Chief Clerks and Clerks: Chief Clerks

Chief Clerks and Clerks

In the following lists of appointments Chief Clerks, who can be identified by 1674 in all Offices of the Navy Board, and Clerks have been listed separately. Information as to the size of the clerical establishment in each of the Offices is contained in the introductory notes which precede each list. The size of the establishment in the formative years 1660-88 has been described in detail. From 1688 until 1796 the numbers of Clerks changed frequently according to the pressure of business in each Office and according to whether conditions of peace or war prevailed. Only general guidance has therefore been given as to the size of the establishment in this period. (fn. 1) In 1796 the establishment of Clerks in each Office was fixed, and major revisions were carried out in 1807, 1822 and 1829, full details of which are included in the introductory notes.

Until 1796 additional Clerks employed to deal with increases in business were often referred to as Extra Clerks. But the status of Extra Clerks in this period is not clearly defined and it is impossible to distinguish them satisfactorily from the other Clerks, particularly as they all received salaries in the same manner from the Treasurer of the Navy. All Clerks who received a salary rather than a weekly allowance have therefore been included in the following lists. Temporary Clerks at weekly allowances were rarely employed before 1793. But from 1793 until 1817 they were used frequently to deal with the additional business created by the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. (fn. 2) Many of them remained in office for relatively short periods of time and no lists of such Temporary Clerks have been compiled. However, when a Temporary Clerk was appointed to a position on the establishment, his service as a Temporary Clerk has been included in that Clerk's entry in the alphabetical list of officials.

Certain facts, concerning such matters as the method of appointment and the remuneration of the Clerks, which apply to all Offices, have been excluded from the introductory notes preceding each list, and are set out below.

Although the size of the clerical establishment was controlled by the Admiralty, the Principal Officers and Commissioners of the Navy appointed their own Clerks. (fn. 3) In the years 1660-86 and 1688-1796 Clerks were appointed by the Principal Officer and Commissioner of the Navy by whom or in whose Office they were employed. In the years 1686-8 the appointment of Clerks rested entirely with the Commissioners for Current Business. Following the reconstitution of the Board in 1796 the appointment and promotion of Clerks became the responsibility of the general Board. Nominations to vacant clerkships were made in rotation by the members of the Board, the Controller having two successive nominations, and were subsequently approved by Board minute. (fn. 4)

Throughout the period 1660-1832 the Chief Clerks and Clerks received salaries payable by the Treasurer of the Navy. In 1660 salaries of £30 were made available to the two Clerks allowed to each Principal Officer and Commissioner. (fn. 5) Until 1686 all Clerks received salaries of either £30 or £50. (fn. 6) In 1686, 1688 and 1690 (fn. 7) the salary structure was revised and between 1689 and 1793 amendments were made at irregular intervals to the salaries of individual Clerks. Throughout the period 1686-1793 salaries ranged between £30 and £70 and for the greater part of the period the majority of the Clerks received a salary of £50. In 1793 a salary increase of £30 was awarded to fifty-three of the junior Clerks thus raising the average salary from £50 to £80. (fn. 8) Until 1796 the salaries of the Clerks, and in particular of the senior Clerks, were supplemented by a variety of fees, gratuities and allowances. (fn. 9) In 1796 fixed salaries were introduced in the place of all existing forms of remuneration, (fn. 10) details of which are included in the introductory notes to the lists of appointments. Salaries were increased in 1807 when it was provided that no Clerk should receive a salary greater than £80 until he had completed three years service. (fn. 11) In 1811 minimum salaries of £90 after two years service, £100 after four years service, £120 after six years service, £140 after eight years service, £160 after ten years service and £200 after twelve years service were awarded to the junior Clerks. (fn. 12) A full progressive salary scale with regular annual increments of £10 was introduced in 1816. (fn. 13) The grade of first class clerk was reserved for the Chief Clerks and was divided into two sections, the first with a minimum of £650 and a maximum of £800, the second with a minimum of £500 and a maximum of £650. The Clerks were placed either in a second class grade with a minimum of £300 and a maximum of £500 or a third class grade with a minimum of £100 and a maximum of £300. In 1822 the minimum of the first class (first section) clerks was reduced to £600 and the minimum of the third class clerks to £90, at which level they were required to continue for three years. (fn. 14)

