WAPP - Waltham Abbey Personnel Project

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Biography:

1. Henry Johnson was a Millwright in the "Engineers Department Established", paid 3/6d per day by the Storekeeper, and allowed "6d per month in addition." (Supply 5/222 dated the 8th May 1804). 2. Supply 5/228 dated the 21st July 1809, recorded that Johnson, Master Millwright, was paid £1.15.0d for work carried out by the Engineers' Department in the Manufactory between the 15th and 21st July 1809. 3. WO54/512 dated September 1812, recorded that Johnson was first appointed on the Establishment at Waltham Abbey on the 16th November 1804, as the Foreman Millwright . In 1812, he was paid 6/4d per day for six days' work and one and a half days' pay for working on a Sunday. He was also entitled to 6/-d per week to train an Apprentice. 4. WO54/516 dated February 1816, confirmed Henry was still the Master Millwright on the Establishment, that he was a 63-year-old married man with one married and five unmarried children, that he had trained as a Millwright; his pay and allowances remained unchanged. 5. WO54/520 dated the 28th February 1817, confirmed that Henry Johnson was still the Master Millwright. At that date he was 64 years' old and married, with 2 married and 4 unmarried children. He was then only earning 5/10d per day, with an allowance of 7/-d per week for an Apprentice. 6. WO54/524 dated 1818 reflected no change from the information given in Note 5. W054/528 dated the 19th May 1819 was also the same, but Henry's allowance for training an Apprentice had increased to 8/-d per week. 7. List of Employees dated the 13th September 1820 ( WO54/532) confirmed that Henry was still employed as the Master Millwright. He was now aged 68, lived in Waltham Abbey, and this Return recorded that he was married with six children. He still earned 5/10d per day, with the same allowance of 8/-d per week for an Apprentice. These details are also confirmed in WO54/536 dated the 9th April 1821. 8. WO54/536 dated 31st December 1821, was a repeat of the Return dated the 2nd April 1821. 9. WO54/542 dated the 1st April 1823, confirmed he was paid 5/10d per day for 313 days, giving him an income of £91.5.10d for the year; his family and service details remained the same. 10 WO54/550 dated the 1st April 1825, confirmed that Henry was still paid 5/10d per day as the Master Millwright for 313 days, giving him an annual income of £91.5.10d. His service was just over 20 years, and his age, 73. It also confirmed that he was married and had six children. 11.WO54/550 dated 13th October 1825, was a repeat of the previous record. 12 WO54/554 dated 1st April 1826 gave identical information as in Notes 10 and 11, with the exception that he was then 74, with over 21 years' service. 13 WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826 was a repeat of the previous Return. 14 WO54/558 dated 1st April 1827 gave the same information as Note 13. However, at that date, Henry had over 22 years' service and he was then 75 years of age. 15 WO54/558 dated 1st October 1827, contained no basic alterations from the previous Return. 16 Return dated the 1st April 1828 (WO54/562) updated the basic information given previously. 17 Return dated the1st October 1828 (WO54/562) updated his age and length of service, with family details and pay remaining unchanged. 18 WO54/566 dated 1st April 1829, confirmed that at that date, William still earned the same as in Note 10. His length of service was given as nearly 25 years, and he was then 77. 19 Return dated 1st October 1829 (WO54/566) updated his age and length of service, with family and pay details remaining unchanged. 20 According to Return WO54/570 dated the 1st April 1830, all details remained the same for Henry as in Note 10, except that his service was then over 25 years, and he was aged 78. 21 Return WO54/570 dated the 1st October 1830, confirmed that Henry was still the Master Millwright. His length of service and age were updated, but his family detailes remained unaltered. 22 A Return of Persons belonging to the Civil Establishment of the Ordnance at the Gunpowder and Small Arms Manufactories at Waltham Abbey, Faversham and Enfield, showing in detail the several points of information called for by the Master General and Board's Order dated the 31st January 1831, recorded that Henry Johnson was one of the three Master Artificers to be employed at Waltham Abbey and Enfield; he was the Master Millwright and was paid 5/10d per day. His duties were to work with Artificers and Labourers in the Gunpowder Manufactory, which, consequently, required great attention; sobriety, and steadiness of conduct (WO54/575). 23 WO54/575 dated the 1st April 1831, updated his age and period of service in the October 1830 Return, with all other details remaining unchanged. 24 WO54/575 dated October 1831, confirmed that Henry Johnson still earned 5/10d per day, giving him a total of £91.5.10d per annum as indicated in Note 22 above. He had by then served 27 years, and was aged 79 years. 25 WO54/581 dated the 1st April 1832, updated his age and period of service in the October 1831 Return; all other details remained unchanged. 26 WO54/581 dated 1st October 1832, confirmed that he still earned £91.5.10d per annum, and that by then, he had served for 28 years and was just over 80 years' old. 27 WO54/587 dated the 1st April 1833 confirmed the information given in Note 26, except that Henry was then 81 years of age. 28 Under an order of the Board dated the 15th March 1833, Henry Johnson, Master Millwright, was to be discharged and granted a pension of £36.10.0d per annum, until an opportunity to employ him again should arise (Supply 5/208 dated 26 July 1833).