Example of a Nineteenth Century Master’s Application
for Certificate of Service
Source: TNA: PRO: BT 127/1
WILLIAM COX
Born Wisbeach 27th
December 1826
Claimed at the ‘Port of Wisbeach
20th day of December 1850’
Certificate issued at Wisbeach
17th January 1851
Certificate number: 37,296
Register ticket number 383,545
Present age 24
Place of Address Wisbeach
|
Apprentice 2nd Mate Seaman 2nd Mate Mate Mate Mate Mate Master |
ELIZABETH of Wisbech FREED of Wisbech UNITY of Rye CASSANDRA of London FAIRFAX of Sunderland VIOLET of Wisbech GLEAM of Dartmouth ROYAL WILLIAM of Wisbeach TRIAL of Wisbeach |
130 346 104 215 270 136 129 113 119 |
1.3.44 - 1.3.48 14.3.48 - 26.5.48 31.5.48 - 21.7.48 31.7.48 - 8.12.48 8.12.48 - 5.2.49 22.2.49 - 13.8.49 16.8.49 - 29.1.50 28.2.50 - 10.7.50 1.8.50 |
Baltic, Madeira & coasting Baltic coasting Mediterranean Mediterranean Baltic & ‘french’
(sic) Mediterranean coasting Baltic - ‘remains’ |
The above is self
explanatory with the exception of column three. This denoted tonnage, whether
burthen or gross, is not apparent. For the technically minded, there were a
number of changes of rules dealing with the measurement of tonnage during the
19th century. However, this is a subject that it probably left to
the very knowledgeable, or professional naval
architects!
For information:-
William Cox went
out to Australia very soon after he qualified for master, during the famous
gold rush period. Ultimately he did well as a land speculator. Incidentally,
the above application form proved that claims later made by William Cox of
being a very experienced and successful master mariner, which were included in
an obituary, were far from well founded.