This series contains miscellaneous material from the Registrar General's office, which does not belong with the main series of registers, etc, from that office.
The records include historical material on the administration and organisation of the various register offices, 1702-1905; precedent books and papers, containing details of administrative procedure and decisions on method that were not provided for by legislation, 1835-1945; a series of reports on the administration of the office, 1856-1920, and Black Books which contain notes of disciplinary proceedings against holders of Certificates of Competency or Service, 1851-1893.
There are a few remaining records of the administration of the Seamen's Fund, set up in 1747, including some account books of the Exeter receiver of the seamen's sixpence, 1800-1852, giving the ship and master's names, the port, tonnage and number of crew of the ship and a note of her last voyage. The names of the men paying and their home towns, and the total sum paid are also given. There are also two series of registers, one covering the years 1837-49 and the other 1837-51. They give the names of the ship and master, the home port, tonnage and number of men and dates of payments, but no details of the amounts paid. There is one other register, covering the years 1831-52, noting year by year arrivals of ships with their names and their masters and the amounts paid. It also records money paid from other ports.
Also included is a register of steam vessels, 1840-1850; a list of merchant vessels taken off the register, 1908-1918; specimens of printed forms, stationery, etc, 1856 to 1927; copy letter books, 1889 to 1919 and various papers relating to the Coastguard, 1920 to 1950.