Age of youngest crew members?

[vossy]

Whilst watching a very old film set on an old ship there was a character played by a young boy who looked about 6 years old. He was a cabin boy in the film and told one of the passengers that he was 12. 

My question is: How old were the the youngest legal members of ships in the 17th/18th century etc?

 

I'm sure that some put their age up to escape poverty and seek adventure, but what would have been the legal age to go to sea on vessels?

 

Thanks.

 

Chris.

 

[ccoyle]

There weren't any child labor laws back in those days, hence there was no legal minimum age for a boy to be able to put to sea, and that included warships. The captain had sole discretion over who would be entered into the ship's company.

[Toolmaker]

During the second half of the 18th century the London Marine Society registered around 4500 boys for sea service. Their stated minimum age was 14 although it was accepted that many boys younger than that may have been accepted.

[Goodshipvenus]

Midshipmen could be as young as 13 or even younger.

[Bob Fraser]

From a distant relatives naval biography - 

 

"subject of this memoir is the eldest surviving son of Hugh Fraser, Esq., surveyor of the Customs at Lerwiek, in Shetland (and 5th in lineal descent from William, second sonn of Thomas Fraser, of Strichen, Esq., second son of Alexander fifth Lord Lovat, who died in 1558), by Jane, daughter of Rev. Thomas Linning, of Walstein. His maternal grandmother was eldest daughter of John Hamilton, of Gilkersclengh, Esq., descended from the first Marquis of Hamilton.

 

Our officer was born about the year 1761, and when only nine years of age, entered the naval service on board the Fly sloop, commanded by the late admiral Gayton, with whom he served at the reduction of Belleisle"

 

And from th US Powder Monkeys

Edited February 26, 2023 by Bob Fraser

[Toolmaker]

https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/bitstream/handle/123456789/1703/PIETSCHShips'Boys2003.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

I wasn’t sure if the document should be embedded or just linked?

 

The link is to a large research document written using the records of the Marine Society. Still operating today, at the time in question the society was responsible for approximately 15% of Royal Navy recruitment. 
Page 149 shows a graph regarding Boys ages.

 

Although only one portion of a larger picture I hope it is of some use.

 

Thank you

Paul

Edited February 26, 2023 by Toolmaker

[wefalck]

Just read the (reconstructed) CV of a master born in 1706 on the Amrum island (North Sea coast of Germany), who first put to sea at the age of 12 - most men of that island were mariners, as agriculture was poor and not many other occupations neede. He sailed out of Hamburg and three years later was captured by pirates from Algiers and sold as a slave. After another three years he was bought out of slavery and then moved up the ranks, eventually becoming a successful master in the triangular trade between Denmark, West-Africa and the Danish Westindies. So successful that he could retire as the richest man of Amrum at the age of 42.

 

In less demanding environments, boys would not enter the service before their 'confirmation' (i.e. the protestant version of the First Communion), in the 18th and 19th century around the age of 14. That was the age when one would leave school to become apprenticed. As noted before, boys from very poor families would probably lie about their age ...

[Blue Ensign]

 In 1771 Britain's most famous Naval hero, Nelson, first put to sea at the age of twelve under the patronage of his uncle, Maurice Suckling, a Royal Navy Captain.

A boy had to grow up quickly in those days.

 

B.E.

[Keith Black]

 Apprentices aboard the USS Tennessee ca. 1880.  The youngest looking lad appears to be 14, give or take. 

 

[Robere210]

Here are 2 screen shots of page 149 of ToolMaker's PDF.