorded that John was employed as a Labourer with pay of 1/6d per day.
3. He is described as "cutting and planting willow trees, cutting of canal at the new Corning House, removing earth to the Store, unloading barge of coals & charring wood." in Supply 5/213 dated the 18th April 1789.
4. In Supply 5/215 dated September 1789, he is described as "Corning gunpowder". The document in question also recorded that he was then a 44-year-old.
5. John was promoted to Millman in the early part of 1790 with a rate of pay of 2/-d per day (Supply 5/214 dated the 27th March1790). He was still working as a Millman in January 1792 (Supply 5/215) as well as in February 1793 (Supply 5/216 dated the 28th February 1793) and August to September 1793 (Supply 5/216).
6. In January 1794, he was working in the Dusting House "dusting & glazing powder", but returned to work as a Millman in August to December 1794 according to Supply 5/216.
Robert Coleman reported on the 7th March 1794 that John Essex, Millman, had been chequered (fined) for coming to work drunk at 6 p.m (Winters, p.41). Together with Benjamin Guinn, he was also chequered 2 days' pay for coming to work drunk on Christmas Day 1794 (Winters, p.41).
7. He was still a Millman in July, 1795, and Millmen were paid an extra 3d per night when on duty (Supply 5/217 dated the 3rd July 1795).
8. A signed document, Supply 5/220 of the 2nd February 1800 relating to a Petition on Pay, indicated that he was illiterate and still working as a Millman.
9. Report dated the 8th May 1801 (Supply 5/221) confirmed that he was still working as a Millman at 2/-d per day, and recorded that he was a married man with 2 children.
10 A Return of Artificers and Labourers dated the 3rd November 1801 (Supply 5/221) showed that, although still employed as a Millman, he was cleaning and deepening the river, canals, and performing sundry necessary work.
11 Although still employed as a Millman in 1804, his wages had risen to 2/3d per day. In addition, he also had an allowance of 3d per night when on duty "working at the mill", i.e., the night-shift rate was 2/6d.
12 On the 30th January 1806 (Supply 5/224), John Essex is shown as a Warder earning 2/-d. per day, with 18 years' service, which is broadly in line with the first entry above.
13 Supply 5/226 dated the 18th June 1807 stated that John was working in the Dusting House earning 2/1d per day. In addition, Dusting House men were allowed to watch in turn, for which they received 1/-d.
14 According to the entry on Supply 5/227 dated the 23rd August 1808, Mr. Essex was still employed as a Dusting House Man but was then earning 2/3d per day, and "in addition to their pay, they are allowed to watch in turn, for which they receive one shilling."
15 Employee List Supply 5/228 dated the 1st September 1810, confirmed the information given in Note 14.
16.List of Employees dated the 29th August 1812 (Supply 5/229) confirmed that John Essex was still a Dusting House Man but that he then earned 3/-d per day, and in addition, was allowed to watch in turn, for which he earned 1/6d. per night.
