Officers and Crew

Master and Commander

Prior to 1794 in the British Navy, this was the title held by a Lieutenant who was appointed to the command of a Royal Navy vessel, but who had not achieved the rank of Post Captain. In such cases, this title was used to distinguish the Over-all commander from the Master, who could only command ships not involved in military activities. After 1794, this position was normalized in the new rank of Commander.

Post Captain,under 3 years

Post Captain, over 3 years

Lieutenants and Mates

1. The Mate shall take care of the fitting out of the Vessel, and before they put to Sea, shall examine whether it be sufficiently provided with Ropes, Pulleys, Sails, and all other Rigging necessary for the Voyage.

2. At the Departure he shall see the Anchor hoisted; and during the Voyage he shall visit once a day all the Tackle, high and low, and if he observes any thing amiss, he shall acquaint the Master.

3. He shall execute in the Vessel, and cause to be executed Day and Night, the Orders of the Master.

4. Arriving at a Port, he shall cause the Cables and Anchors to be repaired, and shall have the Care of the Management of the Sails, Yards and Mooring of the Ship.

5. In case of the Absence or Sickness of the Master, the Mate shall command in his place.

The Ship's Master (Pilot

An officer responsible for the sailing of the ship. Specialists in navigation and pilotage.

1. No Person shall be received Pilot, nor perform that Function, till he has made several Voyages, and been examined in Navigation, and found capable and experienced by the Professor of Hydrography, two ancient Pilots, and two Masters of Ships in presence of the Officers of the Admiralty.

2. He that would be received Pilot, shall be obliged for proving his Voyages to produce the Journals, at his Examination.

3. The Pilot shall direct the Course, and shall provide himself Maps, Ruttiers, the Astronomical Instrument called Jacob's Staff, Astrolabes, and all other Books and Instruments necessary for this Art.

4. In long Voyages he shall have two Journals, in one of which he shall write the Changes of the Courses and Winds, the Days and Hours of the Changes, Leagues which he believes the Ship has sailed in each, the Reductions in Latitude and Longitude, the Variations of the Compass, together with the Towns and Shores he has discovered. And in the other he shall write out clean once in four and twenty Hours, Courses, Longitude and Latitude reduced, and Latitudes observed, and all other remarkable things discovered during the Voyage.

5. We furthermore enjoin him at the Return of long Voyages, under pain of fifty Livres. to put a Copy of his Journal in the Office of the Admiralty, of which the Clerk shall give him a Certificate without and Fee.

6. If there be no Clerk, the Pilot shall be obliged, if required by the Master, to take an Account of the Goods brought on Board, and to make the Inventories of the Effects left by Persons during a Ship-board, which shall be signed by the Master, and two of the principal Mariners.

7. If a Pilot by Ignorance or Negligence, occasion the Loss of a Ship, he shall pay one hundred Livres Fine, and be for ever deprived of the Exercise of a Pilotage; and if he does it designedly, he shall be punished with Death.

8. No Masters of Ships shall force Pilots to pass through dangerous Places, and to steer Courses against their Will; and in case of Contrariety of Opinions, they shall be governed by the Advice of the most expert Mariners.

Boatswain

A multi-purpose petty officer (non-commissioned officer), our best seaman, who's responsibilities include inspecting ships sails and rigging each morning, and reporting their state to the officer of the watch. In charge of all deck activities, including weighing and dropping anchor, and handling of the sails.  "His vigilance should ever be on alert, and his eyes should be everywhere.  He should be active of limb, quick of sight, and ready in exercise of his mental faculties" -The Naval Apprentice's Kedge Anchor (1841)

The Boatswain And Master Sailmakers Duties

1. To receive into his Charge, by Indenture from the Surveyor, all manner of Rigging, Ground Tackle and Stores proper to the Use and Service of the Ship whereof he is Boatswain, and upon receipt thereof, to dispose them either for present Use or Safety against future Service, in the most provident and husbandly manner that may tend to the present Service; and at the end of the Voyage, upon Survey taken, to ballance his Expence with the Surveyor, cancel his Indenture, and deliver all Stores remaining to the Store-Keeper, or else a Note under his Hand to the Store-Keeper, to charge himself therewith, upon Occasion of all succeding Services.

