WAPP - Waltham Abbey Personnel Project

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Biography:

1. Edward Jones was an experienced Millwright who started his trade in 1761, and began working at the Powder Mills on the 1st November 1787 (Supply 5/217 dated the 25th June 1795)). His pay was recorded in Supply 5/212 dated the 21st March 1789 as 3/-d per day, in addition to which, he was entitled to train an Apprentice, for which he received 7/-d per week (Supply 5/188 dated the 16th February 1789). 2. Report on the activities "in the storekeepers department" dated the 18th April 1789 (Supply 5/213) recorded that he was "repairing dust reel in the Corning House & making a new curb to the charcoal mixer." Supply 5/214 dated September 1789, recorded that he was a Millwright repairing the machinery used in the different parts of the Manufactory, and that at that date he was aged 50. He continued with maintenance work throughout 1790 to 1793, and unless stated to be working on a specific item, was generally described as "repairing mills and sundrys". 3. Letter from William Congreve, the Comptroller, to the Rex Officers at Waltham Abbey, dated 1791, expressed his surprise that "Jones the Millwrght" had been allowed to put iron keys in the "Brass Bridges of your Corning House." He ordered that the Corning House was to stop work until metal keys had been fitted (WASC 475). 4. Supply 5/216 dated the 31st July 1792, described Edward as "fitting machinery to new salt petre and charcoal mill, sundry repairs to mills etc." 5. Continued as Millwright throughout the 1790's, enlisting in the Volunteer Company as a Private on the 7th May 1794 (Supply 5/219). 6. A signed document, Supply 5/220 of the 2nd February 1800 relating to a Petition on Pay, indicated that he was literate. 7. A Report dated 8th May 1801 (Supply 5/221) confirmed he was working as a Millwright, and that he was unmarried. Note: In this document, anyone not an Artificer was described as a Labourer.