Chief Clerk to Controller 1660-86

An annual allowance of £30, in addition to his salary of £30, was made available in September 1660 to Thomas Turner, a Clerk to one of the Extra Commissioners, who had served for many years prior to 1660 in senior clerical positions in the naval departments. (fn. 15) On his transfer to the Controller's Office in October 1660, he became effectively the Controller's Chief Clerk, and the same allowance in addition to their salary was made available to his successors. (fn. 16) In 1674 a fixed salary of £80 was made available to the Chief Clerk to the Controller. (fn. 17) Following the abolition of the office of Controller of Treasurer's Accounts in 1679, two Chief Clerks at salaries of £80 were allowed to serve in the Controller's Office. (fn. 18) But as the second of them continued to work as Chief Clerk for Treasurer's Accounts, he has been listed under that title. (fn. 19) From 1686 it is possible to distinguish a Chief Clerk for Bills and Accounts, and from 1694 a Chief Clerk for Seamen's Wages, and from those dates the Chief Clerks to the Controller have been listed under those titles. (fn. 20)

Chief Clerks to Clerks of the Acts 1664-1796

In 1664 an annual allowance of £30, in addition to his salary of £30, was made available to one of the Clerks to the Clerk of the Acts. (fn. 21) The Clerk in receipt of this allowance effectively filled the position of Chief Clerk to the Clerk of the Acts, although it is not always possible to distinguish from the Treasurer's accounts to which Clerk the allowance was paid. In 1674 provision was made for a fixed salary of £80 to be paid to the two Chief Clerks employed by the joint Clerks of the Acts. (fn. 22) This salary continued to be paid to two Chief Clerks until 1686, although the office of Clerk of the Acts was held singly from 1679. Between 1686 and 1688 the former Clerks to the Clerk of the Acts served under the Secretary, a salary of £90 being made available to the Chief Clerk. (fn. 23) In 1688 a salary of £100 was made available to the Chief Clerk to the Clerk of the Acts, (fn. 24) at which level it remained until the abolition of the office of Clerk of the Acts in 1796.

Chief Clerk (Victualling Accounts) 1672-1796

In 1673 an annual allowance of £200, in addition to his salary of £50, was made available to John Godwin, then a Clerk to the Controller of Victualling Accounts, who thus became effectively Chief Clerk to that Commissioner. (fn. 25) In 1674 provision was made for a salary of £80 to be paid to the Chief Clerk to the Controller of Victualling Accounts, (fn. 26) but the provision was not implemented until 1678 when Godwin left office. (fn. 27) The salary was increased to £100 in 1686 (fn. 28) and remained at that level until 1796 when the office was abolished and the Chief Clerk transferred as a Clerk to the Office for Treasurer's Accounts. (fn. 29)

Chief Clerk to Surveyors 1674-1832

A salary of £80 was made available to the Chief Clerk to the Surveyor in 1674. (fn. 30) The salary was increased to £100 in 1686, (fn. 31) to £300 in 1794, (fn. 32) and to £500 in 1807. (fn. 33) An additional annual allowance of £100 was paid to the Chief Clerk from 1814 as Secretary to the Committee of Surveyors. (fn. 34) The allowance was discontinued in 1816 on the introduction of a progressive salary scale when the Chief Clerk was placed in the second section of first class clerks. (fn. 35)

Chief Clerk (Treasurer's Accounts) 1674-1822

A salary of £80 was made available to the Chief Clerk to the Controller of Treasurer's Accounts in 1674. (fn. 36) Following the abolition of the office of Controller of Treasurer's Accounts in 1679, his Chief Clerk, Thomas Godsalve, was transferred to the Controller's Office with the same salary and the same duties. (fn. 37) In 1686 his salary was increased to £100. (fn. 38) On Godsalve's death in 1687, no successor was appointed. But from December 1689 a salary of £100 was made available to John Crawley, now described as one of the Head Clerks to the Controller, who had probably carried out Godsalve's duties from 1687. (fn. 39) On the revival of the office of Controller of Treasurer's Accounts in 1691 Crawley was transferred to the Office for Treasurer's Accounts as Chief Clerk. (fn. 40)