2. He is every Morning to attend the Captain's particular Commands, and twice every Week to clean their Ships Hause, and oftner, if need be; to see the Ship suck'd dry by pumping, to take special care of his Fires and Candles, and other Necessaries useful, yet subject to Casualty; they are to heat no Pitch or Tar on Board, to keep the Ship clean, to see the her Masts, Yards, Docks, and upper Work well Tarred; to search all Leaks, prevent all Arrogancies.

3. The Boatswains, Pursers and Gunners, are, by Agreement among themselves, to take their turns once in three Nights aboard, that so the Trust of the Ship may be better secured; the Purser and Gunner taking care in the Absence of the Boatswain what concerns his Duty, and he to do the same in their Absence.

4. He is to take special care of the safe mooring of his Ship in the Time and Season appointed for Mooring; and whereinsoever he doubts, either the props of his Anchors, the goodness, size, or length of the Cable appointed for Moorings, to acquaint the Captain, or Mr. Attendant therewith.

5. He is, at the return of the Ship from Sea, to present the Surveyor or his Clerk, an Account of all his Expences, vouched under the Captain and Masters Hand; and to that end he is to cut no new Cordage, but with the Masters Approbation, to the end he may the better certifie to what Use it was expended.

The Boatswain is to receive into his Charge the Rigging, Cables, Cordage, Anchors, Sails, Boats, &c. by Indenture from the Surveyor of the Navy, and to use great care in the Disposition of the same.

He is not to cut up any Cordage or Canvas, without an Order in Writing from the Captain, and under the Inspection of the Master; and always to have by him a good Quantity of small Plats for Security of the Cables.

He and his Mates, are to assist and relieve the Watch, see that the Men attend upon Deck, and that the working of the Ship be performed with as little Confusion as may be.

His Accounts are to be audited and vouched by the Captain and Master, and presented to the Surveyor of the Navy; and until such Acounts are passed, he is not to receive his Wages.

If he has Cause of Complaint against any of the Officers of the Ship, with Relation to the Disposition of the Stores under his Charge, he is to represent the same to the Navy-Board before the Pay of the Ship.

He is not to sign any Accounts, Books, Lists or Tickets, before he has thoroughly informed himself of the Truth of every Particular therein contained.

The Master Sailmaker is to be warranted from the Navy-Board, without which none are to rated in thet Capacity.

He is, with his Mate and Crew, to examine all Sails that are brought on Board, and to attend all Surveys and Conversions of Sails.

He is always, and in due time to repair, and keep the Sails in Order and fit for Service.

He is to see that they are dry when put into the Store-Room, or very soon to have them taken up and aired; and see that they are secured from Drips, Damps, and Vermine.

When any Sails are to be returned into Store, he is to attend the Delivery of them, for their greater Safety.

Master Gunne

A petty officer responsible for the ship's guns and ammunition.   This included sifting the powder to keep it dry and prevent it from separating, insuring the canon balls were kept free of rust, and all weapons were kept in good repair.

Carpenter The Carpenter is responsible for the maintenance and repair of the hull, masts and yards.

His duty is to work at his trade under the direction of the master, and to assist in all-hands work according to his ability. He is stationed with the larboard or starboard watch, as he may be needed, though, if there is no third mate, usually with the larboard. In working ship, if he is an able seaman, (as well as carpenter,) he will be put in some more important place, as looking after the main tack and bowlines, or working the forecastle with the mate; and if capable of leading his watch aloft, he would naturally take the bunt or an earing. He is not expected to handle the light sails, nor to go above the topsail yards, except upon the work of his trade. If he ships for an able seaman as well as carpenter, he must be capable of doing seaman's work upon the rigging and taking his turn at the wheel, if called upon; though he would not be required to do it except in bad weather, or in case the vessel should be short-handed. If he does not expressly ship for seaman as well as carpenter, no nautical skill can be required of him; but he must still, when all hands are called, or if ordered by the master, pull and haul about decks, and go aloft in the work usual on such occasions, as reefing and furling. But the inferior duties of the crew, as sweeping decks, slushing, tarring, &c., would not be put upon him, nor would he be required to do any strictly seaman's work, except taking a helm in case of necessity, or such work as all hands join in.

