File 0330
February 1795
A Narrative of the Services of George Marsh Esq. one of the Principal Officers and Commissioners of His Majesty’s Navy, in the course of Sixty years, from February 1735 to this time.
Viz.
In February 1735 he entered onboard His Majesty’s Ship Newark of 80 guns under the patronage of Admiral Sir George Walton, in order to be brought up for the Sea Service, but upon Sir George’s quitting it the following year, on account of his age and infirmities, he was entered into and ever since has served civil departments in the Navy.
In 1745, an account was called for by Parliament of the Expence of all Naval Stores, the disbursement abroad, and of Ships purchased, during Queen Ann’s War with Spain,the first five years and Nine months, of which was ordered to be collected, calculated and compared yearly as well as totally under oath each head, with an equal time of King George the second’s War with Spain Viz., from Octoer 1739 to June 1745, inclusive.
And as he was then a Clerk to the Comptroller of the Navy, and had before been in that Quality to the Commissioner of the Navy residing at Deptford to superintend and forward the business of that and Woolwich yards, and was well acquainted therewith he was chosen by the Navy Board to perform that great work, which he executed accordingly in a few months, but by too close an application to it every day, early and late, he brought on an alarming complaint in his head, that he did not quite recover from for several years after.
In 1755 Mr.Mostyn then Commissioner of the Navy appointed a Rear Admiral and ordered to proceed to Plymouth to fit out a Fleet there as soon as possible, upon the then approaching War with France who thought proper to take him with him as his Secretary on that service, and when the Fleet sailed from thence, he returned to his duty as a Clerk in the Navy Office.
In 1763, the Earl of Egmont was appointed to preside at the head of the Admiralty Board, and chose him as his private Secretary. Soon after he was appointed one of the Commissioners for Victualling the Navy.
In April 1769 he was chosen as a Director of the Roya. Hospital at Greenwich.
In 1772 he was appointed a Commissioner of the Navy as Comptroller of the Victualling Accounts thereof, and in June following he was promoted to the Important Trust of Clerk of the Acts of the Navy, who is the first named Commissioner thereof in the Navy Boards Patent on the correspondent (in the Clerk line – crossed out) accounting line of the civil part of that Board; a branch that requires constant dayly attendance for the due execution of it.
In 1776 it was however judged proper to send him to Hamburg to hire Foreign Ships for Transports, which extraordinary Service he performed in less than three months Stored, Victualled, fitted and embarked the Troops, which sailed from the Elb the latter end of May in that year.
He has served as a Commissioner Thirty three years, during several wars and continues to execute his Duty at this time, when the Fleet of England is the largest and best equiped (most Noblest – crossed out) Great Britain, or indeed any other Nation ever possessed.
He is now and has been many years the oldest Commissioner of the Navy, commonly called the Father of the Navy Board.
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Mr Marsh, having been Clerk to several Commissioners of the Navy above 50 years ago, who resided at Deptford to superintend the business of that and Woolwich yards, he was appointed, being acquainted therewith to collect and draw out an account to be laid before the Honorable House of Commons the Expence of all Naval Stores, the Disbursements abroad, and of Ships built in Merchants yards, or purchased during the whole term of Queen Anne’s War.
The first five years and nine months of which were compared yearly as well as Totally under every head, with an Expence of an Equal time of King George II’s War with Spain, viz, from October 1739 to June 1745 inclusive, which with the constant close attendance thereon for a considerable time brought on such an alarming geddyness in his head, that for several years, he kept a cover of a letter in his pocket addressed to himself, that it might be known where he lived in case of his falling in the street as he passed to and fro in his Duty at the Navy Office before he was appointed Commissioner (in the various branches of – crossed out) (in which he has served – crossed out) which occasioned him to live out of London for the benefit of his health by air and exercise, and though by his unwearied attention to the various branches of the Navy in which he has served since he has not totally got the better of his complaint, he has by cautious tempered living been blessed in general in other respects with good health.
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Printed Diary pages . x 2
Memorandums, Observations, and Appointments in April 1795
Monday 27 April 1795 – Set off for Blackheath, got home by 4 o’clock. Expenses 3.19.0
Tuesday 28 April 1795 – At the Board
Wednesday 29 April – Ditto
Thursday 30 April 1795 – Ditto
Fridayh 1 May 1795 – At the Board. The King, Queen and Princesses with the Duke and Duchess of York came to Somerset house to see the paintings and then came to – the Navy Office through the Hall and walked on the Terrace, (no other Commissioners but myself was in the office, but inquired and attended them. They all called me by name and in a very amiable, pleasing manner asked me how I did, and talked much more with me.
Saturday 2 May 1795 – At the Board. Paid Fife for Chariot Glass – 3
Sunday 3 May 1795 – At the Chapel
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Across page from previous.
