Examples of Lists of Marine Boys along with associated entries in the Marine Society’s Records

Source: BL: IOR: L/MAR/C/731 - Marine Boys. List from India giving age, date of indenture, and other particulars. List in alphabetical order - 1842 to 1861

These alphabetical listings give salient details of these youngsters’ service and should be used as a starting point, before moving on to the monthly returns in L/MAR/730.

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Example:-

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Name	Jolley David
Age	15
Date of appointment by Court	29^th Septr 1841
Date of Indenture	18^th Sepr 1841
Embarked per Ship	Ellen
Arrived at Bombay	17^th March 1842
Promoted to be . O.S. . A.B.	Purser’s Servant vide list dated 1 Jany 1849
Date of discharge &c	14 March 1849
Remarks	Discharged at Suez

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Source: BL: IOR: L/MAR/C/730 - Marine Boys. List from India giving age, date of indenture, and other particulars - March 1843 to December 1864

While originally these hand-written returns would have been monthly, it would appear that only a percentage has been kept. These are normally quarterly, but sometime are half-yearly. Nevertheless, to all intents and purposes this is sufficient for tracing these youngsters’ drafts and how ‘disposed of’ and are easy to use once their number is known.

Example:-

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March 1843

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No.	2
Names	David Jolley
Age at entry	16 years
Date of Indenture	18^th September 1841
Date of arrival in Bombay	17^th March 1842
By what Vefsel arrived	Ellen
In what Vefsel now Employed	Semiramis
Remarks

Source: NMM: MSY/M/1 - Marine Society - Alphabetical Indexes to Registers of Admission

Example:-

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David Jolley

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Entered on board:	29^th April 1841
When Discharged:	21^st September 1841
To what Ship Discharged:	?? by the Ellen
N.B. The ‘Register of Admission’ for 1841 is missing!

Source: NMM: MSY/K/10 - Marine Society - Register of Boys Received and Discharged from the Marine Society’s Ships 24^th August 1837 to 11^th November 1841

Example:-

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Date when received:	29^th April 1841
No:	23,159
Name:	David Jolley
Age:	16
Stature:	5 ft 1/2 in
Description:	Grey eyes, Brown hair, Fresh Complexion
When discharged:	27^th September 1841
To whom or what Ship discharged:	Indian Navy by Ellen
In what Capacity to serve:	Apprentice
How long at other Schools:	5 Years
Character:	Good Boy Bible

Incidentally, from these entries (tracing all through his first engagement), it was then possible to trace David Jolley’s subsequent engagements of continuous service using the returns of seamen entered. He progressed to holding senior rates, before then becoming a Bombay Pilot. Once again, his progression and appointments can be traced from relevant sources.

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