Biography:
1. William Adams (2) was first employed as a Labourer on the 26th March, 1805 (WO56/623). After six months' service he was made a Punt Man earning 2/-d per day (Supply 5/224 dated the 30th January 1806).
2. Supply 5/226 dated the 18th June 1807 stated that Mr. Adams (2) was now employed as a Corning House Man, with an increased salary of 2/2d per day. In addition, Corning House men were allowed to "Watch in Turn", for which they received 1/-d each time.
3. According to the entry on Supply 5/227 dated the 23rd August 1808, Mr. Adams was still a Corning House Man then earning 2/6d per day, and still allowed to watch.
4. Supply 5/228 dated the1st September 1810 indicated that he was still a Coming House Man, with his wage remaining the same at 2/6d per day; he was still allowed to watch, for which he was then paid 1/6d each time.
5. List of Employees (Supply 5/229 dated the 29th August,1812) indicated that he was then employed as a Bargeman earning 3/10d per day.
6. Supply 5/230 dated the13th February 1814 stated that Mr. Adams was still a Bargeman at that date, earning the same 3/10d per day.
7. List of Employees dated the 25th June 1818 (Supply 5/231) stated that William was still a Bargeman; he was unmarried, aged 29, lived in Waltham Abbey, and then earned only 3/-d per day.
8. Another List of Employees dated the 28th August 1818 (Supply 5/231) showsd the names of people to be retained between the 3rd September and the 31st December 1818. William Adams (2) was on the List, which also indicated that he was then a Saltpetre Refiner being paid 2/11d per day.
9. In a letter dated September, 1818 (Supply 5/231) it is 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., reduction of the Establishment numbers - and Mr. William Adams, Bargeman, was on the list.
10 However, a further List of Employees dated the 19th May 1819 (Supply 5/231) indicated that he had been retained as a Saltpetre Refiner. According to this List, he was a single man of 30 who earned 2/4d per day, and was also allowed to watch in turn, for which he received 1/-d per night.
11 List of Officers on Employment dated the 13th September 1820 (Supply 5/232) stated that Mr. Adams was then 31, still lived in Waltham Abbey, still earned 2/4d per day and was allowed to watch in turn. By then he had married.
12 Supply 5/232 (WO54/536 dated April 1821) indicated that William was then 32 and still a Saltpetre Refiner, but on this Return he is listed as being unmarried, presumably a clerical error.
13 Supply 5/232 dated the 23rd January 1822 gave the age of William Adams, Saltpetre Refiner, as 33, with 17 years' service and pay per day of 2/4d.
14 Return dated the 6th February 1822 (Supply 5/232) showed those employed at the 31st December 1821, and appears to be a more detailed and accurate Return than that of the 23rd January 1822. It stated that William Adams (2) was appointed on the 26th March, 1805 as a Labourer at Waltham Abbey, then by Orders of the Board dated the 4th September 1818 and 4th October 1819, as a Saltpetre Refiner. He was allowed to watch in turn to guard the Works, for which he received an additional 2/-d per night, giving him total annual earnings of £41.14.4d. According to this Return, by the 31st December 1821, he had nearly 17 years' service, was 33 years old, was married with one child and lived in Waltham Abbey.
15 Supply 5/232 dated the 21st March 1822 was a List of Persons to Form an Establishment at Waltham Abbey to regenerate 2,000 barrels of gunpowder as well as to make 100 or 200 barrels of gunpowder annually. It indicated that William Adams, Saltpetre Refiner, was to be retained.
16 List of Employees dated the 1st October, 1822 (Supply 5/233) showed that William then had 3 children. However, an entry for the following year shows only one child; it may be that his twins died, or it could have been a clerical error.
17 WO54/542 dated the 1st April 1823 showed that Adams (2) was still a Saltpetre Refiner, that his pay for the year was £39.0.0d, and this included an allowance for Watching in Turn, for which he received 2/0d per week. His family and service details were confirmed.
18 According to a document dated the 1st April 1823 (WO54/542 - Alteration in Return B), William Adams (2) had his remuneration reduced by £2.12.0d per annum in accordance with the Board's Orders dated the 27th December 1822 and the 15th January 1823.
19 WO54/546 dated the 1st October 1823 recorded that he was still a Saltpetre Refiner and that his annual pay was £39, which included an allowance for watching the works in turn, for which, on average, he received 2/0d per week. On this Return he is shown as having 2 children.
