Ratings/seamen

Men serving in the Royal Navy were rated according to the skills they had and the tasks they performed. Men who had not been to sea before and had no skills were classed as Landsman. Above them came the Ordinary Seaman, Able Seaman and Leading Seaman. There were many other different ratings, the most senior of who were Petty Officers (POs) and Chief Petty Officers (CPOs).

Ratings´ records of service

Before 1853 there was no form of continuous service in the Royal Navy. Men signed on to a ship for the period of its commission and were paid off at the end of that service. They might then sign-on to another ship or a merchant vessel, alternating between the Royal Navy and the Merchant Navy. In peacetime the Royal Navy manned its ships with volunteers, but in wartime men might also be subject to impressments - forcible recruitment by press gangs.

If a rating or warrant officer received a pension, a certificate of his service may be found in Officers´ and Ratings´ Service Records (Series II) in ADM 29. They cover the period from 1802 to 1894 and most are searchable by name on the Online Catalogue.

They give name, place of birth, and age on entry to the navy, rating or rank, dates of entry and discharge from each ship served on, and total time served. From 1834 they may give ships´ pay book references and state whether the man volunteered or was pressed into service. From 1858 they include character references, and after 1869 details of good conduct awards, and from 1870 place and date of birth.

Continuous Service Engagement Books 

Continuous service was first introduced in 1853 and ratings were issued a continuous service (CS) number. These engagement books are in the series ADM 139 and cover the period from 1853 to 1872. There are three numerical series of these, first a basic numerical sequence, then a second suffixed "A" and a third suffixed "B". Serving men in 1853 were given the choice of signing on for seven years, new recruits signed on for ten years. After their initial service, men could sign on again with a view to completing 20 years service. This would qualify them for a long-service pension.

There are surname indexes for the period 1853 to 1862, ADM 139/1019-1022 and for 1863 to 1872, ADM 139/1023-1026 and an official number index in ADM 139/1027 for specific "CS" numbers issued before 1873. These are available on microfilm. Men who signed on for further engagements may have more than one number, as do those who served after 1872. The records include date and place of birth, a physical description, date of entry into the service, ships served in, with dates of entry and discharge, ratings held, date of pension or date of death if serving. Next of kin is only given for boys joining the service where parental permission was required.