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[[Category:Occupations]]  
[[Image:Writers Building Calcutta.jpg|thumb|300px|right|''The Writers Building in Calcutta'']]
A writer was the lowest occupation in the East India Company. They were the
Originally the most junior employee of the East India Company whilst it was a trading company. Later, as it became involved in administration, it retained the term "writer" for its most junior civil servants. The term is also used in the [[Royal Navy]] for clerks.
clerks who maintained the ledgers and records of the Company, but who if
they lived long enough become very rich and powerful progressing through the
ranks of the Company service. Even after the demise of the Company around
1860, clerks in the Indian Civil Service were termed, unofficially at least,
writers. The term was/is also used in the Royal Navy for clerks.


Contributed to the India list by Anthony West, March 7, 2007


In 1810  “After five years Writers become Factors, after three years Junior Merchants, and after three years further Senior Merchants, the first of which period includes time spent at our College at Haileybury [http://books.google.com/books?id=6iQoAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA240 Google Books]
== Career progression ==


This [http://www.findmypast.com/helpadvice/knowledge-base/overseas-military/#overseas link] from FindMyPast, in respect of 1869, says<br>  
In 1810, the following arrangements were reported in place.
Promotion is by length of service. Civil Service grades are as follows:
:“After five years Writers become Factors,
*First Class – from 34th year of service in India
:after three years Junior Merchants, and
*Second Class – from 21st to 34th year in India
:after three years further Senior Merchants,
*Third Class – from 13th to 20th year in India 
:the first of which period includes time spent at our College at [[Haileybury]]." <ref>''The Bengal and Agra annual guide and gazetteer, for 1841'', 3rd edition, 1:240 (Calcutta: William Rushton & Co, nd). [http://books.google.com/books?id=6iQoAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA240 Google Books]</ref>
*Fourth Class – from 9th to 12th year in India
*Fifth Class – from 5th to 8th year in India
*Sixth Class – first 4 years in India


In 1905, this Google Books [http://books.google.com/books?id=3VQTAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA173 link] indicates First Class was with 30 years service; Second Class was with 23 years of service;
By 1869, promotion through the various Civil Service grades was by length of service as this list shows.
Third Class with 18 years; Fourth Class with 12 years of service


:First Class – from 34th year of service in India
:Second Class – from 21st to 34th year in India
:Third Class – from 13th to 20th year in India 
:Fourth Class – from 9th to 12th year in India
:Fifth Class – from 5th to 8th year in India
:Sixth Class – first 4 years in India <ref>"British India Records,"  [http://www.findmypast.co.uk/help-and-advice/knowledge-base/overseas-military/british-india#6 FindMyPast] (accessed online 23 March 2012).</ref>


By 1905, First Class was achieved with 30 years service, Second Class with 23 years of service, Third Class with 18 years and Fourth Class with 12 years of service.<ref>''The India List and the India Office List for 1905'' (London: Harrison & Sons, 1905), 173-174. [http://books.google.com/books?id=3VQTAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA173 Google Books]</ref>


Names of many applicants who petitioned for the position of writer between 1806 to 1856 are shown on the National Archives website  [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=059-iorj_2&cid=1-1-1#1-1-1 Writer’s petitions]. These relate to British Library series IOR/J/1 – however, it is thought this series may be incomplete. Where a name is found and papers are held then these often show details of parentage, educational background and date of appointment. If you find your ancestor here and are a Fibis member then you may wish to enlist the help of our research team to access this  further information.
==Records==
   
Names of many applicants who petitioned for the position of writer between 1806 to 1856 are shown online at [https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/h/af67a16b-368e-45f9-9065-01a42b970296/first/af67a16b-368e-45f9-9065-01a42b970296/07e85b57-a475-42a6-aabc-26c62a7c4db1 Writer’s petitions]. These relate to [[British Library]] series IOR/J/1 – however, it is thought this series may be incomplete. Where a name is found and papers are held, then these often show details of parentage, educational background and date of appointment.   


Refer also [[Indian Civil Service]]
Writers' petitions and Haileybury records 1749-1856 are available on the [http://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=2114&id=201071 findmypast] website.
 
== Related articles ==
*[[Indian Civil Service]].
 
== References ==
<references />
 
 
[[Category:Occupations]]
[[Category:Government and Administration]]
[[Category:Glossary]]

Latest revision as of 19:22, 28 July 2024

The Writers Building in Calcutta

Originally the most junior employee of the East India Company whilst it was a trading company. Later, as it became involved in administration, it retained the term "writer" for its most junior civil servants. The term is also used in the Royal Navy for clerks.


Career progression

In 1810, the following arrangements were reported in place.

“After five years Writers become Factors,
after three years Junior Merchants, and
after three years further Senior Merchants,
the first of which period includes time spent at our College at Haileybury." [1]

By 1869, promotion through the various Civil Service grades was by length of service as this list shows.

First Class – from 34th year of service in India
Second Class – from 21st to 34th year in India
Third Class – from 13th to 20th year in India
Fourth Class – from 9th to 12th year in India
Fifth Class – from 5th to 8th year in India
Sixth Class – first 4 years in India [2]

By 1905, First Class was achieved with 30 years service, Second Class with 23 years of service, Third Class with 18 years and Fourth Class with 12 years of service.[3]

Records

Names of many applicants who petitioned for the position of writer between 1806 to 1856 are shown online at Writer’s petitions. These relate to British Library series IOR/J/1 – however, it is thought this series may be incomplete. Where a name is found and papers are held, then these often show details of parentage, educational background and date of appointment.

Writers' petitions and Haileybury records 1749-1856 are available on the findmypast website.

Related articles

References

  1. ↑ The Bengal and Agra annual guide and gazetteer, for 1841, 3rd edition, 1:240 (Calcutta: William Rushton & Co, nd). Google Books
  2. ↑ "British India Records," FindMyPast (accessed online 23 March 2012).
  3. ↑ The India List and the India Office List for 1905 (London: Harrison & Sons, 1905), 173-174. Google Books
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