Examples of Commissioned Officers’ Passings

 

 

Source: TNA: PRO ADM 107/20 - Lieutenants 1691-1832 (Home)

 

Each entry has two standard forms, with one signed statement as to the identity of the applicant. Some have additional correspondence

 

p.262 

.

 

Admiralty Office. 3rd Septr 1796

Gentlemen,

WHEREAS the Bearer hereof, Mr John Robinson

has made Application to the Lords Commiffioners of Admiralty that he may be examined touching his Qualifications to perform the Duty of a Lieutenant in His Majefty’s Navy; I am commanded by their Lordfhips to fignify their Directions to you, to proceed to examine him accordingly; and in café it fhall appear to you that he has ferved Six Years as Midfhipman, has been rated Two of the faid Six Years as Midfhipman, or Mate, in fome of His Majefty’s Ships; and that he does produce regular Journals, and good Certificates from the Commanders he has ferved with, of his Sobriety, Diligence and Qualifications of an Able Seaman; and that, upon your own Examination, you find he has attained a fufficient Knowledge, both in the Practick Part and Theory of Navigation, and you fhall be fatisfied that he is not under Twenty Years of Age, you are then to give him a Certificate, expreffing therein his particular Qualifications.

 

I am,

 

Gentlemen,

 

Your moft humble Servant,

 

Wm Marsden

Navy Board

 

In the bottom left hand on these documents were details on the number of journals submitted, ships served on and the officers taking the board. In this case:-

 

28 Journals

Edgar Thundrer & Glory

Certif Captns Molloy Bertie

Barker, Ballard + Sir Geo Home + Lt Lock

 

At the foot on the right these were dated and signed appropriately

 

p.263

 

‘It appears by the Parish Books of Hornchurch in the County of Essex that John the Son of William and Mary Robinson was Baptmized on the 20th Novr one thousand and seven Hundred and Sixty Seven - Given under my hand at the Said Parsonage house Jan 12th 1796

Edw. Spud Rector’

 

 p.264

.

Ships.

Entry.

Quality

Difcharge

Time.

Y

M

W

D

Edgar

5 May 1790

Able

4 June 1790

 

1

 

3

Do

5 June 1790

Mid

26 Aug 1791

1

2

3

6

Do

27 Aug 1791

Able

8 December 1792

1

3

2

6

Do

9 Decr 1792

Mid

25 February 1794

1

2

3

2

Thunderer

26 Feby 1794

Mid + Mastr Mate

1 May 1795

1

2

1

2

Do

21 July 1795

Able

5 August 1795

 

 

1

6

Do

6 Aug 1795

Mid + Mastr Mate

8 Feby 1796

 

7

3

1

Glory

11 Mar 1796

Mastr Mate

1 September 1796

 

6

1

 

31 July 1796

Captn Book

 

 

& Captns Cert

6

1

1

5

 

 

 NAVY-OFFICE, 5 September 1796

 

THESE are to Certify, That Mr John Robinson is

Borne on the Books of His Majefty’s Ships above-mentioned, the Time, and in the Qualities

There expreffed, being Six years one month one week + five days

P. Hyatt’

 

 

 

Source: TNA: PRO ADM 11/89 - Lieutenants, Mates and Sub-Lieutenants 1865-1880 (Register)

 

These volumes are arranged by date of passing for Lieutenant and are alphabetically indexed

 

p.1

.

Name:

Edward John Wingfield

(presumably entered) 13 Sepr 1859

Born 23 August 1846

When passed Seamanship:

2nd (class) 23rd August 1865

Where:

Yokohama

To what ship belonging:

Rattler

When passed College:

15th September 1866

Numbers obtained in Gunnery:

2 clafs 230

Numbers obtained in Mathematics:

3 clafs 641

Remarks:

3 April 1868 promoted

 

 

p.121

.

Name:

Henry George Porter

Born 28 May 1859

Entered 15 Jan 1872

When passed Seamanship:

1 cl 15 June 1878

Where:

Malta

To what ship belonging:

Monarch

When passed College:

Sept 1879

Numbers obtained in Gunnery:

2 cl 519

Numbers obtained in Mathematics:

3 cl 844

Remarks:

Deprived of one year’s seniority as a Sub Lieut by Ct Martial 29 June 80

 

  

 

Source: TNA: PRO 13/238 - Navigating Lieutenants 1869-1885

  

Two Standard forms, as below and for ‘First Class Ships’, sometimes with testimonials attached.

  

Passing Certificate at the Hydrographical Department, Admiralty,

FOR A NAVIGATING LIEUTENANT.

 

IN pursuance of Orders from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, dated

25th November 1874, and in accordance with the Regulations in

Circular W. No. 54, dated the 24th December, 1868, we have examined Navg Sub Lieutenant

Henry J. Heane as to his knowledge of the under-mentioned

Subject, in which he has obtained the following Numbers:-

SUBJECTS

Full

Numbers

Numbers

Obtained

 

I.

On General Pilotage and its Duties

200

166

 

II.

On the Pilotage of the English Channel

500

295

 

III.

On the mode of constructing Charts, and the practical Use of them

75

61

 

IV.

On the Systems of Winds and Currents which prevail over the different Oceans

150

120

 

V.

On Compass Deviation

75

62

 

 

Total

1000

704

 

 After a full investigation, we find that he is competent to pilot any of Her Majesy’s

Ships (except those of the First Class), and is entitled to a Third Class Certificate.

Dated at the Hydrographical Department of the Admiralty, this 26th day

of November 1874

Danl Pender

J.W.H. Harvey

J.P. Hitchfield

H.R. Harris

Staff Commander Chief Naval Assistant Hydrographic Dept

Staff Commander H.M.S. Pembroke

Staff Commander Hydrographic Department Admiralty

Staff Commander Hydrographic Department Admiralty

 Approved,

Fredr J.O. Evans Hydrographer’

 

 

Go back to tracing commissioned officers

Go to examples of warrant officers’ passing certificates

 

Go to examples of certificates of baptism for officers of the H.E.I.C.

 

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