The carpenter is not an officer, has no command, and cannot give an order even to the smallest boy; yet he is a privileged person. He live in the steerage, with the steward, has charge of the ship's chest of tools, and in all things connected with his trade, is under the sole direction of the master. The chief mate has no authority over him, in his trade, unless it be in case of the master's absence or disability. In all things pertaining to the working of the vessel, however, and as far he acts in the capacity of a seaman, he must obey the orders of the officers as implicitly as any of the crew would; though, perhaps, and order from the second mate would come somewhat in the form of a request. Yet there is no doubt that he must obey the second mate in his proper place, as much as he would the master in his. Although he lives in the steerage, he gets his food from the galley, from the same mess with the men in the forecastle, having no better or different fare in any respect; and he has no right on the quarterdeck, but must take his place on the forecastle with the common seaman.

In many vessels, during fine weather, upon long voyages, the carpenter stands no watch, but "sleeps in" at night, is called at daylight, and works all day at his trade. But in this case, whenever all hands are called, he must come up with the rest. In bad weather, when he cannot well work at his trade, or if the vessel becomes short-handed, he is put in a watch, and does duty on deck, turning in and out with the rest. In many vessels, especially those bound on short voyages, the carpenter stands his watch, and, while on deck, works at his trade in the day-time, if the weather will permit, and at night, or in bad weather, does watch duty according to his ability.

Quartermaster

The QuarterMaster is the petty officer who assists in numerous tasks, including attending to the binnacle (box housing the compass), steering the ship, and navigational duties.On a Pirate or Privateer, The Quartermaster could be considered more powerful than the captain. It was the quartermaster's duty to divide the shares of a prize and administer punishment.

Surgeon Responsible for inspections to judge the fitness of the new recruits, and treatment of the sick and wounded.

1. In every Ship, even in the Fishing-Ships, making long Voyages, there shall be one or two Surgeons, according to the Circumstances of the Voyages and Number of the Persons.

2. None shall be received as Surgeons on board of Ships, till they have been examined and found capable by two Master Surgeons, who shall give their Certificates.

3. The Owners shall be obliged to provide the Surgeons Chest well stored with Drugs, Ointments, Medicaments, and other things nocessary [sic] for treating Sick Persons during the Voyage; and the Surgeon shall provide the Instruments of his Profession.

4. The Chest shall be visited by the most Ancient Master Surgeon of the Place, and by the most Ancient Apothecary, provided it be not the same that furnished the Drugs.

5. The Surgeons shall be obliged to get their Chest visited, at least 3 Days before the Departure; and the Master Surgeon and Apothecary, to do it within four and twenty Hours after they are thereto required, on Pain of thirty Livres Fine, and the Damages of Demurage.

6. No Master shall receive any Person to serve on board his Ship as Surgeon, without producing a Copy of the Attestations of his Capacity, and of the Condition of his Chest in due Form, under Pain of fifty Livres Fine.

7. We enjoin the Surgeon of Ship, in case they discover and contagious Distemper, to acquaint forthwith the Master, that he may take his Measures accordingly.

8. They shall exact nor receive nothing of the Marriners sick or wounded in the Service of the Ship, under Pain of Restitution, and an Arbitrary Fine.

9. The Surgeon not to leave the Vessel in which he is engaged, before the Voyage is accomplish'd, under Pain of the Loss of his VVages, or being fined in one hundred Livres, and of paying the like Sum for Damages to the Master.

For more information on the subject, try our medicine page.

Purser

1. Once every Month, at the Muster, to procure a Warrant from the Clerk of the Cheque for the Month ensuing Victuals for their Ships Company, and deliver the same to the Victualler, to be supply'd accordingly.

2. To attend on turns, and lodge on Board every third Night,and take care to the Watch for Candles,   in the Absence of the Boatswain and Gunner.

