Deputy Barracks Master?

[Anne W]

Hi all,
I've just been looking through the London Gazette Archives web-site and came across a Richmond Rose Esq who is being appointed as Deputy Barracks Master in Great Britain on 9/9/1809. What on earth does this mean? I am chasing Robert Reginald Richmond Rose who was a Purser in the RN 1799-1806. He does on one other occasion call himself Richmond Rose. If this is the same guy it could be a breakthrough in the thickest of brickwalls!
Any help would be great, thanks Anne

[Geoffers]

All references that I can find for this period (+/- 50 years) indicate a conenction with the army. try seaching TNA's catalogue for Barrack master as an indication of the types of documents avalaible, including appointments. The largest number are in the WO (War Office) class.

I don't know whether a Purser might then stay ashore and use his skills as a Barrack Master.

[Anne W]

Had a look at the TNA. Can't find a Richmond Rose or a Robert or any combination of the above. I'm so suprise at this latest twist in the Rose saga I didn't even bat an eye-lid when I saw that the Major-General of Ordinance was the Duke of Richmond. Family legend has it that Robert RR Rose is the SON of the Duke of Richmond! The best bet seems to be WO 54/ 715, but I'm going to find it hard to order anything from Australia I fear, seeing how I'm not sure exactly what name to use. At least I have a date!
Thanks Anne

[ChristineR]

appointed as Deputy Barracks Master in Great Britain on 9/9/1809. What on earth does this mean

Google Books came up with a digitalized book.

Part of which says - "The commanding officers in barracks are, in all matters, relative to the accommodation, disposition and supply of the troops therein, to be under the direction of the barrack-master-general; and all applications and requisitions are to be made to him."

It is a Military Dictionary by William Duane, published 1810. It is from the US, but I would presume that they would have the same ranking systems.

I have also seen the term used for British barracks in Australia.

On adding the word 'deputy' to my keywords, google brought up an English book written 1809. "A New and Enlarged Military Dictionary" by Charles James.
It says that the Barrack-master-general and the deputy-barrack-master-general, are appointed with fixed salaries, by warrant from the King. They are pretty much in charge of the goings on in the barracks, which at this time included military hospitals. Barracks had not long been brought into being, instead of "keeping them in quarters". If you find the book on line, the page is headed 'OFF' (Barrack Office) The boss got 4 pound a day, the deputy 1 pound 10 shillings.

ChristineR :)

[hughar]

You will find information on some of the Barracks department activities at http://www.royalengineers.ca/FUSMB.html

[Anne W]

It sound like the Barrack Master had a similar job to the Purser, only on land. Would anyone know if there were widows pensions from the Army and what year they started? One of the puzzles with Robert Reginald Richmond Rose is in the 1841 census his widow is living on independant means in Jersey ,the Channel Islands. I knew RRR was in the Navy, but they didn't pay widows pensions until the 1830s and then only for men killed whilst on duty. If this Richmond Rose is my man, and I'm starting to think he is, then an army pension might explain his wife's "Independant Means"
Thanks so much for your help
Anne

[Geoffers]

Had a look at the TNA. Can't find a Richmond Rose or a Robert or any combination of the above.

You won't, the records are not individually indexed. Records relating to Barracks Master are there.

[Peter Goodey]

The best bet seems to be WO 54/ 715, but I'm going to find it hard to order anything from Australia I fear, seeing how I'm not sure exactly what name to use.

I agree that looks like a good place to start but it's not something you can realistically order remotely. Unless you're planning a researching holiday, you'll have to use a researcher.

[Anne W]

I've had a look at what I can find on the net about Barrack Masters and I have a couple of questions if thats OK. Would a salary of 1 pound 10 shillings a day be considered a highly paid job at the time? And would someone need some influence to get the job in the first place? The reason I ask is , since I started this search Robert RR Rose I've been trying to either prove or disprove the family legend about him being the son of the Duke of Richmond and lost family fortunes etc. So far I haven't been able to do either! The Duke of Richmond keeps popping up! Any advice would be great, thanks Anne

[hughar]

Would a salary of 1 pound 10 shillings a day be considered a highly paid job at the time?

The salaries given in the Barrack Office entry in Charles James' book and quoted in an earlier message on this thread are for the Barrack Master General (the man in charge of all the Army's barracks)and his deputy, and do not apply to individual Barrack masters and their deputies.