WAPP - Waltham Abbey Personnel Project

About WAPP
  
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Biography:

1. Daniel Goats started work in the summer of 1805 as a Puntman, and according to Supply 5/227 dated the 23rd August 1808, he remained in this capacity for 3 years, earning 2/-d per day, in addition to which, he was allowed to watch in turn 2. Supply 5/228 dated the 1st September 1810, recorded that Daniel was then a Corning House Man who was paid 2/6d day, and was allowed to watch in turn for 1/6d per night. 3. At 11.15 a.m. on the 27th November 1811, there was a huge explosion at No. 4 Press House. The ensuing fire engulfed the Corning and Reel Houses, which also exploded. There was much damage to the town with many windows shattered, and reports in the press record that the explosion at the Press House was heard as far away as Hackney, Blackwall and Marylebone (Winters, p.72). Among those killed was Daniel, who was single, and as far as was known, had no encumbrance (Letter - Supply 5/229 dated the 3rd December 1811). 4. Daniel's widowed mother, Ann, lived in Bishops Stortford, but came to Waltham to ask for a small allowance or donation as the Board "judged to be proper" (Supply 5/229 dated the 24th November 1811), and according to Winters (p.73), the Board granted Ann 20 guineas. 5. On page 153 of his book, Winters recorded that although Daniel was killed in the explosion in the Corning House on Lower Island and a coffin "supposed to contain his remains was buried with the bodies of the rest of the unfortunate men", his body was not actually discovered until some time afterwards. John Smith, who found the body, was given a reward of £1, and John Rowland, a Carpenter employed by the Engineers' Department, was paid £2.8.1d for funeral expenses.