As noted in my paper on education within the navy, there were social differences between sea officers commissioned and those holding warrants. In many respects this was a natural consequence of sea warfare. In the Mediaeval era when castles were built on merchantmen, captains and their senior lieutenants as military officers needed the skills of masters and other skilled senior mariners to navigate and run the ships themselves. But, by the latter part of the seventeenth century this had already significantly altered, especially with the oral professional examinations in seamanship for aspiring lieutenants introduced by Samuel Pepys. While gunnery and navigation were also within the scope of these executive officers, specialists in these arts or sciences were retained through the eighteenth century, along with some others. Nevertheless the structures of expertise evolved over the long term.

Before summoning up original records there a few types of publications that may be of help in relation to some warrant officers. Although not produced until well into the 19^th century, one of these is The New Navy List containing the names of all the Commissioned Officers, in Her Majesty’s Fleet; also the Masters, Medical Officers, Pursers, Chaplains, Schoolmasters and the Officers on Full Pay of the Royal Marines &c. &c...’ otherwise thankfully known as the New Navy List. As well as the listings there is interesting biographical detail on some individuals, arranged by year, but with no apparent linking to the usual entries. There are various useful sections in some, but not for others, so it is worth searching through at necessary. As well as a handful of named masters on superannuation from 1779 to 1794, names and dates of masters’ first ‘commissions’ from 1787 are good starting points. Medical officers are variously noted from 1777, including those ‘unfit for sea’ and paymasters (including pursers) again variously from 1777. The P.R.O holds copies, on microfilm, between February 1841 and the same month in 1856. The National Maritime Museum, Greenwich has some original copies between 1840 and 1857, but these are very fragile.

As for commissioned officers, Naval Estimates may be of real use in this and relate to pensions (dealt with in more detail below). But, for those at the early stages of research, these records might give early info on a small percentage of warrant officers and therefore, may be worth a search. There are two varieties of these in manuscript form at the P.R.O. (referred to obliquely by Professor Rodger in relation to one of these). But, the most logical way of dealing with the problem of identifying exactly which pensions individual sea officers (or their dependents) were awarded is to find a copy of the printed final versions of the estimates as put before Parliament. These can be found in various sources

Although the make up of Britain’s fleets constantly changed, with build-ups during the almost never-ending wars and immediate cut backs in the interludes between them, the manning of vessels themselves were highly regulated. The system allowed for those holdings warrants that were ‘standing officers’ to remain in their ships as long as they remained in existence (whether in commission or not). With no half-pay for warrant officers, excepting masters and surgeons (the latter from 1729), other standing officers on vessels in reserve could therefore depend on ‘employment’ into old age (essentially as shipkeepers). However, for all sorts of reasons, from the loss through combat, wrecking and scrapping of vessels to individuals wanting bigger and better ships and more responsibility there was movement of warrant officers. This required oversight and there are a number of types of records that can be helpful in creating detail on these sea officers’ careers.

Notations of warrants (and commissions for that matter) were maintained in registers for all the boards, with confirmations of those awarded abroad by local Commanders-in-Chief shown in the Admiralty copies. These run from as early as 1695. There are also some volumes from foreign stations and the like, but these only cover specific periods not normally comprising more than twenty years. There is a fundamental problem with these records though. There are no indexes with the originals and instead, were recorded in strict chronological order. This serious omission has been largely rectified for those serving until 1789 at least, by the production of two different indexes in the research enquiries room, at the P.R.O.

Certificates of service may provide another starting point for those serving later than 1789. Although those surviving were not compiled until 1802 at least some of these were for pension purposes and hence may show lengthy past service. Like all other certificates of service these may only show a part of individuals’ service, but are, nevertheless, an important tool. Pay records may also allow for service to be traced from 1795. Masters and surgeons are best served (in fact there are a number of pay records going as far back as the 1680s for surgeons); but there is a series for boatswains, gunners and carpenters that made out allotments to wives or mothers from 1795 also. Perhaps not entirely surprisingly, there appear to be no pay records for pursers.

Originally only introduced for those wishing to walk the quarterdeck in the 17^th century, by 1760 passing certificates were also in force for gunners. In time other warrant officers would also require their own certification, such as masters around 1800.

