T is for Trinity House (and Tobacco and Trusses)
T is for Trinity House (and Tobacco and Trusses) It is amazing what we take for granted isn't it? Oh look there's a lighthouse. Oh look there's a buoy! In my reading about naval records I came across a mention of Trinity House. I'd never heard of it before. Apparently, if you wanted to be a ship's master in the Royal Navy (they're the people that get to navigate the ship), then you would have to be examined by Trinity House (Pappalardo, p. 14). And the same if you wanted to be a schoolmaster /naval instructor - although it did change to the RN College Portsmouth in 1819 (Rodger, p. 29). Letters regarding masters' candidates from 1702-1807 can be found in ADM 6/134 or ADM 1/4314-4315 for the period 1808-39. In contrast, a gunner was examined by the Ordnance Board and a Chaplain by the Bishop of London (Rodger, p.6) Trinity House is very old indeed. It was incorporated by Royal Chart...