Examples of Civil Records within Naval Documentation

Examples of Civil Records within Naval Documentation

Source: PRO: ADM 44/P5 - Registers of Seamen’s Wills 1802-24

The complete series stretches between 1802 and 1861. These original documents are filed together flat in large boxes, in registered numerical order. Generally they are made up of two types of records. There is a form detailing how the claim was processed, that will have been folded up. This would have contained the other document, the actual claim itself, now pinned to the claim form.

Following are details of the claim made on behalf of John Patrick’s mother (see the naval casualties page).

The original front of the folded claim form gives the basic information identifying the claim including the registered number, along with other details that as yet I have not been able to read. In this case the identifiable information is as follows:-

PA .

1187

John Patrick

Beagle

?Hanguhan?

4 Septr 09

?Caihiu?

15 Dec 1809

On the reverse is a standard form:-

Name of the Seaman or Marine	John Patrick………Beagle
Name and address of the claimant	Jane Patrick….……Mother ?Innerland? near the Sea ?Dublin?
	Sent	Returned
List of queries sent to the Navy Office	20^th Feby 09 8 July 09
Sent to be cleared at the Sick and Hurt Office
Wrote to the out ports to know if wages have been paid
Forwarded blank petition to ditto to be filled up
Wrote to the claimant	5 July 09
Wrote to the minister of petitioner’s parish
Petition to be registered	2199
Petition rejected and reason assigned

The actual claim is again of a standard form, a small document with a large seal attached:-

frozen under Four hundred and fifty

late prod

Initialled

Charles by Divine Providence Archbifhop of Canterbury, Primate of all England and Metropolitan, To our well-beloved in Chrift Jane Patrick widow of the natural and lawful mother and next of kin of John Patrick late a Seaman to his Majesty's Ship Beagle Bachelor deceased Greeting, Whereas the said John Patrick……………………………………………………………..

………. (as is alleged) lately died inteftate whilst living and at the time of his death, Goods, Chattels, or Credits, in divers diocefes or jurifdictions; by reafon whereof the fole ordering and granting adminiftration of all and fingular the faid Goods. Chattels and Credits, and alfo the auditing, allowing and final difcharge the Account thereof are well known to appertain only and wholly to us, and not to any inferior Judge: WE being defirous that the faid Goods, Chattels and Credits, maybe well and faithfully adminiftered, applied and difpofed or according to Law, DO therefore by the Prefents grant full Power and Authority to you, in whofe Fidelity we confide, to adminifter and faithfully difpose of the faid Goods, Chattels and Credits, and to afk, demand, recover, and receive whatever Debts, and Credits which, whift living, and at the Time of his Death, did any way belong to his eftate, and, to pay whatever Debt the faid Deceafed, at the Time of his Death, did owe, fo far as fuch Goods, Chattels and Credits will therefore extend and the law requires: You having been already fworn by Commifsion well and faithfully to adminifter the fame, and to make a true and perfect inventory of all and fingular the faid Goods, Chattels and Credits, and not to exhibit the fame into the Registry of our Prerogative Court of Canterbury, on or before the laft Day of April - next enfuing; and alfo to render a juft and true Account thereof on or before the laft Day of October - when fhall be in the year of our Lord One Thoufand Eight Hundred and four

And WE do by thefe Prefents ordain, depute and conftitute you Administrating of all and fingular the Goods, Chattels and Credits of the Deceafed.

Given at London the tenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nine and in the fifth year from Translation.

