Biography:
1. Timothy Bates started work at the Mills on the 27th March 1797, and by September 1798, he was employed as a General Labourer, described as "setting & drawing stoves and clearing willow plantation". He was also a Private in the Volunteer Company (Supply 5/219 dated September 1798).
2. A signed document, Supply 5/220 dated the 2nd February 1801 relating to a Petition on Pay, showed that he was illiterate and was still working as a General Labourer.
3. A Report dated the 8th May 1801 (Supply 5/221) recorded that he was working as a Labourer and was unmarried. Note: In this document, anyone not an Artificer was described as a Labourer.
4. In a letter dated the 23rd June 1801 (Supply 5/195) it was stated that the writer had "the Board's commands to transmit to you on the other side hereof a list of the men who have been burnt and otherwise hurt by the fire which lately destroyed (on the 16th June, 1801) the Corning House at Waltham Abbey; and I am to desire the Storekeeper will pay the men all their pay until they are recovered."
5. Winters, in his book "Centenary Memorial", made it clear that the men were employed in repairing the Corning House which blew up on the 18th April, 1801; the fire was caused "from the blow of a copper hammer on pit wheel." (Winters, p.59). However, it appears that yet again he had made a mistake with the date.
6. A letter, also dated the 23rd June 1801, (Supply 5/195) included Timothy Bates, and therein stated that "we beg to represent the situation of the poor men who were burnt when the Corning House took fire 16th instant while under repair." It further stated "These men are burnt in a dreadful manner, their pain is very great..." and "Our surgeon has represented the necessity of the men most burnt having immediate assistance in wine, as a considerable suppuration is come on their constitutions. They cannot support it without wine, and we have directed wine to be immediately provided to them, and request your permission for our continuing to support these poor men with such wine or other proper support as their surgeon may think their respective situations require."
7. In a letter to the Board dated the 29th July 1801 (Supply 5/221), it was recorded that the men who were burnt at the Corning House on the 16th June, had requested that they were reimbursed for the loss of clothing. The list included Mr. Bates, whose claim amounted to £2.13.6d in all - for a hat (6/-d.), handkerchiefs (4/6d) stockings (4/6d) shirt (5/6d) waistcoat (5/-d) breeches (12/-d) and sheets (16/-d). The same letter went on to say that Mr. Bates, amongst others, suffered so much that he wished for death to release him from his torture, and that it was a matter of surprise that he was recovering. The constant attention the men needed meant that their wives could not undertake seasonal work (haymaking), at which they could earn sufficient to pay the rent. It was requested that financial allowances be made.
8. According to Supply 5/224 dated the 30th January 1806, Mr. Bates was working as a Saltpetre Refiner earning 2/-d per day and had 10 years' service.
9. List of Officers, Foremen and Artificers, etc. Employed - Supply 5/226 dated the 18th June 1807 - confirmed that Timothy Bates was working as a Saltpetre Refiner earning 2/-d per day. In addition, Refiners were allowed to watch in turn, for which they received 1/-d.
10 According to the entry on Supply 5/227 dated the 23rd August 1808, Mr. Bates was still employed as a Saltpetre Refiner earning 2/-d. per day, and "in addition to their pay, they are allowed to watch in turn, for which they receive one shilling."
11 Employee List (Supply 5/228 dated the 1st September 1810) confirmed he was still employed as a Saltpetre Refiner, paid 2/-d per day, and allowed to watch in turn when not working.
12 List of Employees dated the 29th August 1812 (Supply 5/229) confirmed that Mr. Timothy Bates was still a Saltpetre Refiner. According to this List he then earned 2/8d per day, and in addition, "when not working extra, they are allowed to watch in turn." This was also the case on the 13th February 1814 (Supply 5/230).
13 List of Employees dated the 25th June 1818 (Supply 5/231) showed that Timothy Bates was now employed as a Warder; he was a married man aged 41 with 3 children, and lived in Waltham Abbey. He then only earned 2/4d per day, and was allowed to watch in turn, for which he received 1/-d per night.
14 A List of Employees dated the 28th August 1818 (Supply 5/231) recorded the names of people to be retained between the 3rd September and the 31st December 1818. Timothy's name was on the List, which confirmed that he was a Warder at the Stove Island (Horse Mill Island). His pay remained at 2/4d per day.
15 List of Employees dated the 19th May 1819 (Supply 5/231) confirmed that Bates was still employed as a Warder, and was a married man of 42 with 3 children, living in Waltham Abbey. He was paid 2/4d per day and allowed to watch in turn, for which he was paid 1/-d per night..
16 List of Officers on Employment dated the 13th September 1820 (Supply 5/232) recorded that Timothy Bates was 43, employed as a Warder, was married with 3 children, and still lived in Waltham Abbey. His wage remained the same as before, but he was then in receipt of 1/6d per night when allowed to watch.
17 List of Employees dated the 9th April 1821 (Supply 5/232) recorded that Timothy was 44, with all other details remaining the same as in Note 16.
18 List of Employees at the Royal Gunpowder Mills (Supply 5/232 dated the 23rd January 1822) gave the age of Timothy, a Warder, as 45, with 27 years' service and pay per day of only 2/-d.