As with those with commissions, warrant officers were also noted in leave books. Unfortunately, the earliest surviving examples date only from 1804.

Succession books, as for commissioned officers, were produced primarily to show that were appointed to particular men-o-war at any one time and can also be used to build up service histories for warrant officers. Although a relatively time consuming exercise, most are indexed both by ships’ and individuals’ names. It must be stressed that coverage is sketchy, even if some go back as far as 1673.

Again like commissioned sea officers, those holding warrants also made applications for promotion and employment. Unfortunately, these are very patchy indeed, as well as also merely being in chronological order.

Although not of as much use as for members of the ‘people’ below them, ships’ musters and pay books may, along with succession books and applications for promotion and employment, allow for problems in warrant officers’ careers to be resolved. Having said that, if there was a break between individuals passing professionally as warrant officer and being employed, it may not be possible find a link to the earlier service.

For those seeking surgeons the going should be far easier than all other W.O.s for this period. As of 1744 for surgeons and 1795 for their assistants there are registers of service records. What is more, they are indexed: externally.

On the authority of Orders in Council, the Admiralty (through the Navy Pay Office) paid pensions to individuals, or classes of sea officers, charged to the Naval Estimates and ultimately taken out of taxation. From 1672 these included a set number of the most senior of warrant officers as superannuation. (Interestingly, this was before lieutenants or ‘yellow admirals’.) Although not entirely clear from the Professor Rodger’s guide (or other historical works) as to when this was instituted, it would appear from around 1708 warrant officers wounded received pensions out of the Naval Estimates. In practice many of the above referred to ledgers merely relate to payments and no differentiation is made between one type and another, hence the potential use of the estimates for making sense of these.

Not confined to those of the lower deck, the Greenwich Hospital took in some warrant officers as in pensioners. And, out pensions were also awarded by this charity.

Warrant officers were also part of the Charity for payment of Pensions to the Widows of Sea Officers. Partially contributory, there was a compulsory rate of 3d. in the pound of their pay (the other funding coming from parliamentary grant). Pensions were awarded to the widows of all sea officers who were judged poor, no matter how their husbands had died. Two types of record dealing with this survive from the 1730s onwards.

Widows of this variety of sea officer (and the people) were entitled to pensions out of the more ancient Chatham Chest if their husbands were killed. In 1803 the Greenwich Hospital subsumed this fellow charity (as an official way of cutting what was regarded as wasteful competition). All in naval service (including commissioned officers) were deducted 1s. per month for this; only 6d. going to the charity; with 4d. being paid to the chaplain and 2d. to the surgeon. (I have been unable to work out what happened on smaller vessels without chaplains.)

The children (especially those orphaned) of warrant officers could gain entry to the Greenwich Hospital School, which opened in its first guise c.1716 as part of this charity’s activities. The surviving papers relate to applications and potentially can provide much information on the children’s fathers. But, it should be pointed out that the majority of these are for the 19^th century. It would appear that at this stage, warrant officers were not considered for any Greenwich pensions (with both historical publications on this institution and guides less than clear).

For all those who were killed in action, or died of wounds, there were bounties paid to their next of kin (not just widows), if claimed, from 1675. Known as the ‘Royal Bounty’ this equated to one off payments of one year’s wages with additional sums if married with children. Unfortunately, there are gaps in the surviving records though - 1694-1703, 1712-19, 1723-46 and 1753 to 1804.

In relation to widows’ claims for pensions there is a series of marriage and death certificates along with confirmatory documents beginning in 1801 (and running until 1818). These records can be of real use genealogically and there is an index in the P.R.O.’s research enquiries room. It should be mentioned that there are marriage and death certificates also surviving elsewhere in naval paperwork.

Some holding warrants may have received honours by the State, although I am not aware of any. If there were, information on these will not to be found in naval records and should be pursued through biographies and the like. There were also commemorative medals and medallions struck for specific actions, but as these were private affairs again are not recorded in State records. Excepting a general service medal introduced into the Honourable East India Company, the first naval campaign medals introduced were those for the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars (1793-1815). 