In 1796 the salary of the office was increased to £500. (fn. 41) From 1798 an additional annual allowance of £100 was paid to the Chief Clerk in consideration of his labour in making up accounts for the information of the Treasury. (fn. 42) In 1807 this allowance was abolished and the salary increased to £600. (fn. 43) On the introduction of a progressive salary scale in 1816 the Chief Clerk was placed in the second section of first class clerks. (fn. 44) The Office for Treasurer's Accounts was abolished in 1822 when the Chief Clerk was superannuated. (fn. 45)

Chief Clerks (Ticket Office) 1674-1829

This office was created in 1674 with a salary of £80. The first appointment to the office was made by Admiralty order on the recommendation of the Navy Board. (fn. 46) In 1682 an attempt by the Admiralty to replace the Chief Clerk appointed in 1674 with an official of their own choice was successfully resisted by the Navy Board, (fn. 47) and thenceforward appointments to the office were made by the Commissioners of the Navy responsible for the control of the Ticket Office. The salary was increased to £100 in 1688. (fn. 48) In 1694 following the prohibition of the practice whereby clerks in the Navy Office acted as agents for the receipt of officers' and seamen's wages, the salaries of both the Chief Clerk and the second Clerk in the Ticket Office were increased to £200. (fn. 49) From this date the two officials were known respectively as First Chief and Second Chief Clerk. Their salaries were reduced to £100 in 1698 but restored to £200 in 1699. (fn. 50)

In 1796 the Chief Clerk was provided with a salary of £600 and the office of Second Chief Clerk was abolished. (fn. 51) In 1807 the duties were again divided between a First Chief and a Second Chief Clerk at salaries of £700 and £600 respectively. (fn. 52) In 1816 on the introduction of a progressive salary scale the First Chief Clerk was placed in the first section of first class clerks and the Second Chief Clerk in the second section. (fn. 53) The position of Second Chief Clerk was not filled after 1821. (fn. 54) On the abolition of the Ticket Office in 1829 the Chief Clerk was transferred to the Ticket and Wages Branch as Chief Clerk. (fn. 55)

Chief Clerk (Storekeepers' Accounts) 1680-1822

Between 1669 and 1680 the Clerk of the Control resident at the Navy Office effectively filled the position of Chief Clerk for Storekeepers' Accounts. (fn. 56) When that office was abolished a salary of £80 was made available to the Chief Clerk to the Controller of Storekeepers' Accounts. (fn. 57) The salary was increased to £100 in 1686, (fn. 58) to £120 in 1796, (fn. 59) to £300 in 1798 (fn. 60) and to £500 in 1807. (fn. 61) On the introduction of a progressive salary scale in 1816 the Chief Clerk was placed in the second section of first class clerks. (fn. 62) The Office was abolished in 1822 when the Chief Clerk was transferred to the Office for Stores. (fn. 63)

Chief Clerks (Bills and Accounts) 1686-1832

In 1686 a salary of £80 was provided for a Chief Clerk in the late Controller's Office 'in consideration of his delivering out all Bills'. (fn. 64) When the same clerk's salary was increased to £100 in 1688 his duties were defined as 'examining, assigning, passing and entering all bills and accounts' in the Controller's Office. (fn. 65) Thenceforward the official in receipt of this salary was usually known as the Chief Clerk in the Office for Bills and Accounts.

In 1796 the Chief Clerk's salary was increased to £800, and he was required to act also as Secretary to the Committee of Accounts. (fn. 66) The combination of duties being found too much for one person to perform, the task of attending the Committee fell to one of the junior Clerks in the Office for Bills and Accounts, and in 1807 the Chief Clerk was formally relieved of the Secretaryship. (fn. 67) In 1816 on the introduction of a progressive salary scale, the Chief Clerk was placed in the first section of first class clerks. (fn. 68) In 1829 provision was made for a Second Chief Clerk, placed in the second section of first class clerks, to serve in the Office. (fn. 69)

Chief Clerk (Seamen's Wages) 1694-1829

In 1694 following the prohibition of the practice whereby clerks in the Navy Office acted as agents for the receipt of officers' and seamen's wages, the salary of the Clerk employed by the Controller in attending pays was increased to £200. (fn. 70) From this date the official in receipt of the salary was usually known as the Chief Clerk for Pays or as the Chief Clerk in the Office for Seamen's Wages. The salary was reduced to £80 in 1698 but restored to £200 in 1699. (fn. 71)

