The stables: Clerk of the Stables c. 1669-1837

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

Citation:

'The stables: Clerk of the Stables c. 1669-1837', Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660-1837, (London, 2006), pp. 616-618. British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/office-holders/vol11/pp616-618 [accessed 28 June 2024].

Clerk of the Stables c. 1669–1837

The clerk of the stables was the principal clerical officer of the Stables. His duties were described in 1782 as follows:

To transact all the official Business of this Department with the Master of the Horse; to superintend and direct the Servants and the Business of the Stables under him; to execute all Orders relative to the same; and to controll and pay the Tradesmen's Bills, small Salaries and to keep the Accounts thereof, and Pensions.

From 1782 he paid all salaries, bills and creditors that had been paid at the cofferer's office. The clerk of the stables was appointed by royal warrant. (fn. 1) Although the office formed part of the establishment from the Restoration its occupants can be identified only from 1669. By 1772 the clerk had come to be known as the principal clerk of the stables to distinguish him from the assistant or under clerk. On the suppression of the latter post in 1782 the former was redesignated clerk of the stables. (fn. 2) In 1830 the office was combined with that of secretary to the master of the horse. (fn. 3)

In 1664 the salary of the office was £16 14s 7d. In 1685 it was raised to £224. In 1783 the remuneration, having previously consisted of a salary of £250 and an allowance of £83 5s, was fixed at £350. In 1812 the salary was £700 rising to £800 by 1820. It fell to £750 in 1823 and to £400 in 1828. In 1830 it was fixed at £700. (fn. 4)

The assistant or under clerk of the stables was appointed by warrant of the master of the horse. Prior to 1772 he had been a non-established servant, paid out of an allowance to the clerk of the stables. From 1772 he received a salary of £100 plus an allowance of £25. The office was abolished in 1782. (fn. 5)

The second clerk of the stables was appointed by warrant of the master of the horse. In 1812 he made £300 in salary. By 1830 he was also allowed £80 for a horse. (fn. 6)

An assistant clerk was granted £100 in 1821 and raised to £200 in 1826. In 1827 he was given responsibility for the stables at Windsor. The post was eliminated in the following year, only to be revived at the accession of William IV at £200 per annum. (fn. 7)

Clerk c. 1669–1837



By 1669		Morgan, W.
By 1674		Lindsey, J.
1675	9 Mar.	Weedon, T.
1676	15 Aug.	Vernon, J.
By 1679		Jones, B.
By 1682		Shales, J.
By 1682		Collins, J.
By 1685		Jollivet, E.
By 1685		Graham, J.
1689	6 Oct.	Jollivet, E.
1702	6 July	Studholme, M.
1716	14 Aug.	Maybank, R.
1727	9 Dec.	Adams, J.
1760	22 Dec.	Crowle, W.
1762	16 Aug.	Reid, D.
1772	30 May	Stephens, W.
1783	29 Mar.	Parker, D.
1810		Parker, W.
1828		Pearce, S.
1830	26 June	Spearman, R.W.

Assistant or Under Clerk 1772–1782



1772	27 May	Parker, D.

Second Clerk 1812–1837



1812	13 Aug.	Goodwin, J.
1830	26 June	Cocum, J.

Assistant Clerk of the Stables 1821–1837



1821	6 July	Pearce, S.
1828	5 Jan.	Cocum, J. (at Windsor)
1830	6 July	Pearce, S.

Clerk of the Extraordinaries 1716

The clerk of the extraordinaries made £50 per annum. (fn. 8) His position was abolished on the promotion of the incumbent to the clerkship of the stables.



1716	1 Apr.	Maybank, R.