And, just as for commissioned officers, occasionally warrant officers that had been found guilty of serious misconduct were listed as not to be employed further in ‘black books’. Being compiled by both Admiralty and Navy Board variously, they give the nature of offence and date. Arranged by rank and chronologically, they are indexed and for commissioned officers begin in 1759 stretching all the way through this period. Interestingly, in some volumes offences committed by ‘inferior’ warrant officers are also noted.

Not entirely unlike commissioned officers, where the officially produced Navy List makes tracing individuals’ careers an almost routine matter from 1814, there are sources for at least getting started for those warrant officers on their eventual way to the wardroom. The New Navy List also showed chaplains (from 1798 when they were still petty officers); second masters (and mates) from 1820; and naval instructors from 1836 (when given status of warrant officers of wardroom rank, before being commissioned six years later). Intriguingly, there were also other listings for those holding warrants produced again apparently from 1814, featuring those of ‘Wardroom rank’ and those without. The handful of these publications that I know to have survived are in the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich. I would be surprised if there were not copies of some of these elsewhere though.

Returning to original records, many types already dealt with in the section from the 1690s to 1808 remained in use. Although far from complete, there are notations of and references to some warrants all through this period and beyond. Certificates of service, apparently mostly for pension purposes, were provided by the Navy Pay Office for this time span and after. Through until 1817 the pay records continue as before. Post war these trail off. Theoretically these are resurrected in 1830, at least for the ‘Warrant Officers of Wardroom Rank’, but in reality this is not the case (see linked pay records page). Pursers and chaplains were allowed half pay in 1814 and 1817 respectfully. By the end of the Napoleonic Wars passing certificates were also required for boatswains and pursers, although the surviving records are relatively fragmentary for this era. As with those with commissions, warrant officers were also noted in leave books and in constant use until the latter 1840s, after which there are no more. Succession books continue in their imperfect way through the century. Some books of applications for promotion and employment survive, but not many and not for all classes of those holding warrants. And, although normally associated with commissioned officers, from 1814 through this period there are various records dealing with warrant officer candidates for promotion. There is also reference to some appointments for masters and boatswains, but these only apply to revenue cruizers (in relation to coastguard activities) and even then only partially.

Service registers were beginning to be generally created for sea officers near the end of this period (although warrant officers’ generally began slightly later). However, there were some precursors, such as for surgeons.

Just as for commissioned sea officers, massive reductions in the employment of standing warrant officers were required from 1814 and so these men were also subject to surveys. Likewise, there were also analyses resulting from the surveys. As for black books, if compiled basically none have survived for those with warrants after 1814.   

Although there were many organisational changes in this period the rules concerning warrant holders in relation to superannuation remained the same. Similarly warrant officers wounded continued to receive pensions out of the Naval Estimates. However, the entitlement to pensions for the widows of warrant officers (unless their husbands’ had been killed in action) was removed in 1830. Greenwich Hospital continued taking in warrant officers as in pensioners and awarding out pensions. Entry of warrant officers’ children at the Greenwich Hospital Schools are well represented for this period. Administered by the Admiralty there was also the Compassionate Fund from 1809 (later known as the Compassionate List). And, the ‘Royal Bounty’ appears to have been phased out in 1832. In continuance to the last section for widows’ claims for pensions there is the series of marriage and death certificates along with confirmatory documents until 1818.

As of 1843, excepting chaplains, the ‘Warrant Officers of Commissioned Rank’ were properly commissioned and so are subsequently dealt with in the relevant section. Chaplains were later commissioned, in 1859. At least some warrant engineers were commissioned in 1847, as befitted an up and coming arm of service (even if they were seen by those of the executive branch as inferior). Although not normally mentioned, at least some individual boatswains might have been promoted to the quarterdeck as chief boatswains: as of 1865. And, much later in 1920, this rank of chief boatswain was renamed commissioned boatswain. Similarly, in 1903 the rank of carpenter lieutenant was introduced. At the time of writing, I am not entirely clear if ratings were commissioned, or if these individuals joined the R.N. specifically in these ranks. Anyway, those not elevated in the 1840s, such as boatswains and carpenters, are subsequently dealt with in the section on the people and ratings.

Go to tracing Commissioned Officers page

Go to tracing the ‘people’ and ratings page

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