Courts Martial

Early courts martial records for 1679 to 1714 can be found in ADM 106/3074, and for 1680 to 1839 in ADM 1/5253-5494. From 1845 most courts martial papers are in the main Admiralty correspondence in ADM 1. The indexes and digests in ADM 12 should be searched; the indexes under the name of the ship or individual, and the digests under code heading 28. Where records have not survived in ADM 1 the proceedings may be summarized in the ADM 12 registers.

Other records of courts martial and board of enquiry reports from 1892 to 1951 can be found in ADM 178. Overlapping records for 1911 to 1965 are in ADM 156. Some of these are subject to a 75-year closure period.

Black Books of the Admiralty

These record the names of officers dismissed for misconduct. Those for 1741 to 1815 are in ADM 12/27B-27D and are indexed by 27E. A black book for warrant officers covering the same period is in ADM 11/39. Lists of clerks from 1833 to 1842 and midshipmen from 1833 to 1848 who were discharged for misconduct are in ADM 11/27-29.