Transport: Knights Harbinger and Masters of the Barges

Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660-1837. Originally published by University of London, London, 2006.

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Citation:

'Transport: Knights Harbinger and Masters of the Barges', in Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660-1837, ed. R O Bucholz( London, 2006), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/office-holders/vol11/pp225-227 [accessed 26 November 2024].

'Transport: Knights Harbinger and Masters of the Barges', in Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660-1837. Edited by R O Bucholz( London, 2006), British History Online, accessed November 26, 2024, https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/office-holders/vol11/pp225-227.

"Transport: Knights Harbinger and Masters of the Barges". Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660-1837. Ed. R O Bucholz(London, 2006), , British History Online. Web. 26 November 2024. https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/office-holders/vol11/pp225-227.

In this section

Knight Harbinger 1660–1837

The knight harbinger and his subordinates below stairs were responsible for finding accommodation for the court while on progress. The knight harbinger was appointed by lord chamberlain's warrant. (fn. 1) Appointments were embodied in letters patent under the great seal granting the office for life until 1695 and during good behaviour thereafter. The remuneration consisted of 10s a day and 40 marks a year totaling £193 16s 8d a year. This officer was also allowed riding wages, and fees of honour which yielded around £60 per annum early in the eighteenth century. (fn. 2)

1660 20 July Wroughton, H.
1665 Whitley, R.
1673 26 Aug. Medlicott, E.
1675 8 May Neville, R.
1684 11 Feb. Dilke, F.
1685 13 Apr. Carleton, E. (joint)
1685 13 Apr. Dilke, F. (joint)
1689 17 Feb. Smith, S.
1695 21 Jan. Burrow, J.
1697 10 Mar. Blackwell, L.
1701 Dec. Thurston, M.
1714 12 Apr. Wright, R.
1723 7 June Cowper, W.
1757 7 Jan. Stonehewer, R.
1797 24 May Rycroft, H.

Master of the Barges 1660–1837

The master of the barges was appointed by lord chamberlain's warrant. From 1660 to 1702 he received £30 per annum in wages. This rose to £100 under Queen Anne. By 1782 he made £100 plus £17 for livery and payment on bills which came to about £68 in that year. By the end of the period this officer held during good behaviour and his remuneration consisted of £82 plus a livery allowance of £22 9s 6d, £5 5s in fees on the appointment of individual watermen and £2 2s when called on to attend the House of Lords.

Late in the period the master of the barges (increasingly called the bargemaster) was also keeper of the swans.

1660 Warner, N.
1663 26 June Warner, J.
1685 12 May Hill, D.
1687 29 May Warner, J.
1694 17 Apr. Warner, J.
1713 7 May Hill, C.
1719 27 Feb. Hill, J.
1727 14 Sept. Mason, R.
1736 30 Mar. Mason, J.
1768 2 May Mason, R.
1773 23 Mar. Sawyer, W.
1796 16 Nov. Roberts, R.
1807 14 July Roberts, T.A.

Footnotes

  • 1. PSBC, p. 37; LC 3/24 f. 9.
  • 2. CTB XVII, 951; Beattie, p. 210; calculation of fees of honour explained in Bucholz, pp. 318–19 n. 102.
  • 3. LC 3/3: `Places in the Disposall of the Lord Chamberlain'; CTB I, 530; LC 3/4, p. 28; LC 3/5, f. 15; LC 3/24, f. 24; Shelburne MSS. 125, p. 179; LC 3/72, p. 174.
  • 4. See RK [1838], p. 120.