Genealogy Chat

What roughly would have been the wages for a stoker in 1902 - I ask as have come across one who has 7 days to pay £47 into court! I am guessing that this was 9 - 12 mths wage but do not know.

I don't have figues for 1902 but in 1920 the daily rates of pay for a Royal Navy Stoker varied between 3 shillings 3d and 6 shillings per diem (per day) depending on the class and period of service of the sailor so bearing in mind 1912 rates of pay would have been rather lower the £47 fine would have been very hefty especially given the 7 day deadline. As a guideline the average annual wage in England in 1912 was just over £97

Adjusted for the Retail Price Index, £47 in 1902 is the equivalent of more than £3,500 today.

However, in terms of perceived cost to the person at that time it would have seemed considerably more, as wages were far less, probably 4 to 5 times less than what they are today.

So, to the poor man in 1902, the £47 would seem more like £15,000 - £20,000 would to us today.

Are you sure the figure is correct, as it seem very high?

Thank you both for info - the figure was actually £47.12s.3d. being the full costs incurred by the plaintiff in a divorce case! Our stoker was the co-respondent - wonder how he paid it - the RN would not have made him a loan - or did he go to prison for non-payment? Even if he managed to pay the costs - would he have been discharged from the RN?

Chris.

The basic daily rate of pay in 1899 for a stoker was 2 shillings, I don't think it changed much by 1902!

Its 1912 we are looking for not 1902 Chris...do you have those figures as the nearest I have is 1920. col

Looks as if a guessed rate of pay in 1902 would have been £1 then - or not far off!