Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660-1837. Originally published by University of London, London, 2006.
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'The household below stairs: Waiters and Servitors in Hall', in Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660-1837, (London, 2006) pp. 460-462. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/office-holders/vol11/pp460-462 [accessed 29 April 2024]
In this section
Daily Waiters in Hall 1660–?
Daily waiters in hall were appointed by warrant of the lord steward. An early establishment lists 12 "wayters" places in 1661. In 1662, as part of the retrenchment of tables at court one "Daily Servitor" was established in ordinary and one daily waiter at supernumerary status, both at board wages of £9 2 s 6d. The Establishment of 1664 lists four "waiters" at £2, plus £18 5s apiece. Their number was reduced to two in 1668, both at similar wages, one at £21 5s 10d, the other at £9 2 s 6d in board wages. There were three supernumeraries at £2 plus board wages of £3 0s 10d apiece. In 1674, the first daily waiter's board wages were raised to £27 7s and there was but one supernumerary. In 1680 the first daily waiter's board wages fell to £24 16s 8d and the last supernumerary had been eliminated. (fn. 1) There was one daily waiter in hall on the Establishment of 1685, at £20 per annum, plus six supernumeraries at between £10 and £12. In 1689 the number of ordinary daily waiters was increased to three at £2 and £26 in board wages. The office was abolished (with a stipend for the displaced incumbents of £2 plus board wages of £28) by the unsigned Establishment of 1 Oct. 1699, but restored at the 1689 levels of staffing and remuneration in 1702. This remained the remuneration into the reign of George II, when the places of the two remaining daily waiters were to determine at their deaths. (fn. 2)
Daily Waiters 1660–?
Supernumerary or Extraordinary Waiters in Hall, 1662–?1699
Servitors (Sewers) in Hall 1660–1699
The servitors of the hall were appointed by warrant of the lord steward. An early establishment lists places for six sewers in 1661. That of 1662 lists places for four "Servits" and ten supernumeraries at £2 in wages and £3 15s 1d in board wages apiece. In addition, there were four supernumerary sewers at £13 6s 1 3/4 d plus £18 5s in board wages. The Establishment of 1664 added a supernumerary at the last remuneration; this additional place was gone by 1668. The number of servitors in ordinary rose to six by 1674, then fell to five by 1680. (fn. 1) The Establishment of 1689 lists six supernumeraries at various levels of remuneration. These places were finally abolished, the incumbents being awarded stipends ranging between £10 and £20 on the unsigned Establishment of 1 Oct. 1699. (fn. 2)