İbrahim Recai Efendi

İbrahim Recai Efendi was born in Kilis in 1842/43 (AH 1258). Work began in Payas in 1867/68, at about 25, on a first salary of 250 kuruş. The first annual entry, for 1867/68, places İbrahim Recai in Payas as Tahrirat kalemi mukayyidi. Alongside, the lists for 1867 to 1871 give a second post, in İskenderun as Rüsûmat müdüriyeti ambar kâtibi. At the same time, from 1870 to 1872, the lists also place İbrahim Recai in Gaziantep (Antep) as Rüsûmat müdüriyeti başkâtibi. Alongside, the lists for 1871 to 1875 give a second post, in a post with no place named as Rüsûmat müdüriyeti görevi. İbrahim Recai then moved to Hama and Gelibolu from 1875 to 1883, with a rise to Rusumat Muduru in 1880/81. Alongside, the lists for 1882 to 1884 give a second post, in Kütahya as Rusumat Muduru. The last entry, for 1884/85, names İbrahim Recai as Tahrirat müdürü, with no place. Few officials served in as many provinces; fewer than 6 per cent of the 6,605 officials with a place of service did.

The salary went from 375 kuruş a month in 1867/68 to 1,500 in 1884/85, the peak, when nine in ten paid officials earned less. In all, 19 years of salary come to 154,260 kuruş, 1.6 times what an official on the median salary earned in those years. The final annual entry is for 1889/90.