Examples
of H.E.I.C. Officers’ Records of Service
Source: BL:
IOR: L/MAR/C/652 - Descriptions of Commanders and Officers in the Company’s
Service 1771-1778, giving details of previous service
.
There are four
volumes in this series are in original form and those so far seen are
alphabetically indexed at the front, although some entries are damaged.
.
Examples:-
.
p.227
.
‘John Fea, Third
Mate of the Eagle 30 Years of Age, Used
the Sea 17 Years 5 Voyages to India, last as Third Mate
of the Greenwich
Mr
Bishop’s Certificate produced
Approved 4th April 1777
Resigned the 3rd May 1777’
.
p.228
.
‘John William Wood, Second Mate of the
Lord North 25 years
of age, used the sea 13 Years, 4 Voyages to India
.
|
................. 1st Voyage to India in 1764 in the
Thames to Bencoo ............................................................. and China as Seaman |
} } |
Yrs Mos ..1... 6 |
|
................. 2nd Do ..................1767 in the
Thames to Bombay ....................................................... and Bengal as Midshipman |
} |
..2.....- |
|
................. 3rd Do ............ 1770 in the Thames to
Bencooln ............................................. and China 5 Mate, came home 4th |
} |
..1... 6 |
|
............................ In the Seaford, Man of War to Jamaica acting ....................................................................... Lieutenant .......... |
} } |
..-.... 6 |
|
................. 4th Voyage to India in 1773 in the Thames
to B’by ............................................................. as Third Mate
............ |
} } |
..1... 8 |
|
........................... Mr Bishop’s Certificate produced |
Yrs |
..7... 2 |
|
................. |
|
.==== |
|
......................... Approved 21st May 1777’ |
|
|
Source: BL:
IOR: L/MAR/C/775 - Records of Service of Masters and Mates of Extra Ships
1802-09
.
This series is
held in four volumes. Alphabetically indexed at the front, the handwriting can
be variable - from beautiful to decidedly difficult to read! Nevertheless,
there is some fascinating detail in some of these.
.
Example:-
.
p.177
.
|
.’Cornwall Tathwell Chief Mate of the Devaynes 33 Years of Age. Used the Sea 9 Years 2 Voyages to India |
|
|
|
|
|
yrs
mos |
|
....... In the Royal Navy as midshipman |
|
...3.....- |
|
....... In the West India Trade as 2nd Mate |
|
...2.....6 |
|
1st Voyage to India in 1802
in the Ocean to |
} |
|
|
....... Madras, Bombay & China, as 5th Mate |
} |
...-....10 |
|
....... acted as 4th
Mate .............................. |
|
...1.....2 |
|
2nd Voyage to India in 1804
in the Retreat |
} |
|
|
....... extra Ship to Madeira & Bombay as |
} |
|
|
....... Third Mate for which he was approved |
} |
...1.....- |
|
....... 5th March 1805 ... left the Ship on
the |
} |
|
|
...... voyage home at Cove off Cork 14 April 1806 |
} |
_______ |
|
Years |
|
...8.....6 |
|
England |
|
________ |
|
A. No. 1057 |
|
|
|
L. No. 926 |
|
|
|
................... Approved 26th Septr
1806’ |
|
|
Source: BL:
IOR: L/MAR/C/650 - Descriptions of Commanders and Officers of the Company’s Own
Ships 1815-1832 with Detailed Service
These are
alphabetically indexed at the front, many with multiple page entries. Some of
the indexed entries are for mates on one voyage only as part of commanders’
entries.
Example:-
p.306
‘Charles Whiter
White, 3rd Mate
of the Buckinghamshire, 32 years
old, used the Sea 15 years, 8 Voyages
in the Company’s Services the last
as 3rd Mate of this Ship for which
he was approved on the 7 Jany
1831
England
A
} No 191 Born 16 October 1800
L
} Committee of Shipping
C
. 624 19 Decembr 1837’
N.B. The lengthier details of his earlier service are to
be found on pages p.251 and p.278
Source:
BL: IOR: L/MAR/C/849 - Statements of Service, compiled in 1834, of E.I.C.
Marine Commanders, Officers, Surgeons, Pursers (also Boatswains, Carpenters and
Gunners)
.
There are two
volumes of these statements of service and it should be noted are on microfilm.
There is a good, typed alphabetical index at the front of the first reel,
giving volume number and page number(s). These cover individuals still serving
in 1834 and as can be seen relate to compensation for the forced winding up of
the mercantile operations. The actual documents are varied, from statements of
service not dissimilar to that of the Royal Navy certificates of service, to
certificates of competency in navigation, miscellaneous letters and may contain
certificates of baptism and marriage.
.
Example:-
.
p.24
.
‘Mr Charles Ellis
enclosing statement of
his Services on board Several
chartered Ships, with Declaration
of his intention to have
remained in Maritime
Service -
Con. ?Fin? Home } Col
Commee - } 23 Dec 34’
‘STATEMENT of the Services of Charles
Ellis
....... on board the following Ships
employed by the East-India Company.
.
|
|
SHIP’S NAMES. |
SEASON OUTWARD. |
STATION. |
|
First Voyage
............... Second do. ................. Third do. .................... Fourth do. .................. Fifth do. ..................... Sixth do. .................... Seventh do. ................. Eighth do. .................. Ninth do. ................... Tenth do. ................... Eleventh do. ............... Twelfth do. ................ |
Earl Balcarras London Earl Balcarras Earl Balcarras London London Earl Balcarras Canning |
1817. 1818. 1819. 1820 1821. 1822 1823. 1824 1825. 1826. 1828 1830 1832 |
Midshipman Midshipman Midshipman 6th Mate 6th Mate 5th Mate 4th Mate 4th Mate |
|
....GENTLEMEN, ...........I Charles Ellis................................................................................................................................
.. , do hereby declare, that I had not, previously to August 1833,
quitted the Maritime Service of the Company, for the purpose either of
retiring from it, or of following any other pursuit; and that if the Company
had gone on trading in common with the Public, it was my intention to
continue to follow the Maritime profession in that Service. ................................................................... I am, ................................................................................... GENTLEMEN, .....................of Directors ...........................................................Your most obedient Servant, To the Honourable Court of the .............................................................
Charles Ellis East-India Company’ |
|||
Go to examples of H.E.IC. Petty Officers’ Records of Service
Go to examples of various listings of H.E.I.C. Officers’ and Petty Officers’ Records
Go to an example of an Indian Navy Officer’s Record of Service 1838-48
Go to examples of Royal Naval Officers’ Certificates of Service