The Sixpenny Office was one of the British
admiralty's smaller offices. Established in 1696, it was originally based at
Tower Hill, London
Tower Hill is the area surrounding the Tower of London in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is infamous for the public execution of high status prisoners from the late 14th to the mid 18th century. The execution site on the higher grou ...
. The office's main responsibility was the collection of
six pence from all serving seaman's wage's on a monthly basis that was used to fund Greenwich Hospital's provision of care for sick and aged seaman. .
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
The Board of Admiralty (1628–1964) was established in 1628 when Charles I put the office of Lord High Admiral into commission. As that position was not always occupied, the purpose was to enable management of the day-to-day operational requi ...
.
History
The Sixpenny Office was originally established in 1692 during the reign of
William and Mary of England
The Glorious Revolution; gd, Rèabhlaid Ghlòrmhor; cy, Chwyldro Gogoneddus , also known as the ''Glorieuze Overtocht'' or ''Glorious Crossing'' in the Netherlands, is the sequence of events leading to the deposition of King James II and ...
. It was one of the admiralty's smaller offices and was responsible for collecting six pence from every serving seaman's wage on a monthly basis. The money was collected by duty receivers who were 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 seaman. The office and processing of the funds received was administered by
Navy Board
The Navy Board (formerly known as the Council of the Marine or Council of the Marine Causes) was the commission responsible for the day-to-day civil administration of the Royal Navy between 1546 and 1832. The board was headquartered within the ...
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.
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:
First Commissioner and Receiver
# 1814-1826, Benjamin Stowe
# 1827-1832, Chas Kinsey
Second Commissioner and Comptroller
# 1788-1820, John Beverley Esq
# 1820-1826 , Chas Kinsey
# 1827-1832 G. B. Hamilton
Supporting staff
Accountant
# 1788, John Cleveland
First Clerk
# 1820-1832, Charles Stanbridge
Receiver
# 1788-1803 Thomas Hicks
# 1803-1810, John Rashleigh
Citations
Sources
# 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.
# Hamilton, C. I. (February 2011). The Making of the Modern Admiralty: British Naval Policy-Making, 1805–1927. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. .
# Office, Admiralty (December 1814). The Navy List. London, England: John Murray.
# Office, Admiralty (January 1820). The Navy List. London, England: John Murray.
# Office, Admiralty (December 1827). The Navy List. London, England: W. Clowes.
# The Parliamentary Debates from the Year 1803 to the Present Time. London, England: Hansard. 1812.
{{Admiralty Department
Admiralty departments