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Organization of Ship's Food In the Golden Age of Piracy

East India Company Instructions For Victualling in 1621 - 1650

Note: This only includes instructions which are relevant to victualling from the company's London-based operation during the period 1621-1650. So this only presents a partial picture of the duties of officers involved in the victualling process. It is divided into two parts: London-Based Officers and Ship's Officers

London-Based Officers Concerned with Victualling Procurement and Issuance

Husband.

Old East India House. From Illustrated London News (1890)

Note: 'Husband' here refers to husbandry, involving the management and conservation of resources within an organization.¹

"LXVIII.

The Husband shall attend and take the Resolutions of the Court of Commitees, concerning the Shipping which they yearely appoint for their Voyages into the Indies, and thereupon he shall presently drawe out a Table of each Ships proportions of Victuals, ordinary and extraordinary, together with all other Munitions needfull: which hee shall performe in a Booke for that purpose to remaine in the common Compting-house [accounting house] of this Company, for direction unto them who shall bee appointed to make the provisions.

LXIX.

He shall use his best endeavours, and faithfully provide in due times to the best advantage of this Company, all such petty provisions and Stores as shall be given him in charge by the Court of Committees.

LXX.

Hee shall deliver up all the said Provisions and Stores, into the Warehouses of this Company, and for his Discharge he shall take a Receipt from the Clarke of the said Ware-houses, unto whom he shall give a Note of the perticular cost of every thing so delivered, that hee may accordingly make Entry thereof in his Booke.
…

Artist: Robert Deighton - Norwich Market Place (1890)

LXXII.

He shall solicite and assist the Committees or any others, who shall have charge to buy any Provisions, Stores, or Marchandize for the Voyages of this Company, so that all thinges may be performed in due time.
…

LXXV.

He shall oversee the Clerkes in the said Ware-houses, to give them instructions and directions for the fitting and furnishing of each of the Companies Ships with their proportions of Stores and provisions, and for the ordering of their Accompts."²

Clarke of the Stores in London.

"LXXVIII.

The said Clarke shall receive all the provisions, Stores, Victuals or Marchandize, which
Location of the East India Company's First Yard - Deptford River, Thames (17th Century)
shall be delivered him by the Committees, or the Husband, or any other for the use of this Company, by measure, weight or number, and shall give Receipts for the same, and the like hee shall performe for all thinges whatsoever which shall bee sent and delivered him, out of the Companies Ships which returne home from the Indyes, or from any other place.

LXXIX.

Hee shall deliver of the said Victuals, Marchandize, Provisions, and Stores, both new and olde, unto the Companies Ships and Yardes, or otherwise as occasions shall require, by the directions of the Husband or any other in Authority; and shall send some of the Companies Servants to see the same safely delivered, with a Note of the perticulars and their prizes directed to the Clarke of the Yard, or in the Ships to the Purcers, together with the severall Officers whom the Stores shall concerne, and to bring from them Receipts for all, without which, the said Clarke shall not be discharged in the Audit of his Accompts."³

Purcer generall.

"CXXIIII.

He shall keepe Accompt with the Baker for Bread, Bisket, Meale and Flower: with the Brewer for Beere, and empty Caske in Harbour, and for the Voyage: of all which, he shall deliver up in due time a true Accompt of the perticular disposing thereof to the Companies severall Ships, or otherwise to their uses."⁴

Clarke of the Slaughter-house.

"CLXIIII.

The said Clarke shall hereafter use his best endevour and diligence, to see all those Orders duly performed,
Artist: Francesco Bassano the Younger
Butchers, From Diciembre (Capricornio)
(late 16th or early 17th Century)
which are given him by private Instructions in writing, for the pounding, killing, bleeding, cutting, salting, repacking, pickling, & all other diligences to be used in the Slaughter-house, for the better preservation of all the Beefes and Hogges, which shall be hereafter packed and shipped for the voyages of this Company.

CLXV.

He shall appoint a trusty man to keepe the doore of the cutting Roome, who shall suffer no man (without good cause) to goe out and in, and to have a speciall care, that they carrie nothing with them, more then their owne, setting a Watch likewise over the windowes, and to search all the Labourers at such times when they leave worke, and depart the Roome.

CLXVI.

He shall keepe a true Accompt of the Receipts of all the Beefes & Hogs, by their waight, and thereof shall give a Copie to the Committees (appointed for that businesse) that thereby they may cause a Warrant to be framed for the payment of the Debt.

CLXVII.

Hee shall likewise keepe a true Accompt of the delivery of all the said Hogges and Beefes, by the number of peeces (in each Hogshead [cask containing about 63 gallons]) & waight, and to what severall Ships: plainely setting downe the waste, shancks, Harborough [market] victuals, Sewet, Tongues, and the like, distinctly; that the Company may see, that all is orderly and justly issued to their uses, and hee shall require sufficient Receipts from the Pursers or others, to whom he shall deliver any thing, that they may serve for his discharge in the Audit of his Accompts.

