14 Oct 2016
The crew of Cutty Sark’s thirteenth voyage numbered twenty three men in total which fell into the expected hierarchy of officers and men, those who give the orders and those who carry them out.
However it’s not quite as straightforward as that as there are several specialists among the crew who have particular responsibilities. These men, sometimes referred to as petty officers, include the carpenter, the sailmaker, the cook and, at least on Cutty Sark, a steward.
There were no specific paygrades, captains got their crews as cheap as possible but also needed men of experience and ability. The backbone of the crew are the AB’s, able seamen, experienced men who move from ship to ship, often leaving at the end of a voyage to seek another vessel. The entire crew of AB’s were hired in New York at a rate of £1.8s.0d per month (£1.40), an exceptionally low rate. Pay levels increase with responsibility and the third mate earned two pounds, still below an average AB’s pay level. It was unusual to have a third mate, but when they were appointed it was often given to an experienced apprentice to enhance his training, but he would not be paid. The first and second mates were men who were looking to become captains themselves and accepted a lot of the captains duties when necessary. So our first mate, John Lyviel, was paid £7.5s.0d. (£7.25) per month and the second mate, Charles Heins, £5.10s.0d. (£5.50).
The carpenter was more than a woodworker and would have to turn his hand to many tasks. There are several mentions in the log of caulking, repairing pumps, and once helping the sailmaker, he had to be a jack of all trades. Consequently his remuneration was high, £6.0s.0d. (£6.00). The sailmaker’s name is unknown. He is constantly mentioned in the log but never named and neither have I been able to find a sailmaker for this voyage in the crew list.
30th November - Madras
Carpenter flooring pig sty and paint locker anew Crew as yesterday also painting starboard stanchions and chain plates and sailmaker and one hand finishing Cross Jack
One man, the cook, would be praised or condemned by the quality of his cooking. How the cook, Lewis Morris on this voyage, was perceived is not recorded but some of the supplies he ordered while in port were certainly sufficient to provide a good meal. He was paid £4.0s.0d (£4.00). The steward was required because Captain Moore would be expected to entertain aboard Cutty Sark and Edward West would attend on such occasions, for the sum of £2.10s.0d. (£2.50). At other times he would assist the crew with household tasks like washing clothes. West was another man who is never mentioned in the log.
The apprentices, who made up the balance of the crew, came free. The apprentices are young boys and men who are learning ‘the ropes’ quite literally, and most aspire to make the sea their life as an officer or captain.
The duties of the AB’s and apprentices were many and varied. When at sea their duties were principally sailing the ship but when in port all manner of tasks were put before them. Loading and unloading cargo, shifting ballast, cleaning and painting inside and outside, assisting carpenter and sailmaker, holystoning the decks and anything else the mates might require.
September 2nd - Samarang
First part of this day Calm and fine Latter part Easterly wind Sailmaker laid up Carpenter Caulking Decks no hand at sails 4 hands cleaning overside remainder of hand at cargo also 6 coolies discharged 1625 cases John Norman AB still night watchman Anchor light carefully attended to
Captain Moore was a religious man. When the ship was in port on the Sabbath the crew had a work free day, and some of the crew would be allowed ashore. Apprentices generally had more freedom than the seamen bearing in mind that they would be the future officers of the merchant service.
Average rates of pay on the clipper ships was on a par with an agricultural labourer: £3.0s.0d per month (£3.00p). Both occupations are hard, physically demanding work and so it is impressive that the Captain managed to hire a crew for only £1.8s.0d (£1.40p). Captain Moore himself earned £200 per annum (in today’s money, this works out as around £25,000) which is perhaps surprising for such a demanding job. Good captains knew that a willing crew work best and good food and fair treatment is all that’s needed. I think Captain Moore provided both.
By Roger Hodge
About Roger
“I have been a volunteer at Cutty Sark for eighteen years; assisting with school programmes, acting as a tour guide, carrying out surveys for the archival records and, during the conservation project, assisting with the recording of items dismantled and removed from the ship to be preserved and reinstalled. Recently I was asked to research the log of Cutty Sark’s thirteenth voyage, which has formed the basis for this series of blogs. I also write comedy plays for adults as well as plays and pantomimes for children, several of which have been published. The writing stems from forty years of acting and producing plays with amateur dramatic societies.”