Biography:
1. Edward Essex was employed dusting and glazing powder at 1/6d per day (Supply 5/216 dated the 31st August 1794).
2. Supply 5/217 dated the 24th June 1795, recorded that he was employed in the Corning House and had commenced work at the Mills on the 14th August 1793.
2a. He joined the Military Volunteer Company as a Private on the 7th May 1794 (Winters, p.42)
3. He was still a Corning House Man earning 1/6d per day, according to Supply 5/217 dated the 3rd July 1795
4. Supply 5/220 of the 2nd February 1800, a signed document relating to a Petition on Pay, recorded that he was illiterate and was working as a Millman. The Return on the Marital Status of the Employees dated the 8th May 1801 (Supply 5/221) recorded that he was a married man with 2 children.
5. A Return of Artificers and Labourers dated the 3rd November 1801 (Supply 5/221) recorded that, although still employed as a Millman, he was "cleaning and deepening the river, canals, & performing sundry necessary work."
6. Edward was still employed as a Millman on the 8th May 1804 according to Supply 5/222, but he then earned 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. This was also the case on the 30th January 1806 (Supply 5/224), and this record also stated that he had 13 years' service at that date,
7. Supply 5/226 dated the 18th June 1797, recorded that he was employed as a Corning House Man earning only 2/2d per day, and was allowed to watch in turn. Although still working in the Corning House on the 28th August 1808 (Supply 5/227) he was then paid 2/6d per day, with 1/-d when allowed to watch.
8. Still a Corning House Man earning 2/6d per day, with watch allowance increased to 1/6d (Supply 5/228 dated the 1st September 1810).
9. Supply 5/229 dated the 29th August 1812, confirmed he was still employed as a Corning House Man but that he then eaned 3/3d per day, and was allowed to watch in turn, for which he received 1/6d.
10 According to the Return dated the 13th February 1814 (Supply 5/230) Edward remained a Corning House Man earning the same each day and with the same watch allowance, as indicated in Note 9.
11 Supply 5/231 and WO54/524 dated the 25th June 1818, both stated that Edward Essex was then employed as a Saltpetre Refiner, paid 2/4d per day and allowed to watch in turn, for which he was given 1/-d per night. He was a married man, aged 43, with 4 children, and he lived in Waltham Abbey.
12 With peace in Europe, it was proposed to reduce the Establishment in 1818. Edward was one of those to be retained but with his pay reduced to 2/-d per day, according to Supply 5/231 dated 28th August 1818.
13 Nevertheless, the reduction in pay did not appear to have been implemented because Edward was still employed on the 19th May 1819 at the rate of 2/4d per day, and he was allowed to watch as before (Supply 5/231).
14 By September 1820 he was working in the Corning House, and his pay had increased to 2/11d per day, in addition to watching in turn, for which he received 1/6d per night (Supply 5/232 dated the 13th September 1820).
15 WO54/536 dated the 19th April 1821, confirmed that Edward was still a Corning House Man earning 2/11d per day, and allowed to watch as before. He was a 44-year-old married man with 4 children living in Waltham Abbey .
16 Supply 5/233 of the 1st October 1822, confirmed he was still employed as a Corning House Man. At that date his total wages per annum, including his watch allowance, were estimated at £50.16.11d, and this document recorded that he started work for the Board as a Labourer on the 14th August 1793.
17 WO54/542 dated the 1st April 1823 confirmed that Essex was still a Corning House Man, and that his earnings for the year were £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, and he had previously been trained as a Baker.
18 According to a document dated the 1st April 1823 (WO54/542 - Alteration in Return B) Edward Essex had his pay reduced by £2.12.0d per annum, in accordance with the Board's Orders dated the7th December 1822 and 15th January 1823. WO54/546 dated the 1st October 1823, recorded that he was still a Corning House Man and that his annual pay was £48.2.0d, which included an allowance for watching the works in turn for which, on average, he received 2/-d per week. His family details were confirmed, and it was recorded that he started work as a Labourer at the Mills on the 14th August 1793.
19 WO54/550 dated the 1st April 1825, confirmed that Edward was still a Corning House Man, confirming his basic wage as £42.18.0d per annum, in addition to which, he was allowed to watch in turn which gave him, on average, 2/-d per week, making a total income of £48.2.0d. His previous family and service details were confirmed, and this information was repeated in WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825.
20 WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826, confirmed the basic information given in WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825. WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826 confirmed the information given in WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826.
21 WO54/558 dated the 1st April 1827 recordsed "no alteration since the last Report dated the 1st October 1826."
22 WO54/558 dated the 1st October 1827 gave the same information as in the previous Notes. At that date Edward Essex had 34 years' service and he was then 52..
23 Return dated the 1st April 1828 (WO54/562) confirmed the information given in the Notes above, with the exception that he had then served over 34 years.
24 Return dated the1st October 1828 (WO54/562) updated his age and length of service, with family details and pay remaining unchanged.
25 Return dated the 1st April 1829 (WO54/566) updated his age and length of service, family details and pay remaining unchanged.
26 WO54/566 dated the 1st October 1829 stated that at that date Edward still earned the same as recorded in Note 19. His length of service was given as 36 years and he was then aged 53.
27 Return WO54/ 570 dated the 1st April 1830, updated his age and length of service, with family and pay details remaining unaltered.
28 WO54/570 dated the 1st October 1830, recorded that Edward was 54 years of age and that he had served for nearly 37 years. His pay was still the same as in Note 19, and all other details remained the same.
29 According to the Return WO54/575 dated the 1st April 1831, Edward was 55 and had served just over 37 years. He was still earning a total of £48.2.0d as indicated in Note 19.
30. WO54/545 dated the 1st October 1831 updated his age and period of service in the April 1831 Return, with all other details remaining unchanged.
31 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.
32 WO54/581 dated the 1st October 1832, updated Edward's age and period of service in the April 1832 Return.
33 WO54/587 dated the 1st April 1833, confirmed that Edward still earned a total of £48.2.0d per annum. His service was given as just over 39 years, and his age as 57.
34 WO54/587 dated the 1st October 1833, recorded that Mr. Essex was 58, and had served 40 years. He was still in receipt of an annual wage of £48.2.0d, and his family details remained the same.
35 WO54/593 dated the 1st April 1834 recorded that although Edward was still employed as a Corning House Man, his basic wage had been cut to £35.17.9d per annum,. He was still allowed to watch in turn, which increased his annual earnings to £41.1.9d. His family details remained the same, but his age and service details were updated.
36 WO54/59 dated the 1st October 1834, updated the previous Return for service and age, with conditions and pay unchanged. A Return of Properties dated the 20th December 1834, recorded that he was then occupying a cottage in High Bridge Street, owned by the Board and vacated by John Cook. The cottage was one of five known as Bank Cottages and the rental was £8.9.0d per annum (Supply 5/237) or part of Plot 48 on the Town Map in Appendix 1.
37 Edward was still employed as a Corning House man in October 1839, with total pay for the year of £48.2.0d, according to WO54/623 dated the 1st October 1839.
38 The 1841 Census recorded that Edward, aged 60 and born in Essex, together with his wife Ester, aged 60, but not of the County, lived on the north side of High Bridge Street. At the time of the Census James Essex, aged 8, and Mary Bennett, aged 1, possibly their grandchildren, were living with them.
39 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 Edward Essex (Winters, p.106).
40 A graphic description of the explosion and damage caused, etc. was given in the London Illustrated London News dated Saturday, the 22nd April 1843 (WAAC). Edward left a widow and two grown up children.
