Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660-1837. Originally published by University of London, London, 2006.
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'Salaired tradesmen: Other', in Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660-1837, (London, 2006) pp. 384-390. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/office-holders/vol11/pp384-390 [accessed 13 April 2024]
In this section
Post and Letter Carrier 1660–?
Under Charles II the post and letter carrier to the household received 10s per diem. Under George II, this rose to £600 per annum for the “Carrier of all His majesty's Letters and Dispatches between his Court, or Palace of Residence, and the first Postage or Post-Office”. (fn. 1)
Post and Letter Carrier to the Household 1660–1685; c. 1727–?
| 1660 | 23 Oct. | Parnell, T. |
| 1666 | 11 Apr. | Stanney, P. |
| 1672 | 13 Jan. | Derham, T. |
| By 1727 | Bond, D. | |
| By 1748 | Penton, T. | |
Chiefe Carrier of Post for His Maties Foreign Despatches c. 1661
Rat-Killer 1660–1837
The rat-killer was appointed by warrant of the lord chamberlain to the gentlemen ushers, daily waiters. From the reign of William III the rat-killer made £48 3s 4d. After 1782 the rat-killer was paid £80 per annum. His counterpart at Kew made £65 per annum. (fn. 2)
Rat-killer 1660–1837
Rat-killer at Kew 1782–1837
Rat-catcher at Carlton House 1823–1837
Strewer of Herbs c. 1670–c. 1822
The strewer of herbs was appointed by lord chamberlain's warrant to the gentlemen usher daily waiters. By the reign of William III she earned £24 per annum; this continued to be the salary through 1794. (fn. 3) The office was deleted from the Royal Kalendar in 1822.
Strewer of Herbs c. 1670–c. 1822
| By 1670 | Rumsey, B. | |
| 1670 | 21 Apr. | Doyle, M. |
| 1696 | 18 May | Jux, E. |
| 1711 | 16 Oct. | Blizzard, A. |
| 1714 | 31 Dec. | Bill, A. |
| 1754 | 7 Feb. | Hewes, H. |
| ?1793 | 19 Nov. | Rayner, M. |
Strewer of Herbs in Extraordinary 1678–?; 1690–1696
Tapassier 1812–1837
The tapassier was appointed by lord chamberlain's warrant to the gentlemen ushers daily waiters. He made £200 per annum. The tapassier at St. James's received £120 per annum plus £75 in board wages. (fn. 4)
Tapassier 1828–1837
Tapassier at Carlton House 1812–?
Tapassier at Brighton 1830–1837
Tapassier at St. James's 1822–1837
Watchmakers and Clockmaker 1660–1837
The watchmakers and, later, the clockmaker were appointed by lord chamberlain's warrant to the gentleman usher, daily waiter. Two watchmakers served under Charles II, one thereafter. From the reign of William III he received £200 per annum at the treasurer of the chamber's office. Under George I this was raised to £300, but fell to £150 under his successor. (fn. 5) This was partially due to the establishment of a separate clockmaker in 1727. He made £200 per annum by 1782. (fn. 6)
Watchmaker 1660–1837
Watchmaker and Clockmaker in Extraordinary 1674–1686
Clockmaker 1727–1837
Woolen Drapers 1660–1837
Under James II, at least, the woolen draper was chosen by the master of the great wardrobe who wrote a letter to the lord chamberlain for a warrant for swearing in to the gentleman ushers, daily waiters. (fn. 7) By the reign of George I he was chosen by the lord chamberlain. (fn. 8) Under Charles II the woolen drapers received livery. (fn. 9)
Writer, Flourisher and Embellisher 1666–?; 1704–?1807
The writer, flourisher and embellisher of letters to eastern princes was appointed by lord chamberlain's warrant to the gentlemen ushers, daily waiters. He received a fee of £10 a document until Anne's reign, when a salary was established of £60 per annum at the treasurer of the chamber's office. By 1797, the salary had been reduced to £25 16s. (fn. 10)