Biography:
1. Richard Fish started work as a Cylinder Man in Sussex on the 1st July 1796, earning 1/6d per day (Supply 5/219 dated the 1st July 1789).
2. A Report dated the 8th May 1801 (Supply 5/221) recorded that he was working as a Labourer, and was married with 4 children. Note: In this document, anyone not an Artificer was described as a Labourer.
3. A Return of Artificers & Labourers dated the 3rd November 1801 (Supply 5/221) confirmed that he was still employed as a Labourer at the Cylinder Houses in Sussex. The same document said that since the cylinders had been out of repair, Richard Fish had been employed in stacking timber in the yards and levelling and preparing the ground where the cylinders where to be resited.
4. According to Supply 5/224 dated the 30th January 1806, Mr. Fish was employed as a Cylinder Man, earning 2/-d. per day. He then had 10 years' service.
5. Supply 5/226 dated the 18th June 1807, confirmed that Richard was still employed as a Cylinder Man earning 2/-d per day, as was the case in August 1808 (Supply 5/227 dated the 23rd August 1808) and again in October 1808 (also Supply 5/227).
6. Supply 5/228 dated the 1st September 1810 gave the same information as in the notes above, and he was working in the same capacity in August 1812, but by then he was earning 2/8d per day (Supply 5/229 dated the 29th August 1812).
7. List of Employees and their Salaries (Supply 5/230 dated the 13th February1814) confirmed that Richard was still a Cylinder Man on the same wage as in Note 6.
8. List of Employees dated the 25th June 1818 (Supply 5/231) gave the same information as previously, with an additional note stating that he was a married man, aged 50, then with 7 children; he lived in Fisher Street in Sussex, and at that date earned 2/4d per day.
9. In a letter dated September 1818 (Supply 5/231) it was stated "We respectfully beg leave to add the names and stations of those persons whom it will be necessary to discharge in consequence of this arrangement", i.e. a reduction in the Establishment due to a downturn in work, and the list included Richard Fish.
