Examples of H.E.I.C. Officers’ Records of Service

 

 

Source: BL: IOR: L/MAR/C/652 - Descriptions of Commanders and Officers in the Company’s Service 1771-1778, giving details of previous service

.

There are four volumes in this series are in original form and those so far seen are alphabetically indexed at the front, although some entries are damaged.

.

Examples:-

.

p.227

.

John Fea, Third Mate of the Eagle 30 Years of Age, Used

the Sea 17 Years 5 Voyages to India, last as Third Mate

of the Greenwich

          Mr Bishop’s Certificate produced

           Approved 4th April 1777

           Resigned the 3rd May 1777’

.

p.228 

.

John William Wood, Second Mate of the Lord North 25 years

of age, used the sea 13 Years, 4 Voyages to India

.

................. 1st Voyage to India in 1764 in the Thames to Bencoo

............................................................. and China as Seaman

}

}

Yrs Mos

..1... 6

................. 2nd Do ..................1767 in the Thames to Bombay

....................................................... and Bengal as Midshipman

}
}

..2.....-

................. 3rd Do ............ 1770 in the Thames to Bencooln

............................................. and China 5 Mate, came home 4th

}
}

..1... 6

............................ In the Seaford, Man of War to Jamaica acting

....................................................................... Lieutenant ..........

}

}

..-.... 6

................. 4th Voyage to India in 1773 in the Thames to B’by

............................................................. as Third Mate ............

}

}

..1... 8

........................... Mr Bishop’s Certificate produced

Yrs

..7... 2

.................

 

.====

......................... Approved 21st May 1777’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: BL: IOR: L/MAR/C/775 - Records of Service of Masters and Mates of Extra Ships 1802-09

.

This series is held in four volumes. Alphabetically indexed at the front, the handwriting can be variable - from beautiful to decidedly difficult to read! Nevertheless, there is some fascinating detail in some of these.

.

Example:-

.

p.177

.

.Cornwall Tathwell Chief Mate of the

Devaynes 33 Years of Age. Used the Sea 9 Years

2 Voyages to India

 

 

 

 

yrs mos

....... In the Royal Navy as midshipman

 

...3.....-

....... In the West India Trade as 2nd Mate

 

...2.....6

1st Voyage to India in 1802 in the Ocean to

}

 

....... Madras, Bombay & China, as 5th Mate

}

...-....10

....... acted as 4th Mate ..............................

 

...1.....2

2nd Voyage to India in 1804 in the Retreat

}

 

....... extra Ship to Madeira & Bombay as

}

 

....... Third Mate for which he was approved

}

...1.....-

....... 5th March 1805 ... left the Ship on the

}

 

...... voyage home at Cove off Cork 14 April 1806

}

_______

Years

 

...8.....6

England

 

________

A. No. 1057

 

 

L. No. 926

 

 

................... Approved 26th Septr 1806’

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Source: BL: IOR: L/MAR/C/650 - Descriptions of Commanders and Officers of the Company’s Own Ships 1815-1832 with Detailed Service

 

These are alphabetically indexed at the front, many with multiple page entries. Some of the indexed entries are for mates on one voyage only as part of commanders’ entries.

 

Example:-

 

p.306

 

Charles Whiter White, 3rd Mate

of the Buckinghamshire, 32 years

old, used the Sea 15 years, 8 Voyages

in the Company’s Services the last

as 3rd Mate of this Ship for which

he was approved on the 7 Jany 1831

 

England

A } No 191   Born 16 October 1800

L }               Committee of Shipping

C . 624 19 Decembr 1837’

 

N.B. The lengthier details of his earlier service are to be found on pages p.251 and p.278

 

 

 

 

 

 Source: BL: IOR: L/MAR/C/849 - Statements of Service, compiled in 1834, of E.I.C. Marine Commanders, Officers, Surgeons, Pursers (also Boatswains, Carpenters and Gunners)

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There are two volumes of these statements of service and it should be noted are on microfilm. There is a good, typed alphabetical index at the front of the first reel, giving volume number and page number(s). These cover individuals still serving in 1834 and as can be seen relate to compensation for the forced winding up of the mercantile operations. The actual documents are varied, from statements of service not dissimilar to that of the Royal Navy certificates of service, to certificates of competency in navigation, miscellaneous letters and may contain certificates of baptism and marriage.

.

Example:-

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p.24

.

Mr Charles Ellis

enclosing statement of

his Services on board Several

chartered Ships, with Declaration

of his intention to have

remained in Maritime

Service -

Con. ?Fin? Home } Col

Commee - } 23 Dec 34’

 

‘STATEMENT of the Services of Charles Ellis

....... on board the following Ships employed by the East-India Company.

.

 

SHIP’S NAMES.

SEASON OUTWARD.

STATION.

First Voyage ...............

Second do. .................

Third do. ....................

Fourth do. ..................

Fifth do. .....................

Sixth do. ....................

Seventh do. .................

Eighth do. ..................

Ninth do. ...................

Tenth do. ...................

Eleventh do. ...............

Twelfth do. ................

Earl Balcarras

London

Earl Balcarras

Earl Balcarras

London

London

Earl Balcarras

Canning

1817. 1818.

1819. 1820

1821. 1822

1823. 1824

1825. 1826.

1828

1830

1832

Midshipman

Midshipman

Midshipman

6th Mate

6th Mate

5th Mate

4th Mate

4th Mate

....GENTLEMEN,

...........I Charles Ellis................................................................................................................................ .. , do hereby declare, that I had not, previously to August 1833, quitted the Maritime Service of the Company, for the purpose either of retiring from it, or of following any other pursuit; and that if the Company had gone on trading in common with the Public, it was my intention to continue to follow the Maritime profession in that Service.

................................................................... I am,

................................................................................... GENTLEMEN,

.....................of Directors ...........................................................Your most obedient Servant,

To the Honourable Court of the ............................................................. Charles Ellis

East-India Company’

 

 

 Go to examples of H.E.IC. Petty Officers’ Records of Service

 Go to examples of various listings of H.E.I.C. Officers’ and Petty Officers’ Records

  

 Go to an example of an Indian Navy Officer’s Record of Service 1838-48

 Go to examples of Royal Naval Officers’ Certificates of Service

 

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