Where was H.M.S. Crocodile in 1881?

[Coromandel]

Another question: The senior Mr. Quilter is listed as a 'conductor' in the Department of Public Works -- what is a 'conductor' in this context? and what Dept of Public Works -- the Indian Civil Service?

Have you checked out the FIBIS database at
search.fibis.org/frontis/bin/index.php (put https:// in front) ? It has some references, taken from The Times of India of 1885 and 1890, to J.H. Quilter of the Military Works Dept.

There's a useful glossary at indiafamily.bl.uk/UI/Dictionary.aspx (put https:// in front) which explains what a Conductor was:
"The higher of the two appointments within the Warrant Officer rank in the East India Company or Indian Army, the lower being that of Sub-Conductor. Conductors and Sub Conductors worked mainly in the Ordnance, Commissariat and Public Works Departments. Conductors were eligible for promotion to the higher grade of Departmental Officer."

[Coromandel]

....And if you go to A2A (https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/default.aspx), click Advanced Search, choose "British Library, Asia, Pacific and Africa Collections" and then search for Quilter you may learn something to your advantage!

[truffle]

If you are still interested in HMS Crocodile and Quilter, I can tell you it was in the middle if the Arabian Sea at the 1881 Census date! I have a copy of the front page of the Enumeration Book. Jeremy