………………………………………………….Geo. Gosling. } Deputy

………………………………………………….Nath Gosling. } Register

…………………………………………………./R.C. Crefwell }

Source: PRO: ADM 48/73 - Wills of Petty Officers and Private Men - Surnames beginning ‘P’ 1799-1811

This is one of a very large class of records again relating to wills from 1786 to 1882. Apart from trawling through the actual microfilms of wills, potentially there are two other ways into this. There is a microfilmed external index, but can prove extremely time consuming to view itself: although if found there can be very useful genealogical information. There is also a card index in the research enquiries room. However, there is a slight problem with this and one that a number of conversations with civil servants that has left me less than impressed. Presently this only exists for men whose surnames began somewhere between ‘A’ and ‘Hu’. One explanation is that this was never completed: but no one can tell me when or why this was abandoned, never mind who was behind this. A second opinion was that this had been completed, but the remainder has been lost in one of the movements of the cabinets around the research enquiries room. And, a derivative of this was that although once complete, it could not be trusted, as it had been carried out by a volunteer that was not trusted by the civil servants.

p.30

Will Pi 209 ? ? 19 Feby 1803

.

In the Name of God, Amen, I, Bennet

Phillips late Quarter Master on board His Majesty’s Ship Pallas, now of Plymouth dock Devon .................. being in bodily Health, and of found and Difpofing Mind and Memory, and confidering the Perils and Dangers of the Seas, and other Uncertainties of this tranfitory Life, do (for avoiding Controverfies after my Deceafe.) make, publifh, and declare this my laft Will and Teftament, in Manner following. (That is to fay) Firft, I recommend my Soul to God that gave it, and my Body I commit to the Earth or Sea, as fhall pleafe God to order; and as for and concerning all my worldly Eftate, I give, bequeath and difpofe thereof: That is to fay all my ..............................................................................................Wages, Sum and Sums of Money, Lands, Tenements, Goods, Chattels, and Eftate whatfoever, as fhall be any ways due, owing, or belonging unto me at the Time of my Deceafe, I do give, devife, and bequeath the fame unto My Brother John Phillip No 26 New Street Plymouth Dock, Devon........... And I do hereby nominate and appoint the above mentioned Mr Phillip.................................................................... Sole Executor of this my laft Will and Teftament, hereby revoking all former and other Wills, Teftaments, and Deeds of Gift, by me at any Time heretofore made. And I do ordain and ratify thefe Prefents, to ftand and be for, and as my only laft Will and Teftament.

.....In Witnefs whereof, to this my faid Will, I have fet my Hand and Seal, the Fourteenth Day of December in the Year of our Lord One Thoufand Eight Hundred and Two

And in the Forty Third Year of the Reign of His Majefty King George the Third- over Great-Britain, &c.

Signed, fealed, published, and...............Bennett Philips

declared in the Prefence of

?????????????

Source: PRO: ADM 30/57 - Commissioned Officers’ and Warrant Officers’ Marriage certificates 1801-18

In relation to widows’ pensions, unindexed, apparently by date of entry only

p.28

19^th February 1806

Susannah Johnston Widow of Danl Johnston late Lieut of H.M. Ship Amazon who died 3 Decr 1805 was married on February 1800 in the Parish Church of Limehouse in the County of Middlesex about 29 year of his age

Sworn before P. Goodhew signed ....

Source: PRO: ADM 13/71 - Commissioned and Warranted Officers Marriage certificates 1862-1866

Part of a series that runs between 1806 and 1866 (carrying on for commissioned officers until 1902) the volumes I have seen have an alphabetical index at the front (although there is also a card index in the P.R.O’s research enquiries room.. It should be noted that the entry numbers are not the modern stamped ones, but those in pen or pencil that have often been scrubbed out.

These are mostly written in long hand and can also contain some additional correspondence. A lesser number have been printed (see below)

p.196

Burney 1863

.

