Seniority Listings showing the Bengal Pilot Service

Source: BL: IOR: L/MAR/8/11 - List of Europeans employed in the Bengal Marine Department, giving name and rank, casualty returns, condition of pilot vessels May 1793-Dec 1833

Fragmentary for the 1790s, these are seniority lists through from the master attendant; his deputies; the senior pilot, and down through pilots, masters, mates, boatswains and seamen. It must be stated that they do not show which vessels they were serving on, although some show dates, presumably of arrival or taking that station.

The Casualty lists can be highly enlightening.

For the more senior individuals, from c.1814 reference should also be made to publications such as the Calcutta Annual Register and Directory and The Bengal Almanac.

Also, for those interested there are lists of their vessels; giving their rigs; where and when built; when last coppered; and their present conditions. Most, but not all, also give their dispositions.

Source: BL: IOR: L/MAR/8/6 - Lists of Pilots in the Bengal Pilot Service 1796-1836

This is one of two volumes covering 1796 to 1869 in total. Effectively these are seniority lists in rough alphabetical order.

Example:-

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Name	Lemondine Philip
Volunteers	21 Octr 1805
2^nd Mates	1 Feby 1807
1^st Mates	14 June 1810
Masters	25 Jany 1815
Branch Pilots	25 Novr 1824
Remarks	Pensioned 1^st March 1831

Source: BL: IOR: L/MAR/8/9 - Quarterly Returns and Casualty Returns of Europeans in the Bengal Pilot Establishment January 1854 to October 1862

This is one of three volumes, covering 1836 to 1869. These hand-written lists only cover the Bengal Pilot Service, inasmuch as I have found no evidence of any individuals being on the Bengal Marine’s steamers.

They were compiled seemingly in seniority order (close to but not identical to that in the East-Company Register and Army List). They are in effect, musters, with enough other information to construct ‘service histories’. There are slight differences, depending on their status.

Examples taken from the quarterly return from 1^st February to 30^th April 1854:-

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General Number	4*
No. of Station
Names	J Wells
Station	Branch Pilot
To what Pilot Vefsel attached	Fame
Age at the time of Entry Yrs Mths	13..4
Time of Entry into the Service	1817 June 11
Time of Service Yrs Mths Dys	26 10 20
When last promoted	1845 May 30^th
Remarks

* Not shown individually, but every five

For volunteers

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General Number	122
No of Station
Names	D.F. Duncan
To what Pilot Vefsel attached	Salwen
Age at the time of Entry Yrs Mths	15 4
Date of Certificate of appointment by the Honble the Court of Directors	1850 June 11
Date of arrival Bengal	1850 October 17
By what Ship	Wellesley
Time of Service yrs ms ds	3 6 15
Remarks

.

The ‘Casualty’ Lists are self-explanatory except of the categories. These were:-

Suspended, Mifsing, Dismifsed, Dead, Resigned, Discharged, Absence, Pensioner and Promoted.

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