The Chief Clerk's salary was increased to £500 in 1796 (fn. 72) and to £600 in 1807, when an annual allowance of £60 from the Greenwich Chest was discontinued. (fn. 73) In 1816 on the introduction of a progressive salary scale the Chief Clerk was placed in the first section of first class clerks, (fn. 74) but reduced to the second section in 1822. (fn. 75) On the abolition of the Office for Seamen's Wages in 1829 the Chief Clerk was transferred to the Ticket and Wages Branch as Second Chief Clerk. (fn. 76)

Chief Clerk (Allotment Office) 1795-1822

On the creation of the Allotment Office in 1795 a salary of £400 was made available to the Chief Clerk or Ledger Keeper. (fn. 77) The position was filled by Ottey, formerly a Clerk in the Office for Seamen's Wages. In 1797 an additional annual allowance of £100 was granted to Ottey to transact the business occasioned by several new regulations governing the raising of seamen. (fn. 78) The allowance was discontinued in 1807 when the salary was increased to £600. (fn. 79) On the introduction of a progressive salary scale in 1816 the Chief Clerk was placed in the second section of first class clerks. (fn. 80) The Office was abolished in 1822 when Ottey returned to the Office for Seamen's Wages. (fn. 81)

Chief Clerks (Secretary's Office) 1796-1832

In 1796 a salary of £700 was made available to the Chief Clerk in the Secretary's Office, who was also required to act as Deputy Secretary. (fn. 82) His duties as Chief Clerk, however, prevented his affording the Secretary any assistance, and in 1807 the distinct office of Assistant Secretary was created. At the same time the duties of the Chief Clerk were divided between a First Chief Clerk at a salary of £700, who superintended the correspondence of the Board and of the Committee of Correspondence, and a Second Chief Clerk at a salary of £600, who superintended the correspondence of the Committees of Accounts and Stores. (fn. 83) On the introduction of a progressive salary scale in 1816, the First Chief Clerk was placed in the first section of first class clerks and the Second Chief Clerk in the second section. (fn. 84) Following the abolition of the post of Assistant Secretary in 1820 the First Chief Clerk was again required to act as Deputy Secretary. (fn. 85) The position of Second Chief Clerk was abolished in 1822, but revived in 1829. (fn. 86)

Chief Clerks (Stores Office) 1796-1832

In 1796 a salary of £700 was made available to the Chief Clerk in the Office for Stores, who was also required to act as Secretary to the Committee for Stores. (fn. 87) Derrick, the Chief Clerk 1796-1807, was able to perform both duties 'completely' by devoting more time to his work than the usual office hours. (fn. 88) But in 1807 the office of Secretary to the Committee for Stores was separated from that of Chief Clerk in the Office for Stores, and the salary of the Chief Clerk reduced to £600. (fn. 89) In 1816 on the introduction of a progressive salary scale the Chief Clerk was placed in the first section of first class clerks. (fn. 90) In 1829 provision was made for a First Chief and a Second Chief Clerk in the Office, the First to be placed in the first section of first class clerks, the Second to be placed in the second section. In the event, the Second Chief Clerk, Rogers, who had previously served in the first section of the first class, was allowed to retain his position in the first section. (fn. 91)

Chief Clerk (Contract Office) 1803-32

On the formation of a distinct Contract Office in 1803 a salary of £300 was made available to the Chief Clerk. (fn. 92) In 1807 the salary was increased to £400, (fn. 93) and in 1816 on the introduction of a progressive salary scale, the Chief Clerk was placed in the second section of first class clerks. (fn. 94)

Chief Clerk (Foreign Accounts) 1807-29

On the creation of the Office for Foreign Accounts in 1807 a salary of £600 was made available to the Chief Clerk. (fn. 95) In 1816 on the introduction of a progressive salary scale the Chief Clerk was placed in the second section of first class clerks. (fn. 96) The Office was abolished in 1829 when the Chief Clerk was superannuated. (fn. 97)

Chief Clerks (Ticket and Wages Branch) 1829-32

On the creation of the Ticket and Wages Branch in 1829, the Chief Clerks of the Ticket Office and of the Office for Seamen's Wages were appointed to the positions of Chief and Second Chief Clerk, placed respectively in the first and second sections of first class clerks. (fn. 98)