19. Return dated the 6th February 1822 (Supply 5/232) recorded length of service and other full details of those persons employed by the Ordnance at Waltham Abbey as at the 31st December 1821. This appeared to be a more detailed and accurate Return than that of the 23rd January 1822. Timothy Bates was appointed a Labourer at Waltham Abbey on the 27th March 1797, and confirmed as a Warder by the Board's Order dated 4th September 1818. He was allowed to watch in turn to guard the Works, for which he received an average of 2/-d per week by order of the Board dated 30th June, 1820. He had an annual wage of £41.14.4d, and had a house as a porter's lodge. He had served nearly 25 years, was 45, and was married still with 3 children. The porter's lodge (watch house) was located at the Stove Island gate.
20 Supply 5/232 dated the 21st March 1822 was a List of Persons to form the Establishment at Waltham Abbey to regenerate 2000 barrels of gunpowder as well as to make 100 or 200 barrels of gunpowder annually. It stated that Timothy Bates, Warder, was to be retained.
21 WO54/542 dated the the 1st April 1823 confirmed that Bates was still a Warder and that his pay for the year was £39.0.0d, which included an allowance for watching in turn. Family and service details were confirmed, and he still occupied a house belonging to the Board.
22 According to a document dated the 1st April 1823 (WO54/542 - Alteration in Return B), Timothy Bates had his pay reduced by £2.12.0d per annum in accordance with the Board's Orders dated the 27th December 1822 and the 15th January 1823.
23 Return dated the 1st October 1824 (WO54/546) recorded that Timothy earned £39.0.0d per annum, which included an allowance for watching in turn, for which he received 2/-d per week. His period of service is given as nearly 28 years, he was 47 and was married, but this Return states he had only 1 child.
24 Return showing pay and allowances, etc. dated the 1st October 1825 (Winters, pp.93-95) confirmed previous information given and recorded that he had been in continuous service with the Board since the 27th March 1797. His pay in total was confirmed at £39.0.0d per annum.
25 WO54/550 dated the 1st April 1825 confirmed that Timothy was still a Warder, and gave his basic pay as £33.16.0d per annum. He was still allowed to watch in turn which gave him, on average, 2/-d per week, and a total annual wage of £39.0.0d. This document also confirmed his previous family and service details, as did WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825, although that document indicated that he was still only 47 years of age.
26 WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826 confirmed the basic information given in WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825. WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826 confirmed the information given in WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826.
27 WO54/558 dated the 1st April 1827 recorded "no alteration since the last report dated the 1st October 1826."
28 WO54/558 dated the 1st October 1827 gave the same information as in the notes above. At that date Timothy Bates had nearly 31 years' service and was then 49 years of age.
29 Return dated the1st April 1828 (WO54/562) gave the same information as in the notes above, with the exception that he had served 31 years.
30 Return dated the1st October 1828 (WO54/562) updated his age and length of service, with family details and pay remaining unchanged.
31 Return dated the 1st April 1829 (WO54/566) updated the information given in the previous Return.
32 Document showing Employees at the 1st October, 1829 (WO54/566) indicated that Timothy still earned in total £39.0.0d per annum as in Note 25, that his service was now nearly 33 years and that he was now 50 years of age.
33 According to Return WO54/570 dated the 1st the 1st April 1830, all details remained the same for Timothy as in Note 32, except that his service was given as 33 years and he was now aged 51.
34 WO54/570 dated the 1st October 1830 confirmed the information given in Note 32, except that his service was nearly 34 years. WO54/570 dated April 1831 updated the October 1830, Return, and confirmed that he was still employed as a Warder, with a cottage as a Porter's lodge.
35 WO54/545 dated the 1st October 1831 updated his age and period of service in the April 1831 Return, with all other details remaining unchanged.
36 WO54/581 dated the 1st April 1832 updated his age and period of service in the October 1831 Return.
37 WO54/581 dated the 1st October 1832 updated his age and period of service in the April 1832 Return, with all other details remaining unchanged; he was still a Warder with a cottage.
38 WO54/587 dated the 1st April 1833, stated that Timothy still earned a total of £39 annually in his capacity as Warder. His period of service was given as 36 years, and he was then aged 54. He retained the use of a cottage.
39 WO54/587 dated the 1st October 1833, gave no change in Mr. Bates' basic details, but his age and length of service were updated
40 WO54/593 dated the 1st April 1834, confirmed that Timothy was still employed as a Warder and still earned a total of £39 per annum. His period of service was given as 37 years and his age, 55.
41 WO54/593 dated the 1st October 1834, confirmed the information given in the note above; he was then 56 years old and had served just over 37 years.
42 Letter to the Board dated the 20th June 1835, recorded that Timothy Bates, Water Warden, caught James Turnham and one other poaching on the Board's water at Lower Island. Turnham had been convicted before for poaching, and the Deputy Storekeeper, James Wright, then asked if they should be prosecuted (Supply 5/238),
43 On the 16th April 1836, explosions occurred when No. 125 Mill was shut up, and Mr. Bates, Water Warden, was called before Lt.Col. Moody as a witness (Winters p.103).
44 Return of Employees dated the 1st October 1839 (WO56/623) indicated that Bates was still employed as a Warder with a wage of £39 per annum, which included an allowance to watch in turn. He was still occupying the same cottage as a Porter's lodge.
45 The 1840 Return of Domestic Properties (WO144/133) recorded that Timothy and his family had occupied the Watch House on Horse Mill Island since it had been built. The house was Plot No. No. 98 on the Town Map in Appendix 1/
46. The 1841 Census indicated that Timothy and his wife, Elizabeth, were both in their sixties and born in Essex. He was still working as a Water Warden and lived in Waltham Marsh off High Bridge Street South.