CLXVIII.

He shall keepe a true Accompt of the Charges in the Slaughter-house, and of the Salt, Caske, and other things expended there.

CLXIX.

He shall also receive the Remaines of all the victuals whatsoever, which shall heereafter returne home in the Companies Shippes from the Indies or other places, and hee shall give his Receipts to bee accomptable for the same."⁵

Guardians for Recovery of olde Stores, Provisions and Victuals, which returne home in the Companies Ships.

"CLXXVIII.

There shall be a trusty Guardian sent to each of the Companies Ships after
Artist: Johannes Kip after Isaac Sailmaker - Gravesend (18th c.)
they returne home, and are come on this side of Gravesend, who shall carefully receive all the olde provisions, Stores and Victuals, from the custody of those Officers, who shall have had the charge of them in the said Ships.

CLXXIX.

He shall lade the said Provisions, Victuals: or Stores, in one or more Lighters [flat bottomed boats], to be delivered into the Companies Yardes, and other places appointed: keeping a true Accompt of all, and sending a trusty man in each Lighter, with a Note of the particulars, that nothing may be imbeazeled.
...

CLXXXI.

He shall direct, and cause to be delivered...
To the Clarke of the Slaughterhouse, the Beefe, Porke and all other sortes of Victuals whatsoever.
...

CLXXXII.

He shall set downe severally in His Booke all the perticulars, which hee shall have delivered (as is afore written) unto the said Officers, who shall after subscribe the same, and acknowledge to have received all, for and to the use of this Company: and the said Book so subscribed, he shall deliver up unto the Committees appointed to take Accompt of the said provisions, Victuals and stores."⁶

Committees for the Buying of Victuals, provisions & Stores to the Ships.

"CCI.

The said Committees shall be Two at the least, for every severall imployment, neither shall any one of them conclude a Bargaine, or buy any Wares whatsoever for this Company, without the knowledge and consent of the other who shall be joyned in Commission with him: and if any one be
Artist: Nicolas Bernard Lepicie
Negotiations, Courtyard of the Customs House (1775)
absent (by whatsoever occasion) th'other shall make it knowne unto the Court⁷, and from thence receive his direction and Order.

CCII.

They shall not buy, directly nor indirectly, any Marchandize whatsoever for the use of this Company of themselves, nor from any others, wherein they have any part or interest: for being convicted thereof, the Bargaine shalbe voyde, and the offence shalbe offered to the consideration of a generall Court.

CCIII.

They shall take Billes of Parcels under the parties owne hand writing, of whom they shall buy any Wares for this Company, and therein the bargaine concerning waight. tare, price, and the like, shalbe plainly set downe, which Bill of parcels they shall deliver to the Accomptant, that he may pin the same unto the Warrant, which shall be directed unto the Treasurers for payment of the Debt.

CCIIII.

They shall take a sufficient Receipt for their Discharge of the Clarkes of the Storehouses, or any other, unto whom they shall have Order to consigne the said Wares so bought, to be disposed for this Company.

CCV.

And lastly, for such Marchandize as they shall cause to be brought from any of the Companies beyond the Seas by Order, and for the use of this Company, They shall at due time present the Factors [overseas agents] Accompts thereof, diligently examined, and subscribed also by themselves, that so they may bee reviewed by the auditors, and after, entred orderly by the Accomptants into the Companies great Bookes.⁸

THE ORDER AND METHOD THAT THE ACCOMPTANTS GENERALL SHALL OBSERVE AND PERFORME IN THE Mannaging and digesting the Accompts of the Company:

3. THE State of Victualling, you shall likewise keepe in their severall Denominations and kindes, and the expence of them, Charge on euery Ship according to his proportions, that of these kindes may appeare what is yearely expended, and needfull to be provided.⁹

Ship's Officers Concerned with Victualling in the EIC From 1621-1650

Masters of Ships and Their Mates.

CCVIII.

They shall carefully appoint the quarter Masters and Boateswaynes to be daily present in the Ships hold, to see the victuals, provisions,  Stores, and Merchandize, well and orderly stowed, and that the Boatswaine, Gunner, Cooke, Steward, Carpenter, and other Officers, doe attend in the Ships, to receive and take charge of their severall Stores for the voyage, and to give a true accompt of the disposing of every perticular thing unto the Purser.¹⁰

Quartermasters and Boatswaynes

Artist: Joseph Vernet
Loading a Ship in Dieppe Harbor (1765)

CCXII.

The Quarter-Masters and Boatswaines shall diligently attend aboard the Companies Ships every day, to see all the victuals, provisions, stores, and Merchandize, orderly stowed in places fit and convenient, and they shall not suffer any thing to be laden [loaded] into the Shippes hold, before the Purser or his Mate have taken a true note thereof.¹¹

Pursers and Their Mates.

CCXIII.

