Marine pay department

MARINE PAY DEPARTMENT

Paymaster of Marines 1755-1831

This office, to which appointments were made by Admiralty warrant, was created in 1755. (fn. 1) The salary was fixed at £800, an additional allowance of £200 being provided in time of war. (fn. 2) A sum of £100 a year for office rent was made available in 1756. (fn. 3) Before 1800 the Paymaster was responsible for paying such Clerks as he required out of his own salary. In that year their salaries were made a charge on the marine contingency fund and the salary of the Paymaster was fixed at £600. At the same time the Paymaster took over the functions of the Agent of Marines. (fn. 4) In 1803 the duties of the office were extended and its holder designated Paymaster and Inspector General of Marines with a salary of £1000. (fn. 5) The office of Paymaster was abolished in 1831 when its duties were transferred to the Treasurer of the Navy. (fn. 6)

Clerks 1755-1819

On the establishment of the office of Paymaster of Marines in 1755 the Paymaster was provided with a salary out of which he was expected to defray the cost of such clerical assistance as he required. Before 1800 very little information relating to the staff of the office has survived. The Paymaster appears to have appointed two Clerks, known as the First and Second Clerk, from the outset and may have employed Extra Clerks as well. (fn. 7) In 1800 the salary of the Paymaster was reduced and provision was made for the salaries of his staff to be charged on public funds and made payable out of the marine contingency fund. The salary of the First Clerk was then fixed at £300 and that of the Second Clerk at £100. (fn. 8) In 1807 the salaries were fixed at £450 and £200 respectively. (fn. 9) In 1814 a third Clerk was appointed also with a salary of £200. (fn. 10) In 1819 these Clerks were absorbed into a classified clerical establishment. (fn. 11)

Extra Clerks 1800-19

In 1800 provision was made for two Extra Clerks in the Marine Pay Department, one with a salary of £80 and the other with a salary of £50. (fn. 13) In 1807 the number was fixed at four who were to receive salaries of £80 for under three years' service, £100 for three to five years' service, £120 for five to seven years' service and £140 for more than seven years' service. (fn. 14) In 1819 the Extra Clerks were absorbed into a classified clerical establishment. (fn. 15)

First Class Clerk 1819-31

In 1819 provision was made for there to be one First Class (or Chief) Clerk in the Marine Pay Department with a salary of £400 rising by annual increments of £10 to £500. (fn. 16) The office was discontinued on the abolition of the Department in 1831. (fn. 17)

Second Class Clerks 1819-31

In 1819 provision was made for there to be two Second Class Clerks in the Marine Pay Department with salaries of £200 rising by annual increments of £10 to £300. (fn. 18) A third Second Class Clerk was appointed in 1827. (fn. 19) The offices were discontinued in 1831 on the abolition of the Department. (fn. 20)

Third Class Clerks 1819-31

In 1819 provision was made for there to be three Third Class Clerks in the Marine Pay Department. (fn. 21) A fourth Third Class Clerk was appointed in 1827. (fn. 22) The offices were discontinued in 1831 on the abolition of the Department. (fn. 23)

Messenger c. 1807-1831

In 1800 provision was made for a Messenger in the Marine Pay Department with a salary of £50. (fn. 24) The salary was raised to £70 in 1807 and to £80 in 1824. (fn. 25) The office was discontinued on the abolition of the Department in 1831. (fn. 26)

Office Keeper 1824-31

This office was created in 1824 with a salary of £100 and an annual allowance of £40 for a housemaid. It was discontinued in 1831 on the abolition of the Marine Pay Department. (fn. 27)

Agents of Marines 1756-1800

The offices of Agents of Marines, to which appointments were made by Admiralty warrant, were established in 1756 when it was provided that there should be an Agent for each of the three divisions of Plymouth, Portsmouth and Chatham with a salary of £300 payable by the Paymaster of Marines. (fn. 28) In April 1763 the number of Agents was reduced to one who was made responsible for all the divisions. (fn. 29) The salary was then fixed at £300 but was raised to £500 in the following month. (fn. 30) An additional allowance of £100 was provided in time of war. (fn. 31) The office of Agent was abolished in 1800 when its duties were transferred to the Paymaster of Marines. (fn. 32)