The Historical Maritime Society
Nelson and His Navy - The Purser
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A
purser in the Royal Navy of "our" era would have had to buy a
sort of "franchise" agreement with the Navy, meaning that he would
have to lay out a bond of security - £400 for a 6th-Rate frigate,and
up to £1200 on a first-rate - which were considerable sums in the
early C19th.This was in lieu of the goods and Royal Navy property that he was to deal in.
Although he was classed as a warrant officer along with the Master, Chaplain and Surgeon, he was paid at considerably lower rates than the others.
The purser would have to make up the differential in"efficiencies" from the provisions held on the ship, which included food, drink (wines, rum and huge quantities of beer) and also the general stock of everyday items that his captive customers were forced - by necessity - to buy from the Navy, through him. In fact the Navy held back part of the sailor's pay for "necessaries"( bedding and slops).
Small wonder then, that the purser was held in the greatest suspicion by the entire crew!
He would , of course, have to show accounts to the Captain, who, hopefully had a good head for figures. It was not unknown for sailors to be "supplied" long after they had died!
The purser was in charge of necessaries such as fuel and lighting and had to lay out for these also. He was allowed a figure of "one-eighth" wastage on all items except for meat.
The purser would have had to have served as a clerk to a Captain for a year, or longer if for a more junior flag officer, before he could apply to become the purser, familiarising himself with the singular ways of the Royal Navy, and for him to have any credibility as a warrant officer.
There certainly was scope for embezellment, but not as wide as was imagined, yet the risks were also great and bankruptcy was ever a possibility. There was not a great deal of sympathy for such as the purser, and he was often quite unpopular with all ranks.
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