1808, April.
Protection Ticket.
“Bell Rock Work-yard, Arbroath, 31st March 1808.
“John Pratt, seaman in the service of the Honourable the Commissioners of the Northern Light-houses, aged 35 years, 5 feet 8 inches high, black complexion, and slightly marked with the small-pox.
“Robert Stevenson,
“Engineer for Northern Light-houses.”
Obverse.
“The bearer John Pratt, is serving on board of the Sir Joseph Banks Tender and Craft, employed at the erection of the Bell Rock Light-house.
The signature of the Master of the Tender, “David Taylor.
The signature of the bearer, “John Pratt.”
These tickets were found to be indispensably necessary in the Light-house service, as it was impossible that every man, or even each boat’s crew, could carry the ship’s protection about with them. But the check afforded by the several signatures as noted above, was generally respected by the Impress officers.
Light-house Yacht again visits the Rock.