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This category contains individual documents containing lists of ships, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Among the items is a list of ships of 1652 to be prepared for the summer guard for the coasts of England, Ireland and Scotland, with the names of commanders, numbers of men and guns. The list was presented to Parliament and approved. Another, of 1804, is an 'abstract of the country craft of various descriptions that have been armed for the defence of the coast from Shoreham in Sussex to Mistley in Essex'.

Five documents relate to the Ordinary, 1596 to 1638; all concern payment of the men. A similar number relate to the dockyards, 1669 to 1694; one of these is a petition signed by all the officers of the yards, asking for an advance of salary, 1694. In addition there is a letter from Thomas Wood, a mason, to the Duke of Richmond (1701-1750) petitioning him for employment in Portsmouth Dockyard, 1741. There are three documents relating to victualling, 1625, 1704 and 1755; six concern transports, dating between 1693 and 1899;seventeen relate to the Ordnance; the earliest is a group of inventories and stores for ships in 1595; and the most recent contains orders to the Storekeeper of Ordnance at Portsmouth, 1825, but in the main they are indentures and receipts. A dozen relate to manning and impressment; the earliest in this group, 1626, is an instruction to the constables for impressing mariners, signed by the Duke of Buckingham (1592-1628); the latest is an Admiralty minute relating to the mobilization of the Royal Naval Reserve, 1914. In the main the rest consist of proposals and Protections. Two documents relate to the Sea Fencibles, 1804 and 1812. Finally, seventeen documents concern the administration of naval stores; they date from 1611 to 1827, expenses for ships in the Channel Fleet, 1805.

See sub-fonds level descriptions for individual scope and contents.

This category consists of individual documents relating to the administration of the Royal Navy. It is arranged by department, and consists of fifteen documents relating to the Board of Admiralty, seventeenth to twentieth centuries; an example is an instruction of 1652 from the Admiralty to the Navy Board on the building of thirty frigates. However, an early document is also included in this category; this is a warrant from Henry VIII to the Keeper of the Wardrobe to provide cloth for the hallowing (or blessing) of the HENRY GRACE A DIEU, 1514. There are ten documents relating to the Navy Board, sixteenth to nineteenth centuries; these are mainly early documents relating to finance when the Treasurer of the Navy was a member of the Board. The earliest is a warrant of 1558 for the payment of two thousand pounds.

This category consists of official personal documents of officers and men of the Royal Navy, seventeenth to twentieth centuries. The first group of five documents relates to pay and allotments of ordinary seamen. An example is a certificate entitling Jane Smith, widow of Charles Smith, to his pay and effects, 1855. A further five documents relate to health at sea; among these is an unsigned essay on scurvy, c 1770; an order signed by Admiral Hawke concerning portable broth, 1757; and a memorial of 1822 to the Admiralty concerning a wound received in action. Two documents concern naval uniform: one is an illustrated list of French naval rank badges, 1844; the other is notes made in 1891 on changes in naval uniform by Admiral F G D Bedford. There is a further group on medals, awards and ceremonials. Of the two documents in this group one is on vellum conferring the Freedom of the Borough of Thetford on Lord Nelson, 1798. The largest group (125 documents) in this category consists of individual officers' commissions and warrants. Examples include the appointment of the captain to the bark THOMAS, signed by Sir Francis Drake ([1540]-1596); one signed by Sir Walter Raleigh, 1616; the appointment of Sir William Penn as Admiral od the Fleet, 1653; some pursers' bonds, 1651 to 1660; Nelson's commissions as Captain of the AGAMEMNON, 1793, Rear-Admiral of the Blue, 1797, of the Red, 1799, Vice-Admiral of the White, 1804, Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean, 1803. There are also a small numberof foreign and army commissions. The next group consists of service documents of petty officers and ratings; examples include a warrant appointing Jacob Capell as a master cook to a frigate building, 1646; three service certificates of James Gilham, leading signalman, 1890 to 1919. There are also seven Service and Discharge Certificates of Royal Marines, dating between 1784 and 1833. There are seventeen documents issued by Greenwich Hospital, including examples of Smart Tickets and out-pensioners' certificates, 1804 to 1827; and an account of John Clarke, the receiver of Sixpences, 1716. Also included in this section is a warrant to the High Constables of Alstowe in Rutland for collectiong money for maimed seamen, 1648. Finally, in a group of eight wills and legal documents is a certificate of annuity due to Sir Cloudesley Shovell, signed by Elizabeth Shovell, 1714; and a document of 1778 signed by Vice-Admiral John Byron (1723-1786) making over power of attorney to his wife.

This category contains documents relating to prize money, seventeenth to nineteenth centuries. It includes a letter of 1652 from the Council of State, signed by the President, William Purefoy (1580-1659), to the Commissioners of the Navy, concerning the capture of Dutch prizes by Robert Blake (1599-1657); a vellum document appointing Richard Neale of Portsea prize agent for the PORCUPINE, 1718, signed and sealed by all members of the crew; a copy of a prize money case between Admiral Sir John Duckworth (q.v.) and Admiral Sir Robert Calder (1745-1818), with a legal opinion, 1805; certificates and receipts for payment, 1805, 1806 and 1842.

This category contains single items relating to the administration of naval ships. Among the items are a watch bill, c 1810; a certificate of 1813 signed for a petty officer 'to pass through the lines' from the BRUIZER, 1903.