http://www.legislation.gov.uk/aep/Will3/7-8/21/section/IV/enactedGreenwich Hospital, etc. Act 1695enBritish History Onlinebho/pubid-353/46828.xml2024-12-11 IVNone but such Seamen capable of Commission or Warrant Office.; Such Seamen on Service may appoint Persons to receive Proportion of their Pay, &c.; Proviso in case of Death of such Seamen.; Proviso for greater Share of Prize Money than to other Seamen.; Registered Seamen exempt from Juries, Militia, &c. on Production of Certificate.; No Fee for Certificate.; Election to such Offices, &c. void.And bee itt further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That in every or any Yeare computeing the Yeare to beginne from the First day of January dureing which the whole Number of registred Seamen there alive or in being shall not exceed Thirty thousand and every such Seaman entred registred as aforesaid shall have paid and allowed to him from His Majesty His Heires and Successors (whether hee bee in actuall Service or not) the yearely Summe or Bounty of Forty Shillings over and besides such other Pay and Allowances which hee shall bee intituled unto by being in His Majesties actuall Service And in every or any Yeare dureing which the whole Number of registred Seamen then alive or in being shall exceed Thirty thousand there shall bee in the like manner allowed and paid a Bounty of Forty Shillings a peice to Thirty thousand of the Number last mentioned for every such Yeare respectively (to witt) to such of them as by the Bookes of the said Registers shall appeare to be longest entred in or for His Majesties Sea Service And moreover none but such registred Mariners Watermen Fishermen Lightermen Bargemen Keelmen and Seafareing men shall bee capable of being preferred to any Commission or Warrant Offices in the Royall Navy of His Majesty His Heires and Successors And that every such registred Seaman being in Service upon any Shipp or Vessell of His Majesties His Heires or Successors in any Foreigne Voyage or designed for any Foreigne Voyage shall from tyme to tyme or att any tyme have Power and is hereby authorized to signe or appoint to his Wife or any other Person or Persons any part or proportion of the Pay due or to bee due to him for his Service not exceeding Two Months Pay in every Six Months Pay which shall bee due to him which Assignements shall bee duely satisfied and complyed with upon due Proofe to bee made of the Six Moneths Service by Returne of Musters according to the Practice of His Majesties Navy And that upon the like Proofe of such Seamans Death in the said Service the Moneys which shall bee due or remaineing due to him for his Wages shall bee paid to his Executors or Administrators without tarrying for the Shipps Returne or her generall Pay And alsoe every Seaman registred as aforesaid shall have and receive for and as his Share and Dividend out of and for all Prizes taken att Sea wherein hee shall bee concerned in the takeing or whereunto hee shall bee intituled to have any Part or Share a double Part or Share in every such Prize more than any other Seaman of like Quality in the Shipp with himselfe whoe shall not bee registred as aforesaid Any Law or Statute to the contrary notwithstanding And that every such registred Seaman upon produceing a Certificate under the Hand and Seale of the Register or Registers in the said Navy Office or other Office as aforesaid that hee stands there soe registred as aforesaid shall bee from tyme to tyme freed and exempted from serveing upon any Juryes or Inquests or in the Militia or in or about the assessing or collecting of any publick Taxes or Assessments or in the Offices of Constables Tithingmen Borsholder Churchwarden Overseer or Collector for the Poore or any other Parish. Officer whatsoever except such registred Seaman shall declare himselfe willing to serve in such Office for which Certificate noe Fee or Reward shall bee demanded or received And every Election and Appointments of any such registred Seaman or Seafareing man (soe long as hee continues soe registred) to any of the said Offices Places or Employments aforesaid shall bee and is hereby declared to bee voyd unlesse hee shall declare his Consent as aforesaid.interlined on the Roll.