Sixpenny Office Explained

Type:	Office
Agency Name:	Sixpenny Office
Preceding1:	None
Jurisdiction:	Government of the United Kingdom
Headquarters:	Admiralty London
Formed:	1696
Dissolved:	1832
Superseding:	None
Chief1 Name:	First Commissioner and Receiver
Chief2 Name:	Second Commissioner and Comptroller

The Sixpenny Office^[1] was one of the British admiralty's smaller offices. Established in 1696, it was originally based at Tower Hill, London. The office's main responsibility was the collection of six pence from all serving seaman's wage's monthly that was used to fund Greenwich Hospital's provision of care for sick and aged seaman. .^[2]

The office was administered by navy board Commissioners for Managing the Sixpenny Duty for the Support of Greenwich Hospital until 1832, when it, along with the Navy Board, was abolished and its functions were dispersed between the members of the Board of Admiralty.^[2]

History

The Sixpenny Office was originally established in 1692 during the reign of William and Mary of England. It was one of the admiralty's smaller offices and was responsible for collecting six pence from every serving seaman's wage monthly. The money was collected by duty receivers appointed to various ports around the country. The proceeds were then used to fund the Greenwich Hospital Department, which provided care for sick and aged seamen. Navy Board commissioners administered the office and processing of the funds received Navy Board commissioners. When the Navy Board was abolished in 1832, its former function of collecting duty towards securing a seaman's pension transferred to the Board of Admiralty.^{[3] [2] [4]}

Head of office

Commissioners for Managing the Sixpenny Duty for the Support of Greenwich Hospital and Supporting Staff, Office at Tower-Hill. Incomplete list of post holders included:^{[5] [6] [7]}

First Commissioner and Receiver

1. 1814-1826, Benjamin Stowe
2. 1827-1832, Chas Kinsey

Second Commissioner and Comptroller

1. 1788-1820, John Beverley Esq
2. 1820-1826, Chas Kinsey
3. 1827-1832 G. B. Hamilton

Supporting staff

Accountant

1. 1788, John Cleveland, MP for Barnstaple^[8]

First Clerk

1. 1820-1832, Charles Stanbridge

Receiver

1. 1788-1803 Thomas Hicks
2. 1803-1810, John Rashleigh

Sources

1. Beaston, Robert (1788). A Political Index to the Histories of Great Britain and Ireland: Or, A Complete Register of the Hereditary Honours, Public Offices, and Persons in Office, from the Earliest Periods to the Present Time. London, Great Britain: G. G. J. & J. Robinson.
2. Hamilton, C. I. (February 2011). The Making of the Modern Admiralty: British Naval Policy-Making, 1805–1927. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. .
3. Office, Admiralty (December 1814). The Navy List. London, England: John Murray.
4. Office, Admiralty (January 1820). The Navy List. London, England: John Murray.
5. Office, Admiralty (December 1827). The Navy List. London, England: W. Clowes.
6. The Parliamentary Debates from the Year 1803 to the Present Time. London, England: Hansard. 1812.

Notes and References

1. Book: Hamilton . C. I. . The Making of the Modern Admiralty: British Naval Policy-Making, 1805–1927 . February 2011 . Cambridge University Press . Cambridge, England . 9781139496544 . 15.
2. Book: The Parliamentary Debates from the Year 1803 to the Present Time . 1812 . Hansard . London, England . 946–966 . https://books.google.com/books?id=u49UAAAAcAAJ&q=Commissioners+for+Managing+the+Sixpenny+Duty+for+the+Support+of+Greenwich+Hospital&pg=PA955 . en . Fifth Report of the Commissioners of Naval Enquiry: Sixpenny Office.
3. Book: Beaston . Robert . A Political Index to the Histories of Great Britain and Ireland: Or, A Complete Register of the Hereditary Honours, Public Offices, and Persons in Office, from the Earliest Periods to the Present Time . 1788 . G. G. J. & J. Robinson . London, Great Britain . 363.
4. Book: Hamilton . C. I. . The Making of the Modern Admiralty: British Naval Policy-Making, 1805–1927 . February 2011 . Cambridge University Press . Cambridge, England . 9781139496544 . 15.
5. Book: Office . Admiralty . The Navy List . December 1814 . John Murray . London, England . 78.
6. Book: Office . Admiralty . The Navy List . January 1820 . John Murray . London, England . 125.
7. Book: Office . Admiralty . The Navy List . December 1827 . W. Clowes . London, England . 125.
8. Web site: CLEVLAND, John (1734-1817), of Tapley, Devon History of Parliament Online . www.historyofparliamentonline.org . The History of Parliament Trust . 21 August 2024.