Registers of seamen's services
New registers recording seamen´s services commence in 1873 and cover men joining the Royal Navy up to 1923. Service records for men with "CS" numbers are in ADM 188/1-4
, records for later men are in ADM 188/5-82 and continuation books referred to as new registers are in ADM 188/83-90. The records are arranged by date of entry and official number, but there are surname indexes in ADM 188/245 for men joining between 1873 and 1892, in ADM 188/1132-1154 for 1893 to 1912 and ADM 188/1155-1177 for 1913 to 1923. These indexes and the registers are on microfilm. They only record service details up to 1928. They can now be searched on DocumentsOnline by name of individual or by official number (if known).
From 1894 batches of numbers were set aside for specific branches of the service and new batches of numbers with prefixes J, K, L or M were introduced in 1908. A short service scheme was introduced in 1903 whereby men could sign-up for 12 years, 5 to 7 years in the navy and the remainder of the period as part of the Royal Fleet Reserve. These men were issued with SS numbers. There are also some men with a Y number: these were volunteers enrolled into the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve to serve if called up. Men who were called up were given another service number and their service details should be looked for under that number.
After 1923 (including Second World War)
Information in the service registers in series ADM 188 only covers service up to 1928. Later details of service after 1928 will still be with the Ministry of Defence, as will details of men who joined after 1923. For details of where records are held visit the Ministry of Defence Veterans Agency.
Record and Establishment Books
Record and establishment books in series ADM 115 covering 1857 to 1873 record all men serving on each ship. The series is arranged by ship´s name. Details given include whether in continuous service, place and date of birth (for ratings only), rank/rating, badges issued, date of entry, name of last ship and date of discharge.
Ships´ ledgers
These ledgers covering 1872 to 1884 in series ADM 117 record the full pay and allowances of all men and boys on board each ship and all details relating to victualling. These ledgers replaced the record and establishment books and the description books. Ships´ ledgers do not give date and place of birth but do give details of service and sometimes of character and allotments. Details of wills and accounts of effects left are included. Unfortunately most ships´ ledgers after 1878 were destroyed by fire in 1941.
Seamen´s effects papers
Registers of dead seamen´s wages for 1787 to 1809 can be found in ADM 80/4-5. Other registers from 1798 to 1834 mainly of merchant seamen are in ADM 80/6-12. Applications from next of kin can be found in ADM 44. Registers of seamen´s effects are in ADM 141 for the period 1802 to 1861. Entry books of deceased patients´ effects at the naval hospital in Malta from 1845 to 1855 are in ADM 304/28.
Pension Records
From 1859 pensions were granted to ratings after 20 years continuous service. Before then pensions were granted only to those seriously wounded or injured who were discharged from the service.
Three bodies could issue a gratuity, pension or one off payment to wounded and disabled seamen: the Chatham Chest, established in 1581, the Royal Hospital at Greenwich, founded 1694, and the Board of Commissioners for the Sick and Wounded, created in 1653 and abolished in 1806.
The Chatham Chest was supported by contributions of sixpence per month deducted from officers´ and ratings´ pay. Ledgers recording payments covering various dates from 1653 to 1799 are in ADM 82.
The Royal Hospital was also supported by monthly deductions of sixpence from the wages of all naval and also merchant seamen. It also received unclaimed prize money and an income from landed estates. The hospital began to grant out-pensions from 1763.
Greenwich hospital out-pensions for ratings between 1781 and 1809 are in ADM 73/95-131. Payments to warrant officers and ratings from 1814 to 1846 are in ADM 22/254-443.
Widows and next of kin pension records can be found in ADM 22, ADM 80, ADM 162 and ADM 166, there is also material in PMG 16. PIN 71 contains selected widows´ pensions case files before 1914 and a few files in PIN 82 cover First World War widows´ pensions.
