Examples of Bombay Marine and Indian Navy Musters
Source: BL: IOR: L/MIL/12/118 - Bombay Army - Musters 1726-1740
Among this are musters of seamen landed from individual ships said to be of the Bombay Marine in 1738 - the Indiamen Resolution, Onslow and Nassau. There are also others from the Anglesea lost in 1738.
Source: BL: IOR: L/MIL/12/126 - Monthly Returns of the Bombay Army 1772-1773
This volume gives military musters and passengers landed only. The vast majority of these were soldiers anyway
Catalogue states that there is:-
‘... Estates of deceased Bombay Marine Personnel, Aug 1772 - Jul. 1773...’
Source: BL: IOR: O/5/31 - ‘Bombay inhabitants’ 1718-1792
As per the catalogue ‘The lists give the names of free merchants, inhabitants, seafaring men, temporary residents, women and children, with occasional additional details such as ship and destination for transients. Between 1764 and 1767 officers of the Company’s Bombay Marine are included, with the names of their ships. Licensed and unlicensed residents are distinguished from the 1760s’. Incidentally, Surat and other factories also mentioned in some of these.
These have been beautifully preserved in three parts, on a format of A2 (that is double A3 or four times A4). Therefore, these are bulky volumes. Part II includes the entries for the Bombay Marine for December 1764 and January 1767.
Example taken from one muster:-
‘..................................Bombay 25th January 1766 -
List of European Seamen in the Honble the United East
India Company’s Marine Service at Bombay and Surat viz
.
...
.
.
|
No. |
Name |
Station |
|
|
Eagle Snow |
|
|
|
James Scott |
Commander |
|
|
Joseph Sherman |
1st Lieutenant |
|
|
Saml Hough Ayres |
2nd ... Do |
|
|
Richard Russell |
Midshipman |
|
5 |
William Rothwell |
Gunner |
|
|
John Barney |
Boatswain |
|
|
Enoch Luney |
Quarter Master |
|
|
John Layton |
........ Do |
|
|
William Morris |
........ Do |
|
10 |
Francis Wolfe |
Boatswain’s Mate |
|
|
Patrick Lambert |
Gunner’s Mate |
|
|
Anthony |
Servant |
|
|
George Blair |
Captain’s Servant |
|
|
James Bryan |
Seaman |
|
15 |
John McKay |
... Do |
|
|
John Baxter |
... Do |
|
|
Abraham Simpson |
... Do |
|
|
James Carty |
... Do |
|
|
James Fox |
... Do |
|
20 |
John Froud |
... Do |
|
|
James Murray |
... Do |
|
|
William Jennings |
... Do |
|
|
John ?Queng? |
... Do |
|
|
John Austin |
... Do |
|
25 |
Samuel Davis |
... Do |
|
|
Peter Adams |
... Do |
|
|
Cornelius Murphy |
... Do |
|
|
John McKan |
... Do |
|
|
Henry Lawrence |
... Do |
|
30 |
Alexander Casey |
... Do |
Source: BL: IOR: H/149 - Home Miscellaneous Series
The ‘List of Europeans belonging to the Honble Company’s Marine’ for 15th April 1780 is to be found in folios 157 to 161. In an identical form to O/5/31 above, this is in a fragile state. The original sheets being larger than the binding, they have been folded over and having become brittle with age, two of the extraneous strips of these have become detached. Presently these are still tucked in with the corresponding pages, although one small portion is now missing.
Source: BL: IOR: L/MAR/C/680A - Bombay Marine. List of officers and men in the various Ships (stated incorrectly in the catalogue as 1767-1837)
These are musters by ship’s company dated 25th March 1766; 27th April 1766; 10th November 1766; 12th May 1767; 25th November 1768; 19th January 1769; 28th March 1769; 31st October 1769; 31st March 1770; 20th November 1770; 10th March 1772; 12th April 1772; 15th January 1773; 1st April 1773; and 8th November 1774. It should be noted that not all are strictly in chronological order. Once again, they take the form as in O/5/31 (above).
Also, among the above there are also lists of surgeons and volunteers for 8th November 1774. At the end there are lists of commanders and officers for 8th November 1774 and 1st June 1775