3. To see the Cook dress all the Companies Victuals on Board, and not to suffer any of them, either to discount them with the Victualler, with Money in lieu thereof, or to dress or eat them at their own Houses.

4. They are to keep an exact Prick and Cheque-Book, of the Time and Entry, Discharge, Attendance, running away, death and Absence of all and every Man, Boy and Grommet belonging to the Ship, when they are at Sea; and out of that Book make and deliver under their Hands, to the Parties that are lawfully discharged, a Ticket or Pass, which is also to be signed by the Captain, Master and Boatswain, or any two or three, whereof the Captain, if present, is to be one, containing their true Name, Entry, Office, Discharge, and the Cause thereof; and at the return of the Ship from Sea, deliver the said Book under their Hands to the Treasurer, or other the principal Officers to pay their Men accordingly; and to make no Stoppage upon any Tickets, but what shall be really for Cloaths.

5. They are once every ten Days to muster their Ships Company, and therein to take notice who is present, sick, a Shore, dead, run away, left behind, or upon any Occasion absent, whereby he may be able, upon all Demands, to justifie the Attendance or Neglect of all or any of the said Company; and by his Book so stated, ballance the Expence for the Sea time, charging the Victualler with the Remains (if servicable) to be spent in ordinary upon the return of the Ship, or delivered to the Victuallers Instruments, to supply part of the Re-victualling at Sea.

6. When the Ship to which he belongs is commanded to Sea, he is to demand from the Surveyor or Clerk of the Survey, and the Office of the Ordnance, true Copies under their Hands, of all Indentures and Proportions of Stores by them issued for the present Service and Supply of the Ship to the Boatswain, Gunner and Carpenter: and after the Ship enters into Sea Wages, to keep an exact Journal Book of the expences of all Provisions committed to their Trust respectively; requiring the Boatswain, Gunner and Carpenter, at their Perils, not to cut any Cable, take down or put up any Rigging, scale and Guns, give any Salutes, repair or new build any Cabbins, Bulk Heads, or Steward Rooms, &c. without giving Notice to him to enter the same; that he may upon each of their Accompts make a distinct Entry of the Quality and Quantity of each Material expended, specifying the Time when, the Place where, the Cause why, and the Party by whose Command the same were expended; and after the same entry made, take the Captain and Masters Hands to his Book, to justifie the Truth of the Entry, and the Boatswain, Gunner and Carpenters Hands, to prevent all future Cavils upon the Ballance of their several Accompts.

Clerk

The Clerk is the officer responsible for the ship's accounts, crew pay, and provisions and clothing, undertakers, priest, legal cleark, and in general admiralty office represntative aboard.

1. The Clerk shall be obliged to keep a Register or Journal, quoted and flourished on every Page by the Lieutenant of the Admiralty, or to the principal Owners of the Ship.

2. He shall insert in his Register, all the Rigging, Arms, Munitions and Victuals of the Ship; the Goods loaded and unloaded; the Names of the Passengers; what is due for their Fraight or Passage; a List of the Ship's Company and their VVages; the Names of such as decease during the Voyage; the day of their Death; and if possible, the quality of their Distemper, and the manner of their Death; what shall be bought for the Ship from the time of their Departure; and generally, every thing that concerns the Expenses of the Voyage.

3. He shall likewise write down the Deliberations and Resolutions taken in the Ship, with the Names of those that Vote; who shall subscribe themselves, if they can, and if not, he shall make mention of the Reason why he don't.

4. He shall have an Eye to the Distribution and Conservation of the Provisions, and shall write down in his Book, what has been bought during the Voyage, and put into the Hands of the Stewards, of whom he shall exact an Account every 8 days.

5. We give him Power to receive the Testaments of dying Persons, to take an Inventory of the Effects left by them in the Ship, and to the Clerk of the Criminal Processor.

6. The Clerk's Record shall be authentick in Law; and we forbid him on pain of Death, to write any thing in it, contrary to the Truth.

