WAPP - Waltham Abbey Personnel Project

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Biography:

1. Thomas Grayling (Graylin) was a Labourer by trade who was set to work by Daniel Cornish in October 1787 at 9/-d per week, possibly renovating the Mills following their purchase by the Government from Mr Walton (Winters' Centenary Memorial, p.28). However, according to Supply 5/212 dated the 27th November 1788, he actually started work on the 1st November 1787. 2. Supply 5/212 dated the 24th January 1789, recorded that Graylin was to "be tried as a Millman" and was appointed Millman in the Corning House, "having lately been employed by Mr Walton." 3. Thomas's pay at the 21st March 1789 was 2/-d per day (Supply 5/212), as was the case in March, 1790, which also confirmed he was working at his trade (Supply 5/214). Although Grayling was a Millman, Supply 5/213 dated the 18th April 1789, recorded that he was "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 common with the majority of the workforce. 4. Supply 5/214 dated September 1789 did not record his age as other entries in the list did, but confirmed that he was a Millman. 5. Winters (p.33) stated "Feb. 4th 1790. This morning, at One o'clock, one of the Queens Meads Mills blew up, which entirely unroofed the same. The charge had been worked an hour. Thos. Graylin, Millman on duty, and set fire to his jacket: but he received no bodily harm." This account is confirmed by a letter of the same date in WASC 475. 6. Grayling was still working as a Millman in 1791 and January 1792 on the same pay (Supply 5/215) and this was also the case in July to September 1792, as well as in February 1793 (Supply 5/216 dated the 28th February 1793), August to September 1793 (Supply 5/216), January 1794 (Supply 5/216), and August to December 1794 (Supply 5/216). 7. Millmen were paid an extra 3d per night when on duty (Supply 5/217 dated the 3rd July 1795). 8. Robert Coleman recorded on the 9th March 1795 that the Rounder had found Thomas Graylin, Millman, asleep on duty and that he was chequered (fined). 9. A signed document (Supply 5/220 of the 2nd February 1800) relating to a Petition on Pay showed that Thomas was illiterate and was still working as a Millman. 10 Report dated the 8th May 1801 (Supply 5/221) confirmed that he was still a Millman and a married man with one child. 11 Supply 5/221dated 3rd November 1801 recorded that, although still employed as a Millman, Thomas was used in cleaning and deepening the river, canals, and performing sundry necessary work. 12 He was still employed as a Millman in 1804 (Supply 5/222) but his wage had increased to 2/3d per day, and he was still in receipt of 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 in 1806 (Supply 5/224) when he had been employed with the Ordnance for 18 years, as well as in June 1807 (Supply 5/226). 13 According to the entry in Supply 5/227 dated the 23rd August 1808, Mr. Grayling was still a Millman earning 2/3d per day, and "allowed 6d per night when on duty." 14 Supply 5/228 dated the 1st September 1810, confirmed that Grayling was still a Millman who was paid 2/3d per day, and allowed 6d per night when on duty. 15 List of Employees dated 29th August 1812 (Supply 5/229) recorded that Mr. Grayling was still a Millman, but that he now earned 3/-d per day, in addition to which, he was allowed 6d. per night when on duty. The same details were recorded on the 13th February 1814 (Supply 5/230). 16 Supply 5/230 dated the 2nd March 1816, recorded that Mr. Grayling had been employed for 28 years, and his age was given as 53. It was recommended that he receive a daily superannuation of 3/-d. In the attached notes was the comment that Mr. Grayling and others should be superannuated because "of the hurts they have received in this dangerous Manufactory." It was also stated therein that Mr. Grayling "had been very quiet and inoffensive in the discharge of his duty, had scarce ever lost any time from sickness or from any other cause, but has become so feeble as to make it improper to employ him in a Gunpowder Manufactory any longer." However, in a letter dated 6th March 1816, (Supply 5/200) Mr. Grayling was finally awarded superannuation of only 2/6d per day for six days in the week, commencing on the 1st April 1816. 17 A supplement to Supply 5/231 dated the 8th November 1818, listed "persons who have been superannuated on account of their length of service in the departments." and among the recipients was "Thomas Graylin, Millman" who received a pension of 15/-d per week which commenced on the 1st April 1816. 18 List of Persons Receiving Superannuation (Supply 5/232 dated 17th November 1821) confirmed the previous entry in respect of Mr. Grayling. 19 A document dated 6th December 1821 (Supply 5/232) gave the estimated pay of persons between the 1st January and 31st December 1822, along with their superannuated allowance, as well as "the allowance to widows and orphans of those who have lost their lives at this place". It was confirmed that Thomas Graylin, lately a Millman, was in receipt of £39.0.0d superannuation per annum. A similar document, Supply 5/232 dated the 28th December 1821, confirmed that the same pension would be paid in 1822, and, according to Winters (p.96) this was also the case in 1826. 20 List of Pensioners dated the 21st August 1838 (Supply 5/237) recorded that Thomas Graylin, Millman, had been granted a pension on the 6th March 1816. 21 A letter from Waltham Abbey to the Board dated the 7th October 1840 (Supply 5/238) recorded that Thomas Grayling, Millman, had died on the 4th October 1840.