The household below stairs: Acatry 1660-1761

Acatry 1660–1761

The acatry was responsible for the reception and storage of meat for the royal tables. In 1660 the establishment of the acatry consisted of a clerk and a sergeant, appointed by royal warrant, and a yeoman of the salt stores, yeomen and grooms, appointed by lord steward's warrant. (fn. 1)

The office of clerk was held jointly 1660–73, 1689–1714 and 1715–27. In 1662 one of the joint clerks was established in ordinary at wages of £6 13s 4d and board wages of £24 6s 8d while the other was reduced to supernumerary status with the same wages and board wages of £100. Both clerks were made supernumerary in 1664 dividing wages of £11 8s 1½d and board wages of £124 6s 8d. Between 1668 and 1673 the occupants of the office were designated joint clerks of the acatry and larder with wages increased to £13 6s 8d. In 1674 the remuneration of the clerk of the acatry was fixed at wages of £6 13s 4d and board wages of £80, reduced in 1680 to £53 6s 8d. The salary of the office, fixed at £60 in 1685, was settled at wages of £6 13s 4d and board wages of £113 6s 8d in 1689. The clerk was also entitled to £6 13s 4d in lieu of lodgings, and poundage on bills and the goods passing through the office, which yielded, on average, £370 per annum under Anne. (fn. 2)

The office of sergeant was held jointly 1660–74 and singly thereafter. These officers became supernumerary in 1664; one was raised to ordinary status in 1680, made supernumerary again in 1685, then restored to ordinary status in 1689. In 1664 the remuneration consisted of wages of £11 8s 1½d and board wages of £54 15s. In 1689 the board wages were reduced to £48 11s 10½d. (fn. 3)

The remuneration of the yeoman keeper of the salt stores was fixed at wages of £7 14s 8d and board wages of £9 2s 6d in1662. He was reduced to supernumerary status at £5 and £9 2s 6d in 1664 but restored in ordinary at the same rates in 1668. From 1685 the yeoman received £15 consisting, from 1689, of wages of £5 and board wages of £10. A supernumerary yeoman was appointed in 1674. (fn. 4)

Two yeomen of the acatry were appointed in 1660. In 1662 one of these was retained in ordinary while the other was reduced to supernumerary status, both receiving wages of £5. In 1664 both yeomen were made supernumerary and their remuneration was increased by the addition of board wages of £20. The offices were abolished in 1685. (fn. 5)

The grooms were originally two in number. In 1662 the wages of one of these officers was fixed at £5 while that of the other, reduced to supernumerary status, was fixed at £2 13s 4d. In 1664 both were reduced to this status and these wages with the addition of board wages of £15. In 1673 the number of grooms was reduced to one. This office was abolished in 1685. (fn. 6)

The acatry was abolished in 1761. (fn. 7)

Clerk 1660–1761

Supernumerary Clerks 1662–1668; 1679–1684

Sergeant 1660–1664; 1679–1685; 1689–1761

Supernumerary Sergeant 1664–1680; 1686–1689

Yeoman Keeper of Salt Stores 1660–1664; 1668–1761

Supernumerary Yeoman Keeper of Salt Stores 1664–1668; 1674–1677

Yeomen 1660–1664

Supernumerary Yeomen 1662–1685

Grooms 1660–1664

Supernumerary Groom 1662–1685