April, 4th Month, has xxx Days. Accounts of Monies
27 – In the Coach road Mr Day and Gentleman Tarmer near Gad’s Hill, Kent and four women – Expenses in this journey
Gave Mr Creed Mr Pain’s (Cert’?) from the Treasury of the Navy for a sum of a Navy Bill for him, viz 204.2.3 to purchase as much more of the £5 % 6 ‘ls as will make £400 more than he now has therein.
Paid the house maid’s wages.
1 May –
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Printed Diary Page
Memorandums, Observations, and Appointments in May 1795
Monday 4 May 1795 – At the Board
Tuesday 5 May 1795 – Ditto
Wednesday 6 May 1795 – Ditto. And at Salters Hall
Thursday 7 May 1795 – Ditto. Received 24.2.3 of Mr Phillips Rent of Chatham houses.
Friday 8 May 1795 – Ditto
Saturday 9 May 1795 – At Greenwich hospital and at Mr Porry’s at Blackheath with Lord Spencer, his Lady, her sister, Lord Lucan and the Navy Board at the launch of the Wintaston(?) which the Government have bought.
Sunday 10 May 1795 – At Lewisham Church. Mr (Lowth?) was buried there today, morning after having been Vicar of the parish 55 years. (Reverend William Lowth MA, – died 30 April 1795)
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(other side of above?)
Admiralty, 9 July 1795
Sir,
I have to acknowledge your letter of today and am much obliged to you for a sight of the Pamphlett which you were so good as to send with it.
I am, Sir, Your obedient, humble servant.
Spencer
(re) Commissioner Marsh
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File 9849
Envelope
Lord Spencer
July 1795
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21 August 1795
For various reasons I writ the following letter to Earl Spencer first Lord of the Admiralty [George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer, Viscount Althorp, 1758-1834].
Viz.
My Lord,
I must rely on your Lordship’s benevolence and candour to excuse my troubling you upon the subject of my own situation, but having been near sixty one years in His Majesty’s Service, Thirty two of which a Commissioner of the Victualling and Navy, and twenty two thereof in the branch of the latter, termed Clerk of the Acts of the Navy, and have always executed my Duty with the utmost fidelity and attention, I trust and hope it may not be thought improper or unreasonable in mentioning the mortifications I have felt in seeing Baronetcies conferred on many of my brethren, who comparatively, have been but a short time in office, whilst I have been overlooked.
My Lord I consider your administration from the liberality and attention have shown to all the ranks as a favourable opportunity for me to solicit your Lordship’s influence to provide me a similar mark of His Majesty’s Royal favour, in addition to such a pension as I should hope from my very long services, and my period of life (seventy three) your Lordship will think me worthy of.
Under such circumstances I should be inclined to resign.
I have the honour to be with the greatest respect, My Lord your Lordships most obedient and most humble servant.
George Marsh
Navy Office, 12 March 1795
George John Spencer
2nd Earl Spencer
Viscount Althorp
1758-1834
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Print Diary page
Memorandum, Observations, and Appointments in August, 1795
Monday 24 August 1795 – At the Board
Tuesday 25 August 1795 – Ditto
Wednesday 26 August 1795 – Ditto
Thursday 27 August 1795 – Ditto
Friday 28 August 1795 – Ditto
Saturday 29 August 1795 – Ditto
Sunday August 1795 – At the Chapel &c. My son and Family with Martin and James Morrison dined with me.
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Printed diary page
Memorandums, Observations, and Appointments in September 1795
Monday 31 August 1795 – At the Board
Tuesday 1 September 1795 – Ditto
Wednesday 2 September 1795 – Ditto
Thursday 3 September 1795 – Ditto
Friday 4 September 1795 – Ditto
Saturday 5 September 1795 – Ditto – Mr Marsh of Rainham and his Wife returned home.
Sunday 6 September 1795 – at the Chapel
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Printed diary page
Memorandums, Observations, and Appointments in December 1795
Monday 28 December 1795 – At the Board
Tuesday 29 December 1795 – Ditto
Wednesday 30 December 1795 – Ditto
Thursday 31 December 1795 – Ditto
Memorandums and Resolutions At the End of the Year, 1795
Thank God I have been blessed with health, peace of mind, and passed through this year and indeed all my Life with all possible happiness and lived as comfortably as any person whatever with in my income I have been blessed with. I have always endeavoured to live pleasures of eating and drinking too much &c &c &c.
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Printed diary page – 1795?
December, 12th Month, has xxxi days. (Week 52)
Account of Monies
21 Dec – Paid George Chapman the carpenter to this day.
Ditto Mr Stratton the Brazier
Verral packed 36 doz of Port in my Store Celler – 25 doz. Sherry 60 bought of Mr Bell and about 15 doz. ditto bought of Mr Lett & 4 dozen Madeira – put in the New Cellar in (servant’s?) hall.
My sister came to my house.