4^TH AUGUST, 1863 REPORT OF AN OFFICER’S MARRIAGE, Made for the purpose of its being recorded at the Admiralty, with a view to facilitate the Settlement of Any Claim that may be made on behalf of the Officer’s Family, in the event of his Death
Officer’s Name and Rank, and where serving	William G.N. BURNEY, Assistant-Paymaster, "Royal Adelaide," Devonport, Plymouth
Officer’s Age at the time of Marriage	Twenty-eight
Maiden Name of the Lady, at full length	MARY DENNISON, of Innellan.
Date of Marriage	Fourth of August, 1863.
Place where the Ceremony was performed	Dunoon Church (English Episcopal)
Names of the Officiating Clergyman, and Subscribing Witness	John. Miller D.D. Rector of St Martin’s Birmingham The Revd William Porteous, Witness
Signature of the Officer ?	W G N Burney
Applicable to Marriages in Scotland only. WE the subscribing parties, viz., William G.N. Burney, Assistant Paymaster, "Royal Adelaide," Devonport, Plymouth, and Mary Dennison, of Innellan, hereby Declare and do Certify to the Secretary of the Admiralty that we are lawfully married persons. MADE and Subscribed in my presence at Innellan on the 4^th day of August’ Signed by the WGN Burney, Mary Dennison and R McFarlane Lt

Source: PRO: ADM 13/191 - Marriage Certificates - Commissioned and Warrant Officers 1890-96

These records have been bound together and basically are in alphabetical and year order (but working backwards from 1896 to 1890). Most of these are hand written, but some are on printed forms. Incidentally, these cover officers on the active and retired lists, as well as coastguard officers and there is at least one Royal Naval Reserve officer included. No warrant officers found.

Source: PRO: ADM 13/192 - Marriage Certificates - Commissioned and Warrant Officers 1890-96

As above, but chronologically in the conventional sense. No warrant officers found.

Source: PRO: ADM 6/380 - Death Certificates - Commissioned and Warranted Officers 1827

A class stretching from 1797 to 1829 these are mostly bundled together by rank. The main part of each body of paperwork are standard forms, plus additional correspondence backing up the claims. Individuals can be found within a card index of widow’s names in the PRO’s research enquiries room.

SEA OFFICERS’ WIDOWS’ CHARITY.

FIRST ADMISSION CERTIFICATE

To be in Force from and after the 1^st January, 1819.

These are to Certify, The Court of Assistants for managing the Charity for the Relief of Widows of Commission and Warrant Officers of the Royal Navy, That James Henry Garrety

late a Commander

of the Royal Navy, died on the twenty second -

Day of July One Thousand eight Hundred

and twenty seven while on Half Pay.

That according to the best information we can obtain from others, and do really believe ourselves, the BEARER, Anna Maria Garrety -

who applies for the Pension as his Widow, was his lawful Wife; That she has not already any Pension as the Widow of an Officer, or by any other Grant from Government; and that further we believe her to be a fit and deserving Object for the Benefit of the Charity.

Dated at London ---------------------------------------

this second ---------------------------------- Day

of August 1827

Minister L McCarthy

Justice of the Peace

Naval Officers Gordon Thos Falcon Captain R.N.

? Forster Vice Admiral

To wit}

.........}

This Deponent Anna Maria Garrety

Voluntarily maketh Oath, That she has not already any Pension as an Officer’s Widow, or by any other Grant from Government; that she was legally married to James Henry Garrety

late a Commander -------------------- of the Royal Navy, (as appears by the Certificate hereunto attached) on the twenty ninth Day of October ------- One Thousand eight Hundred and four ----------------- in the Parish Church of Saint Mary, Dover

In the County of Kent --------------------------------- He the said James Henry Garrety --------------------------- being at that time, in or about the twenty ninth ------------------------------ Year of his Age, and she in the twenty fifth ----------- Year of her Age; And she further maketh Oath, that her said Husban died on the Twenty second Day of July -------------------------- One Thousand eight Hundred and Twenty seven.

Widow’s }

Signature } Anna Maria Garrety

Widow’s Residence} ?Abergwilly? - Carmarthenshire

Attached is a certificate from the Navy Office stating that the Commander had paid ‘the usual Allowance of Three pence per pound, toward the payment of the Widows Pensions’; a certificate extracted from the Register of Marriages for the relevant church and a letter from a surgeon confirming his death.

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