The household below stairs: Cofferer of the Household 1660-1782

Pages 400-402

Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660-1837. Originally published by University of London, London, 2006.

Citation:

Cofferer of the Household 1660–1782

The cofferer of the household was the principal accounting officer of the Household Below Stairs and paid the wages and board wages of all servants below stairs and in the stables, and many in the chamber as well. He was appointed by royal warrant. (fn. 1) The remuneration amounted to £500 consisting of wages of £100 and board wages of £400. This officer was also allowed lodgings and the right to take poundage of 6d. in the pound on the bills and salaries which passed through his office. Early in the eighteenth century this came to over £2,000 per annum. (fn. 2) The office was abolished in 1782. (fn. 3)

The office of deputy cofferer, which was in the gift of the cofferer, developed from that of cofferer's clerk and was first accorded official recognition during the reign of George I. It was largely remunerated by fees and was valued at £500 to £600 in 1754. (fn. 4)

Cofferer 1660–1782



1660	20 June	Ashburnham, W.
1679	9 Dec.	Brouncker, Hon. H.
1685	18 July	Apsley, Sir P.
1689	2 May	Newport, 1st Viscount
1702	22 Apr.	Bathurst, Sir B.
1704	1 May	Godolphin, Hon. F.
1711	13 May	Masham, S.
1714	21 Oct.	Godolphin, 2nd Earl of
1723	27 May	Pulteney, W.
1725	31 May	Lincoln, 7th Earl of
1728	7 Sept.	Office vacant
1730	2 May	Walpole, H.
1741	25 Apr.	Winnington, T.
1744	1 Jan.	Sandys, 1st Lord
1744	22 Dec.	Waller, E.
1747	1 Jan.	Lincoln, 9th Earl of
1754	2 Apr.	Lyttelton, Sir G.
1756	1 Jan.	Leeds, 4th Duke of
1761	19 Mar.	Grenville, Hon. J.
1761	27 Nov.	Thomond, 1st Earl of
1765	12 July	Scarbrough, 4th Earl of
1766	10 Dec.	Stanley, H.
1774	9 Mar.	Dyson, J.
1776	18 Sept.	Stanley, H.
1780	2 Feb.	Beauchamp, Viscount

Deputy Cofferer 1714–1782



1714	Oct.	Edwards, S.
1723	May	Merrill, J.
1725	May	Sloper, W.
1743	Jan.	Wynn, J.
1743	Dec.	Ord, R.
By 1749		Pelham, J.
1754		Lyttelton, W.H.
1755		Brudenell, Hon. J.
1761	Mar.	Grenville, J.
1761	27 Nov.	Williams, G.J.
1765	12 July	Fitzroy Scudamore, C.
1769	Oct.	Sloane, H.
1780	Oct.	Seymour Conway, Hon. H.