Widow's man

A widow's man was a fictitious seaman kept on the books of Royal Navy ships during the 18th and early 19th centuries so that their pay and rations could be redistributed to the families of dead crew members.

This financial arrangement helped keep widows from being left destitute following the deaths of their seafaring husbands.

This procedure can lead to some confusion to modern students of history.

For example, the sloop Discovery carried 153 men on its voyage exploring Puget Sound, but the widow's man brings its official complement to 154.

[3] Reportedly, in 1738 the sloop, Wolf discharged its widow's man when the company was reduced; whether this was an accident or an attempt to maintain crew strength is difficult to determine.