Biography:
1. Abraham Bell was a Refiner in the Saltpetre House in 1806 who was paid 2/-d per day. At that date he had served 6 months. (Supply 5/224 dated the 30th January 1806).
2. Still 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 (List of Officers, Foremen and Artificers, etc. Employed - Supply 5/226 dated the 18th June 1807).
3. According to his entry on Supply 5/227 dated the 23rd August 1808, Mr. Bell 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."
4. Employee List (Supply 5/228 dated the 1st September 1810) confirmed the entries in Note 3.
5. List of Employees dated the 29th August 1812 (Supply 5/229) stated that Abraham was still a Saltpetre Refiner who then earned 2/8d per day, and in addition, when not working extra, he was allowed to watch in turn. On the 13th February 1814 (Supply 5/230), Abraham Bell was recorded as a Storehouseman at 3/10d per day.
6. A Return for the 25th June 1818, noted that Bell was still a Storehouseman, and was a 50-year- old married man, with 3 children (Supply 5/231). Another Return dated the 3rd September, 1818 (Supply 5/231) showed people who were to be retained; it lists Abraham as a Storehouseman, with a daily rate of pay of 3/4d.
7. WO54/528 dated the 9th May 1919, confirmed that Bell was a Storehouseman, with pay of 3/4d per day, and that he was a Rounder every 3rd night, for which he received 1/6d each time. He was a 51-year-old married man with 3 children, and lived in Waltham Abbey.
8. WO54/532 dated the 13th September 1820 recorded that he then received 2/-d per night as a Rounder, with all other details remaining unchanged. This was also the case on the 19th April 1821 (WO54/536).
9. WO54/536 dated the 6th February 1822, recorded that Bell was 52, married with 3 children, lived in Waltham Abbey, and earned £64.6.8d per annum. This document stated also that he was appointed a Labourer at Waltham on the 19th September 1805. WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826, however, gives his start date as the 11th June 1805, and his job as a Storehouse Man on the 30th June 1813.
10 WO54/542 dated the 1st April 1823, again gave Bell's wage for the year as £64.6.8d, which included an allowance for being a Rounder every 3rd night to superintend the watchmen, for which he received 2/-d. Family and service details remained the same as before, and document WO54/546 dated the 1st October 1823 confirmed that he started at the Mills on the 19th September 1805 as a Labourer, and was promoted to Storehouse man on the 30th June 1813.
11 WO/550 dated the the 1st April 1825, gave Bell's earnings as £52.3.4d per annum. He was still a Rounder every 3rd night, for which he received 2/-d, giving him a total wage of £64.6.8d per annum. His previous family and service details were confirmed.
12 WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825, recorded that Mr. Bell was promoted to Master Mixer on the 25th May 1825. Following the promotion of Hugh Jones as Master Worker, George Ridpath replaced him as the Storehouse Man. His rate of pay became £91.5.10d per annum with no allowances. His length of service was given as just over 20 years, he was aged 55, was married and had 3 children.
13 WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826 confirmed the basic information given in WO54/550 of the 1st October 1825, and WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826 confirmed the details given in WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826.
14 WO54/558 dated the1st April 1827 recorded "no alteration since the last Report dated the 1st October 1826."
15 WO54/558 dated the 1st October 1827 provided the same information as in the notes above. At that date Abraham Bell had just over 22 years' service and was then 57 years of age.
16 Return dated the 1st April 1828 (WO54/562) gave the same information as in the notes above, with the exception that Bell had now served nearly 23 years.
17 Return dated the1st October 1828 (WO54/562) updated his age and length of service, with family details and pay remaining unchanged.
18 Return dated the 1st April 1829 (no reference given) updated his age and length of service, with family details and pay remaining unchanged.
19 WO54/566 dated the 1st October 1829 stated that at that date Abraham still earned the same as given previously. His length of service was just over 24 years, and he was then aged 58.
20 Return WO54/ 570 dated the 1st April 1830, updates his age and length of service, family and pay details remaining unchanged.
21 WO54/570 dated the1st the 1st October 1830, recorded that Mr. Bell was 59 years of age and that he had served over 25 years. His wages and all other information remained the same.
22 According to Return WO54/ 575 dated the 1st April 1831, Abraham earned a total of £91.5.10d annually, he had served 26 years and was aged 60.
23 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.
24 WO54/581 dated the 1st April 1832 updated his age and period of service in the October 1831 Return, with all other details again remaining unchanged.
25 WO54/581 dated the 1st October 1832 confirmed that Mr. Bell still earned the same as indicated in Note 22. All other details remained the same, except that at that date he was 62 years of age and had served just over 27 years.
26 WO54/587 dated the 1st April 1833 confirmed that Abraham still earned £91.5.10d per annum. At that date his service was given as nearly 28 years, and his age as 62.
27 WO54/587 dated the 1st October 1833, stated that Abraham was then 63 years of age and had served just over 28 years. He was still in receipt of an annual wage of £91.5.10d and all other details remained the same.
28 WO54/593 dated the 1st April 1834, updatedthe October 1833 Return for service and age, with conditions and wage remaining unchanged. He was still the Master Mixer.
29 WO54/593 dated the 1st October 1834, updated the previous Return for service and age, with conditions and pay remaining unchanged.
30 Bell retired as the Master Mixer and received a pension from the 26th November 1834. He was still receiving his pension in 1837 (Supply 5/237).
