Biography:
1. Isaac Baker joined the Board as an Apprentice Bricklayer in the Engineers' Department on the 11th June 1804 (WO54/516 dated the 19th February 1816).
2. In 1812 (WO54/512 dated September 1812) he was employed as a Casual Bricklayer, earning 4/7d per day. In 1816 he earned 4/7d per day for a six-day week, and was a 25-year old batchelor living in Waltham Abbey (WO54/516).
3.This information is updated by WO54/520 dated the 28th February 1817 but his pay was then given as 4/1d per day.
4. According to WO54/524 dated 1818, he was employed "Occasionally as required" and paid 4/1d per day, as he was in 1819 (WO54/528 dated the 19th May 1819).
5. WO54/536 dated the 2nd April 1821, shows that he was a 30-year-old married man, living in Waltham Abbey with 1 child. All other information remained the same.
6. WO54/536 dated the 31st December 1821 was a repeat of the Return dated the 2nd April 1821.
7. WO54/542 dated the 1st April 1823 listing Personnel employed in the Engineers' Department, recorded that he was still paid 4/1d per day as a Bricklayer. This was for 313 days, giving him an income of £63.18.1d for the year. This Return also recorded that he had nearly 19 years' service, starting on the 11th June 1804. He was then aged 32, still living in Waltham Abbey, and married with 1 child.
8. WO54/550 dated the 1st April 1825 stated that Isaac was still paid 4/1d per day for 313 days as a Bricklayer. This gave him an annual income of £63.18.1d. His service was nearly 21 years, and he was aged 34, married and had 1 child.
9. WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825, confirmed the previous entry.
10 WO54/554 dated 1st April 1826 gave identical information as in Notes 9 and 10, with the exception that he was just over 34, with service of nearly 22 years. In addition, he then had two children.
11 WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826 was as the previous Return, confirming that he had 2 children.
12 WO54/558 dated 1st April 1827 recorded the same information as in the notes above. However, at that date Isaac had nearly 23 years' service and he was then 35. At this date he had 3 children.
13 WO54/558 dated the 1st October 1827 gave no basic alterations from the previous Return.
14 Return dated the 1st April 1828 (WO54/562) updateed the basic information given in the notes above.
15 Return dated the1st October 1828 (WO54/562) updated his age and length of service, family details and pay remaining unchanged. He trained as a Bricklayer.
16 WO54/566 dated 1st April 1829 stated that Isaac at that date still earned the same as in Note 9. His length of service was given as nearly 25 years, and he was nearly 38.
17 Return dated the 1st October, 1829 (no reference given) updated his age and length of service, with family and pay details remaining unchanged.
18 According to Return WO54/570 dated the 1st April 1830, all details remained the same for Isaac as in Note 9, except that his service was 26 years and he was aged 38.
19 Return WO54/570 dated the 1st October 1830 confirmed that Isaac was still a bricklayer, with family details and pay remaining unchanged, but length of service and age updated.
20 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 Issac Baker was the only Bricklayer to be employed at the Waltham Abbey Powder Mills and at the Small Arms Factory at Enfield. He was to be paid 4/1d per day, and required to undertake general services as a bricklayer in the Manufactory where care, attention, sobriety were indispensably necessary (WO54/575).
21 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, except that he now had 4 children.
22 WO54/575 dated October 1831 confirmed that Isaac still earned 4/1d per day as previously, giving him a total of £63.18.1d per annum. At that date he had served over 27 years and he was then aged forty.
23 WO54/581 dated the 1st April 1832 updated his age and period of service in the October 1831 Return, with all other details remaining unchanged.
24 WO54/581 dated the 1st October 1832, confirmed that Isaac was still a Bricklayer who still earned £63.18.1d per annum. His service was given as nearly 29 years, and at that date, he was 41 years of age.
25 WO54/587 dated the 1st April 1833 confirmed the information given in Note 25.
26 WO54/587 dated the 1st October 1833, recorded that his basic details remained unchanged, but his age and length of service were updated.
27 WO54/593 dated 1st April 1834, stated that Isaac still earned a total of £63.18.1d per annum, that he then 42 years of age, and that his service was 30 years.
28 In 1839 he was paid 4/1d per day, with an estimated annual income of £63.18.1d. He was a 48-year-old married man with 4 children, living in Waltham Abbey. At that date, he had 28 years' service (WO54/623 dated the 1st October 1839).
