In Cheque

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Reg Scribe
Able Seaman
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun Dec 01, 2024 4:31 pm

In Cheque

Post by Reg Scribe »

Can someone please post the definition of a ship in cheque. How does this compare to a ship in Ordinary?
Cy
Admiral of the Fleet
Posts: 159
Joined: Tue May 23, 2017 1:10 pm

Re: In Cheque

Post by Cy »

"Ship in Cheque" is not something I recall coming across before. Where did you see it?
OK, it was me, probably!
Reg Scribe
Able Seaman
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun Dec 01, 2024 4:31 pm

Re: In Cheque

Post by Reg Scribe »

The muster table for HMS Egmont for June/July 1790 (ADM 36/10902). Mustered at Hamoaze by the Clerk of the Cheque.
Navclio
Captain
Posts: 130
Joined: Thu Jun 22, 2017 10:40 pm

Re: In Cheque

Post by Navclio »

Threedecks has an entry for "Clerk of the Cheque - British": "Responsible for mustered the workmen, looked after expenses and kept accounts of earnings at Royal Navy Dockyards." There is a long list of them. Maybe under "People"?

So it would appear that a ship "in cheque" was under construction at a Royal Dockyard and not at a private shipyard. At the latter, ships were contracted for at a flat rate per ton ("builder's measure") and it was up to the builder to keep track of his expenses and to keep them under control so that he could make a profit at the agreed rate.

This is an inference (not jut a "guess"); I haven't seen a ship described as "in cheque" either.
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