They shall (as they are chosen) take their Oathes openly in a Court of Committees, and after give their daily attendance aboard Ships, to take a true accompt of all the Harborough victuals [probably fresh victuals from Haborough Market], and victuals for the Voyage, Provisions, Stores, and Merchandize, of whatsoever kinde: and they shall appoint the Quarter-Masters, Boatswaines and other Officers that they neither lade nor unlade any thing without their knowledge, to keepe a true accompt thereof.

CCXIIII.

The said Pursers or their Mates shall be present in the Companies Storehouse, to take the length, size, and waight of all the Cordage, which shall be served to the Rigging of the Ships, or for Stores severally. Also one of them shal be present, to take the waight of the Bisket, Flower and Meale from the Baker for the voyage; All which, they shal after see carefelly laden into the Companies Ships, And they shall give their Receipts unto the severall Officers, or any other, who shal lade, or deliver them any manner of provisions, Stores, victuals, or Merchandize, for the use of this Company.

CCXV.

Artist: Gustav Majer
Balance Scale, From Madchen in der Kuche (1886)
They shall have a [Balance] Beame and Scales, to receive, and note downe the waight of Cheese, Butter, Bread, Brasse, Copper and Pewter vessels, or any other things which are charged to the Company by waight.

CCXVI.

They shall at the appointed times every day call the Saylors to their worke keeping a true note of every mans dayes and rate of payment, whereby they may receive their due pay weekely by the hands of the Pursor generall,  unto whom they shall also give a Note, certifying the Totals of every weekes disbursements unto the Treasurers of this Company.

CCXVII.

They shall take Receipts (in a booke for that purpose) of the Boatswaine, Gunner, Cooke, Steward, Carpenter, Cooper, and Armourer, for all their severall Stores and Tooles which they shall receive for the voyage, that they may be accomptable for the same, and the said Receipts shall be orderly testified by the Master of the Ship, or some other knowne men, And they shall keepe a true accompt, with all the said Officers, of the daily expending of all the said stores and victuals, to the end that at all times it may be knowne what provisions remaine in the Ships.

CCXIX.

They shall have particular charge carefully to observe, and truly to advise the Governour [of the East India Company], Deputy, and Committees by their Letters, from the Cape of Good Hope, or from any other place, where they shall have opertunitie to write, concerning the goodness or defects, of the beefe, porke, bisket, Wine, beere, Sider, Cordage, powder, or any other provisions whatsoever; and also concerning any want, which shall be found in the number of peeces of beefe and porke, in any of the Caske differing from their packing here, or any want of waight in the said peeces of beefe and porke, or powder, or the like, which advices they shall send, testified and under-written by the Master, or some other principall Officers of the ship.

CCXX.

They shall keepe faire [true] books of accompts of all the afore-said things whatsoever they shall receive into the Ships from several men, to the use of the Company, noting downe every thing with as much plainenesse as possible they can, concerning number, waight, and measure, and so the
Artist: Samuel Scott
An East Indiaman off Table Bay (Cape of Good Hope) Firing a Salute (c. 1730)
said books (together with the booke of Receipts from the Officers afore-written, at the departure of the Ships from Gravesend) they shall deliver up to the Governour and Committees, or to any other who shall have authority from them. The rest of the duties which concerne the said Pursers and their Mates, in the whole course of their voyage, are to be seene in the Companies Commissions for the Seas.¹²

Boateswaine, Gunner, Cooke, Steward, Cooper, Carpenter & Armorer

CCXXIII.

All the said Officers that give their diligent Attendance aboard Ship from time to time, to receive and take charge of all the Provisions, Victuals and Stores for the Voyage, which shalbe assigned unto them severally to use, and to give  accompt of the same to the Purcers or their Mates, at all times when it shall be required.

CCXXIIII.

They shall also give their Receipts severally, of all the perticular thinges which they shall have received, plainely and orderly set downe in the said Receipt, which they shall after deliver up unto the Purcer or his Mate, for the use of the Company.¹³

¹ See for example, Samuel Johnson, 'Husbandry", Definition 3, A dictionary of the English language, 1755, not paginated & John Kersey, "Husbandry", A New English Dictionary, 1713, not paginated; ² East India Company (EIC), The lawes or standing orders, 1621, p. 14-5; ³ EIC, p. 16; ⁴ EIC, p. 25; ⁵ EIC, p.35-6; ⁶ EIC, p. 39-9; ⁷ The Court refers to the General Court of the East India Company, "the ultimate sovereign body within the company" (Huw V. Bowen, "The 'Little Parliament': The General Court of the East India Company, 1750–1784", The Historical Journal , Volume 34 , Issue 4 , December 1991; ⁸ EIC, p. 44; ⁹ EIC, p. 77; ¹⁰ EIC, p. 45; ¹¹ EIC, p. 46; ¹² EIC, p. 46-8; ¹³ EIC, p. 49

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