20 Return showing Pay and Allowances, etc., dated the 1st October 1825 (Winters, pp 93-95) confirmed the previous information given, and in addition, recorded that he had been in continuous service with the Board since the 26th March, 1805. His pay, however, had been reduced to £33.16.0d per annum.
21. WO54/550 dated the 1st April 1825 indicated that William Adams (2) was still a Saltpetre Refiner, confirmed his basic annual pay as £33.16.0d, and stated he was still allowed to watch at an average of 2/-per week, giving him total remuneration for the year of £39. Although confirming his previous service details, he was now shown as having only 1 child. This information is repeated in WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825.
22 WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826 confirmed the basic information given in WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825. A year later, WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826, confirmed the information given in WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826, except that it indicated that Adams now had 2 children.
23 WO54/558 dated the 1st April 1827 recorded "no alteration since the last Report dated the 1st October 1826."
24 WO54/558 dated the the 1st October 1827 showed that on the 24th February 1827, William (2) had been promoted to a Corning House Man, with a basic income of £42.18.0d per annum, and he was allowed to watch in turn as before, giving him annual pay of £48.2.0d. He was then aged 37, married with 3 children, and had 22 years' service.
25 Return dated the 1st April 1828 (WO54/562) recorded the same information as the previous record, but he had then completed over 22 years' service.
26 Return dated the1st October 1828 (WO54/562) updated his age and length of service, with family details and pay remaining unchanged.
27 Return dated the 1st April 1829 (WO54/566) updated his age and length of service, with family details and pay unchanged. On the 6th April 1829, Benjamin Guinn moved from his cottage in the old Tanyard on the south side of High Bridge Street to a tenement on the opposite side of the road (Supply 5/237) and from a List of Properties dated the 28th May 1840 (WO54/133) it seems probable that Guinn's old home was then occupied by William, and was Plot No. 52 on the Town Map.
28 WO54/566 dated the 1st October 1829 stated that at that date William Adams (2) still earned the same £48.2.0d as previously. His length of service was given as nearly 24 years, and he was then aged 39.
29. Return WO54/ 570 dated the 1st April 1830 updated his age and length of service, with family and pay details remaining unchanged.
30 WO54/570 dated the 1st October 1830 stated that William (2) was 40 years of age and that he had served nearly 25 years. His earnings were still £48.2.0d., and family information remained the same.
31 According to the Return WO54/575 dated the 1st April 1831 William (2) was 41 years of age and had served just over 25 years. He was still earning a total of £48.2.0d, as indicated previously.
32 WO54/545 dated the 1st October 1831 updated his age and period of service from the April 1831 Return, with all other details remaining the same.
33 WO54/581 dated the 1st April 1832 updated his age and period of service from the October 1831 Return, as did WO54/581 dated the 1st October 1832.
34 WO54/587 dated the 1st April 1833 confirmed that William Adams (2) still earned a total of £48.2.0d per annum. His service was given as just over 27 years, and his age as 43.
35. WO54/587 dated the 1st October 1833 states that William Adams (2) was 44 years of age and had served 28 years. He was still in receipt of an annual wage of £48.2.0d; his family circumstances remained the same.
36 WO54/593 dated the 1st April 1834 recorded that although William was still employed as a Corning House Man, his basic salary had been cut to £35.17.9d per annum. He was still allowed to watch in turn, which increased his annual pay to £41.1.9d. He still had 3 children.
37 WO54/593 dated the 1st October 1834 updated the previous Return, with conditions and earnings remaining the same.
38 Return of Employees dated the 1st October 1839 (WO54/623) indicated that William (2) had been promoted to Second Foreman of the Corning House on the 22nd September, 1837 at £59.2.8d per annum, which included an allowance for being a Rounder every third night. By that date he had over 34 years' service and was aged 49.
39 A transcript of the 1841 Census showed that William Adams (2) lived on the south side of High Bridge Street with his wife Mary, aged 45, and his children, Richard, aged 15 - working as a Silk Printer - Samuel, aged 12, Mary aged 8, William aged 6, Sarah aged 5 and Ruth, aged 3.
40 On the 13th April, 1843, some 40 barrels of gunpowder exploded in the Corning House, together with another 20 in the Press House. Seven men were killed, and much damage was caused in the town. William Adams (2) received £5 for his meritorious conduct on that day. (Winters, p.106)
41 Letter dated the 13th August, 1843, recommended William Adams be appointed to the position of Master Worker. He was appointed on the 11th October, 1843, and was soon to live in the Master Worker's house on Horse Mill Island.
42 According to a record dated 9th March 1855, William Adams, Master Worker, had died (Winters, p.111).
