[3] On large ships, he had his own cabin in the gunroom, but on smaller vessels he lived with the midshipmen on the orlop deck.
[4] On most ships the first lieutenant was allowed a "writer" to help him draw up the watch and station bills, chosen from among the most literate landmen, otherwise the paperwork was done by the officers themselves.
[4] The captain's clerk worked closely with the purser, especially regarding the muster book which was used to determine how much to feed the crew.
The rating initially were paid slightly more than a midshipman and master's mates, reflecting a similar status aboard ship and with their counterparts in the Royal Navy.
[6] President Andrew Jackson's "special confidential agent" Edmund Roberts embarked on the USS Peacock in 1832 and was rated as the captain's clerk, on his way to serve as envoy to Cochin-China.