Examples of Ratings' Certificates of Service

Examples of the People’s and Ratings’ Certificates of Service

Source: TNA: PRO: ADM 29/2 1803-16

p.4

Thomas Seward

Diamond

16 December 1802

Boy

11 September 1806

----” ---

12 September 1806

LM*

Ordy

20 September 1809

Piper

21 September 1809

Ordy

* Landman, or Landsman

Between two series of Navy Pay Office records (numbering 87 volumes) there are certificates of service for the people and ratings (below warrant officer rate) between 1834 and 1894. As noted elsewhere, there were different forms and some were better kept than others. It should also be remembered that the years used in the catalogues are the dates of the certificates being made up, not of the service, which can be long in the past. Following are three examples taken (almost) at random. Incidentally, I included the stewardess as I have never heard of women actually in the Royal Navy in the 19^th century. I would appreciate any information readers can supply on this aspect of naval service.

Source: TNA: PRO: ADM 29/21

p.31

Joseph Willcox......London

Sup Boy

2^nd Class

....4

Southampton

17 Oct 28

Supy

Boy

17 May 1831

Boy

2^nd Class

....1

Succefs

18 May 31

Boy

2^nd

class

15 Dec 1831

P off

......7..2..2

Boy

1^st Class

....7

Onyx

14 Jan 32

Boy

1^st

class

12 Nov 1832

Paid off

.....10..3..2

224

Rufsell

1 Aug 35

Ordy

31 July 1836

.1..0..0..0

.”

1 Aug 36

Able

16 Jan 1839

Paid off

..2..6..0..1

.4.11..1..5

Admiralty

6 Feby 39

__________

Source: TNA: PRO: ADM 29/89

p.118

Jack Friday

No:	Character	Ship	Age	Entry	Rank or Rating	Discharge	Cause
?BB?/5	V Good	Ariel		..........F.E 16 July 74	Shore Krooman	22 June 75	Shore Sierra Leone Invd
14/274	-”-	Simoon		14 Feb 77	- “ -	3 March 77	Shore S. Leone
F. 56 10 Dec 79

As a krooman, Jack Friday was not allowed engagements of continuous service.

Source: TNA: PRO: ADM 29/96

The following example I found by complete accident and I regard as highly intriguing. I have spoken to a number of people, including fellow naval genealogical researchers and no one has come across a woman in naval service in the latter half of the nineteenth century. It would appear that Mrs. Hooper was in royal service, the VICTORIA AND ALBERT being a royal yacht (a paddle-steamer). Any information on this would be welcomed.

p.40

Mrs. Mary Jane Hooper..........Southampton Hants

No:

Character

Ship

Age

Entry

Rank or Rating

Discharge

Cause

5/101

5/3