7. Bills of Lading signed by the Clerk for his Kinsfolks, shall be flourished in Foreign Places by the Consuls; and in England, by one of the principal Owners of the Ship, or else they shall be of no Effect.

8. The Clerk shall not leave the Ship till the Voyage be accomplish'd, on Pain of losing of his Wages, and an Arbitrary Fine.

9. Four and twenty Hours after the Voyage is ended, he shall be obliged to give in to the Admiralty-Office, Minutes of the Inventories, Informations and Testaments during the Voyage, to which he may be compelled by Imprisonment.

Cook At one time in the british royal navy(1600s) cooks were warrant holders, but at the beginning of the 1700's this was ended.

He is to have the Charge of the Steep-tub, and is answerable for the Meat put therein.

He is to see the Meat duly watered, and the Provisions carefully and cleanly boiled, and delivered to the Men according to the Practice of the Navy.

In stormy Weather he is to secure the Steep-tub that it may not be washed over-board; but if it should inevitable be lost, the Captain must certify it, and he is to make Oath to the Number of Pieces so lost, that it may be allowed in the Purser's Accounts.

Midshipme

In the British Royal Navy of the 1800s, these were prospective commissioned officers, though prior to 1794 many midshipmen did not aspire to a commission.  In general, they spent time at sea for several years as apprentice officers, learning through both lessons and experience, and hoped after exams to be ranked Lieutenants by the Admiralty.

Able seama

The Best rating available for a sailor in the British Royal Navy.  A sailor with a good deal of experience and knowledge. The below Duty of the Seaman of the French service from 1707 is something of a good example of the life one could expect afloat. It is certainly much shorter and less rigid than the Articles of War of the British Navy. On the other hand, it is more rigid than the ship's articles of a privateer or pirate vessel, such as those that we have adopted.

French Seamen

The Sea-men shall be obliged to appear at the Days and Places appointed, to take a Board the Provisions, rig out the Ship, and set Sail.

A Sea-man hired for a Voyage, must not leave the Ship, without a Discharge in writing, till the Voyage is ended, and the Ship moored at the Key and unladed. If a Sea-man leaves a Master without a Discharge in VVriting, before the Voyage is begun he may be taken up and Imprisoned where-ever he can be found, and compelled to restore what he has received, end [sic] serve out the time for which he had engaged himself, for nothing; and if he leaves the Ship after the Voyage is begun, he may be punish'd corporally. However, if after the Arrival and unlading of a Ship at the intended Port, the Master (instead of returning) takes a Fraight to go elsewhere, the Sea-men may leave him if they please, except it be otherwise provided by their Agreement.

After the Ship is laded, the Sea-men shall not go a Shore without Leave from the Master, under Pain of five Livres for the first Fault, and may be punished corporally, if they commit a second.

We forbid the Mariners and Sea-men to take any Bread ot [sic] Victuals, or draw any Drink, without the permission of the Master or Steward, under Pain of the loss of one Month's Wages, and of a greater Punishment, if the Fault deserves it. The Sea-men or others that spill the Drink, destroy the Bread, make the Ship leaky, excite a Sedition to break the Voyage, or strikes the Master, having Arms in their Hand, shall be punished with Death.

Any Sea-man sleeping in his Post, or upon the Watch, shall be put in Irons during fifteen Days; and any of the Company finding one asleep, and not acquainting the Master therewith, shall pay 5 Livres.

Any Mariner abandoning the Master and the Defence of the Ship in time of Battle, shall be punished corporally.

We forbid all Persons to raise, within Extent of our Kingdom and the Land, and Countries under our Obedience, any Sea-men for Foreign Armaments and Expeditions; and we in like manner forbid our Subjects so to engage themselves without our Permission, under pain of exemplary Punishment.

The Sea-Man's Vade-Mecum (handbook), 1707

Apprentice Seaman (Landsman)

A sailor of no naval training who performs the most basic of chores, such as hauling, hoisting, and holystoning the decks.

Agents, Camp Followers,  Doxies -As with any military undertaking, certain followers; wives, lovers, tradesmen, less than reputable "tradeswomen", and others causes our size to change with our fortunes and the fortunes of the rebellion

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