MONTHLY PAY ON BOARD A REGULAR EAST INDIAMAN
Commander £10 0 Chief Mate 5 0 Second Mate 4 0 Third Mate 3 10 Fourth Mate 2 10 Fifth Mate 2 5 Sixth Mate 2 5 Surgeon 5 0 Purser 2 0 Boatswain 3 10 Gunner 3 10 Master-at-Arms 3 0 Carpenter 4 10 Midshipman and Coxswain 2 5 4 Midshipmen, each 2 5 Surgeon’s Mate 3 10 Caulker 3 15 Cooper 3 0 Captain’s Cook 3 5 Ship’s Cook 2 10 Carpenter’s 1st Mate 3 5 Carpenter’s 2nd Mate 2 10 Caulker’s Mate 2 15 Cooper’s Mate 2 10 6 Quartermasters, each 2 10 Sailmaker 2 10 Armourer 2 10 Butcher 2 5 Baker 2 5 Poulterer 2 5 2 Commander’s Servants, each 1 5 1 Chief Mate’s Servant 1 0 1 Second Mate’s Servant 0 18 1 Surgeon’s Servant 0 15 1 Boatswain’s Servant 0 15 1 Gunner’s Servant 0 15 Captain’s Steward 2 0 Ship’s Steward 2 10 2 Boatswain’s Mates, each 2 10 2 Gunner’s Mates, each 2 10 1 Carpenter’s Servant 0 15 50 Foremast Men, each 2 5
In the case of an “extra” ship the commander received £10 a month, the chief mate £5, the second mate £4, the third mate £3, 10s., the surgeon £5, the boatswain £3, 10s., the gunner £3, 10s., the carpenter £4, 10s., the two midshipmen were paid £2, 5s. each, the cooper and steward got £3, the captain’s cook £3, 5s., the ship’s cook £2, 10s., the boatswain’s mate and the gunner’s mate were each paid £2, 10s., the carpenter’s mate and caulker £3, 15s., the two quartermasters received each £2, 10s., the two commander’s servants £1, 5s. each, and the thirty foremast men £2, 5s. each. As to the last-mentioned, a vessel of from 400 to 500 tons carried twenty foremast hands. A ship of 500 to 550 had thirty hands, and the next size, from 550 to 600 tons, carried thirty-five. A 600 to 650 tonner had forty men, and a 650 to 700 tonner forty-five men. But a 700 to 800 ton ship had fifty-five men, and an 800 to 900 tonner sixty-five of these hands. The Company’s rule was that regular vessels of 750 to 800 tons were to carry a total complement of 101 officers and men. A 900-ton ship was to carry 110 men, a 1000-ton ship 120 men, a 1100-ton ship 125 men, and a 1200-tonner 130 men.
Five supernumeraries were allowed to be carried, of whom two were to be allowed to walk the quarterdeck. No commander was allowed to increase the number of midshipmen under pain of being suspended for three years. This was to prevent him from taking a raw young officer out of consideration for a monetary reward. In order to act as a safeguard, if any person borne on the ship’s books as part of her complement were discharged in India, China or St Helena without permission of the Company, or if the commander were to act in collusion and allow him to quit his vessel, the commander was liable to a fine of £300. Nor could he bring home or carry out any passenger or person without the directors’ leave.