The Marine Pay Department was formed in 1755, and replaced the earlier Marine Pay Office that was established in 1702. It was responsible for processing marines' pay to the Royal Marine Divisions located at Chatham, Portsmouth, Plymouth and Woolwich. The department was initially administered by the Paymaster of the Marines whose title later changed to the Paymaster and Inspector General of Marines. In 1809 it absorbed the secretariat duties of the Marine Department. The department existed until 1831 as part of the Royal Marine Office when it was abolished and its duties transferred to the Navy Pay Office.
History The Marine Pay Department was created in 1755. It succeeded the earlier Marine Pay Office that was established in 1702. The department was responsible for processing marines' pay to the Royal Marines Division's at Chatham, Portsmouth and Plymouth. The department was initially administered by the Paymaster of the Marines, whose title later changed to the Paymaster and Inspector General of Marines. In 1809 it absorbed the secretariat duties of the Marine Department. The department existed as a separate organisation from the military command of the Royal Marine Forces that were under direct control of the Board of Admiralty until 1825 when the Deputy Adjutant General was appointed to administer the Royal Marines and his office became known Royal Marine Office. This department existed until 1831 as department of the Royal Marine Office of the Department of Admiralty when it was abolished and its duties transferred to the Navy Pay Office of the Treasurer of the Navy. Following the abolition of the Marine Pay Department, a second class clerk in this Department William Robinson transferred to the Navy Board and promoted to Paymaster of the Marines to the Navy Board.
Location The department was based at: Based at Date/s Ref.Upper Grosvenor Street, Mayfair, London 1797 to 1805 Buckingham Street, Strand, London1820 to 1827 New Street, Spring Gardens, London 1827 to 1831
Head of department Paymaster of the Marines Included: 1755–1756, William Adair 1756–1757, George Campbell 1757–1778, John Tucker 1778–1792, Gabriel Steward 1792–1803, The Hon. George Villiers
Paymaster and Inspector General of Marines Included: 1803–1810, The Hon. George Villiers 1810–1812, The Hon. Edmund Phipps 1812–1813, The Hon. Edward Richard Stewart 1813–1815, Francis Hastings Doyle 1815–1818, The Hon. Granville Anson Chetwynd Stapylton 1819–1831, Sir James Cockburn
Structure and offices under the Paymaster and Inspector General of Marines Following the creation of the pay department the Paymaster of Marines was supported by a clerical staff consisting of the First Clerk Marine Pay Department later Chief Clerk of the Marine Pay Department who in turn was assisted by a Second Class Clerk who in turn was assisted by a Third Class Clerk. To this structure was added additional extra clerical staff. There also existed a Messengers Office and also an Office Keeper or in modern terms an Office Manager. Another group within this organisation were the Agents of the Marine Office reporting to this department but these based at the various Royal Marine Divisions regional headquarters.
First Class/Chief Clerks Office Included: 1755–1795, J. Madden 1795–1797, E. Waters 1797–1807, D. C. Webb 1807–1808, E. Waters 1808–1831, Thomas Hind
Second Class Clerks Office Included: 1795–1797, D. C. Webb 1797–1807, T. Waller 1807–1819, G. Gardner 1819–1827, William Robinson (promoted to Paymaster of the Marines (Navy Board) in 1829 1827–1831, J. Edwards
Third Class Clerks Office This office usually consisted of three clerks holding the position at the same time and included: 1819–1824, W. Brixey 1819–1824, J. Edwards 1819–1824, W. Gardner 1824–1827, C. Cooper 1827–1830, W. Bartmore 1827–1830, H. Cooper 1827–1830, R. Edwards 1830–1831, C. W. Hind
Extra Clerks Office Included: 1800–1801, W. Robinson 1801–1803, W. Brixey 1803–1807, J. Edwards 1807–1819, W. Gardner
Messengers Office Included: 1800–1809, T. Hayward 1809–1813, R. Leader 1813–1826, R. Pitts 1826–1831, R. Elbourn
Office Keeper Included: 1824–1827, R. Glendenning 1827–1831, W. H. Weaver
Agents of Marines The Agent of Marines were officers of the Marine Pay Office established in 1756, one assigned to each of the three divisions and included: 1756–1760, M. Guerin, (Plymouth) 1756–1760, J. Winter, (Portsmouth) 1756–1760, J. Baird, (Chatham) 1760–1763, J. Clevland, (Plymouth) 1763–1767, J. Clevland, (Chatham, Plymouth and Portsmouth) 1767–1791, G. Williams, (Chatham, Plymouth and Portsmouth) 1791–1800, C. Cox, (Chatham, Plymouth and Portsmouth)
Citations
Sources Archives, National (1688–1983). "Records of Royal Marines". nationalarchives.gov.uk. London, England: The National Archives. 'Marine pay department', in Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 4, Admiralty Officials 1660–1870, ed. J C Sainty (London, 1975), pp. 85–90. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/office-holders/vol4/pp85-90 [accessed 3 January 2019]. Office, Admiralty (January 1820). The Navy List. London, England: John Murray. Office, Admiralty (December 1827). The Navy List. London, England: John Murray Parliament, Great Britain. (1797) The Royal Kalendar and Court and City Register for England, Scotland, Ireland and the Colonies. W. March. London. England. Parliament, Great Britain. (1805) The Royal Kalendar and Court and City Register for England, Scotland, Ireland and the Colonies. W. March. London. England.