WAPP - Waltham Abbey Personnel Project

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Biography:

1. Robert Adams was employed as a Casual Labourer earning 2/8d per day in the Engineering Department according to WO54/516 dated the 19th February 1816. He was a 34-year-old married man living in Waltham Abbey, and had 3 children. 2. WO54/520 dated the 28th February 1817 gave his age as 35, and recorded that he had 4 children. In common with the rest of the labour force, however, his pay had been reduced to 2/4d per day. 3. WO54/524 dated the 11th April 1818 stated he was employed "Occasionally as required" and that he was paid 2/4d per day; this Return confirmed he had 4 children. His circumstances remained the same in 1819 according to WO54/528 dated the 19th May 1819. 4. List of Employees dated the 13th September 1820 ( WO54/532) showed that Robert was still employed as a Labourer. He was aged 39, still lived in Waltham Abbey, but then had 5 children. His pay remained at 2/4d per day. WO54/536 dated the 2nd April 1821 indicated his pay was still 2/4d per day and that he was now aged 40 years. 5. WO54/536 dated the 31st December 1821 repeated all of the entries contained in the previous Return. 6. According to WO54/542 dated the 1st April 1823, Robert was now paid 2/2d per day as a Labourer for 313 days, giving him an income of £33.18.2d for the year. By then he had nearly 19 years' service starting on the 21st May, 1804. At that date he was aged 42. 7. WO54/550 dated the 1st April 1825 stated that Robert was still paid 2/2d per day. His service was just over 20 years and he was aged 44. 8. WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825 confirmed the previous entry, and WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826 gave identical information, except that Robert was then 45 years' old with service of nearly 22 years. 9. WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826 and WO54/558 dated the 1st April 1827 recorded the same information as given before. However, Robert then had nearly 23 years' service and was 46 years of age. WO54/558 dated 1st Octobe, 1827, indicated no basic alterations from the previous Return. 10 Returns dated the 1st April and 1st October 1828 (both referenced WO54/562 updated the same basic information as before. 11 WO54/566 dated the 1st April 1829 stated that Robert at that date still earned the same. His length of service was nearly 25 years, and he was aged 48. 12 Return dated the 1st October 1829 (WO54/566) updated his age and length of service, with family and pay details remaining unchanged. 13 According to Return WO54/570 dated the 1st April 1830 all details remained the same for Robert as in previous Returns, except that his service was now 26 years and he was aged 49. 14 Return WO54/570 dated the 1st October 1830 confirmed that Robert was still working as a Labourer. His family details and pay remained unchanged, but his length of service and age were updated. 15 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 Robert Adams was one of the 15 Labourers to be employed at Waltham Abbey Gunpowder Mills and the Enfield Small Arms Factory. Robert was still paid 2/2d per day, but employed to undertake different services as a Labourer in the Manufactories where "steadiness and sobriety are particuliary required." WO54/575) 16 WO54/575 dated April 1831 updated his age and period of service from the October 1830 Return, with all other details remaining unchanged. 17 WO54/575 dated October 1831 confirmed that Robert still earned 2/2d per day, giving him a total of £33.18.2d per annum, but he had then served nearly 28 years, and was aged just over 50. WO54/581 dated 1st April 1832 updated his age and period of service given in the October 1831 Return, with all other details remaining unchanged. 18 WO54/581 dated the 1st October 1832 confirmed that Robert still earned £33.18.2d per annum. His service was given as nearly 29 years and at that date he was nearly 52. 19 WO54/587 dated the 1st April 1833 confirmed the information given in the previous Return, except that he was now aged 52 and had served 29 years. 20. WO54/587 dated the 1st October 1833, gave the same basic details as before, with age and length of service updated appropriately. 21 WO54/593 dated the 1st April 1834 stateed that Robert still earned a total of £33.18.2d per annum, that he was 53 years of age, and that his service was 30 years. 22 Adams had joined the Board on the 21st May, 1804 as a Labourer in the Engineers' Department. In 1839 he was still a Labourer paid 2/2d per day, with estimated annual earnings of £33.8.2d. He was a 58-year-old widower with 5 children living in Waltham Abbey, having served nearly 36 years, according to WO54/623 dated the 1st October 1839. 23 A transcript of the 1841 Census showed that Robert was living in Green Yard, Waltham Abbey, as a lodger with Thomas Parker and his family. His age was given as 60, he was a Labourer and was born in the County. He was a widower, and this is confirmed by WO54/623 dated the 1st October 1839.