Official
Mehmed Şevki Efendi
Muslim (Müslüman). Born in Ruse (Rusçuk) in 1855/56 (AH 1272). On record 1872 to 1901, 25 annual entries. Death recorded 1901/02.
Archive reference 58- 207;407
Life#
Born in Ruse (Rusçuk) in 1855/56 (AH 1272), Mehmed Şevki Efendi came from the Muslim (Müslüman) community. Schooling took four years, at a school for young children (Sıbyan Mektebi).
Mehmed Şevki began work in Ruse in 1868/69, at about 13, with four unpaid years as a mülazım (apprentice) before a first salary of 220 kuruş. Of the 5,128 officials whose age at first work is known, fewer than 6 per cent started at 13 or younger. The first annual entry, for 1872/73, places Mehmed Şevki in Pleven (Plevne) as a communications official (Muhabere Memuru). The annual lists then follow Mehmed Şevki to Varna from 1874 to 1879, then Balıkesir from 1879 to 1885. Mehmed Şevki then moved to Skopje (Üsküp), Pljevlja (Taşlıca), Şarköy, Edirne and Pazar (Atina), five places in nine years, then back to Edirne from 1896 to 1898. The last posts were in Berat in 1899/1900 and Prezovan in 1900/01. Ten places on two continents in all, a number reached by fewer than 4 per cent of the 5,200 officials with a place of service.
The salary went from 220 kuruş a month in 1872/73 to 600 in 1900/01, the peak, as 3. Müdür in Prezovan, when 67 per cent of paid officials earned less. After the last annual entry, for 1900/01, the list of 1901/02 (AH 1319) gives the status word Vefat (death).
Places in order of time#
Each number is a stop: the birthplace, the place of first work, then every place of the annual entries in turn. The year beside an arrow is the first entry at the new place.
Born 1855/56 (AH 1272); First work 1868/69 (AH 1285)
1872 to 1874 (AH 1289 to 1290)
220 to 350 kuruş a month; entries in 2 years
1886 to 1888 (AH 1304 to 1305)
No annual entry for 1885/86 (AH 1303) before it.
500 kuruş a month; entries in 2 years
1894/95 (AH 1312)
No annual entry for 1892 to 1894 (AH 1310 to 1311) before it.
440 kuruş a month; entries in 1 year
1896 to 1898 (AH 1314 to 1315)
No annual entry for 1895/96 (AH 1313) before it.
500 kuruş a month; entries in 2 years
1899/1900 (AH 1317)
No annual entry for 1898/99 (AH 1316) before it.
500 kuruş a month; entries in 1 year
Death recorded in the annual list of 1901/02 (AH 1319): the word Vefat, not a date of death.
Career and salary#
Log scale: equal steps are equal ratios. The median of the same title is drawn for the years in which at least 5 officials with that title had a salary.
The numbers of the chart
| Year | Salary | Median, all officials | Median, same title | Paid less |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1872/73 | 220 | 550 | 400 | 6% |
| 1873/74 | 350 | 500 | 400 | 16% |
| 1874/75 | 385 | 535 | 450 | 23% |
| 1875/76 | 385 | 530 | 400 | 23% |
| 1876/77 | 385 | 582.5 | 410 | 17% |
| 1877/78 | 400 | 560 | 410 | 16% |
| 1878 | 500 | 600 | 500 | 33% |
| 1878/79 | 500 | 600 | 420 | 34% |
| 1879/80 | 400 | 500 | 380 | 35% |
| 1880/81 | 400 | 500 | 400 | 34% |
| 1881/82 | 400 | 500 | 400 | 31% |
| 1882/83 | 400 | 500 | 400 | 28% |
| 1883/84 | 400 | 500 | 400 | 27% |
| 1884/85 | 400 | 500 | 400 | 27% |
| 1886/87 | 500 | 500 | 400 | 42% |
| 1887/88 | 500 | 500 | 400 | 41% |
| 1888/89 | 475 | 500 | 400 | 39% |
| 1889/90 | 475 | 500 | 400 | 40% |
| 1890/91 | 475 | 500 | 400 | 41% |
| 1891/92 | 475 | 500 | 400 | 42% |
| 1894/95 | 440 | 500 | 400 | 42% |
| 1896/97 | 500 | 500 | 400 | 49% |
| 1897/98 | 500 | 500 | 400 | 49% |
| 1899/1900 | 500 | 500 | 400 | 47% |
| 1900/01 | 600 | 500 | 540 | 67% |
Paid less: the share of the other officials with a salary that year who earned less.
Point at a year for its salary, title, place and the median of all officials paid that year. Choose a row of the table to mark its years in the charts and its stop on the map.
| Years | Title | Place | Salary (kuruş a month) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1868/69AH 1285 | First work | Ruse (Rusçuk) | 220first-salary field |
| 1872 to 1874AH 1289 to 1290 | Muhabere Memuru | Pleven (Plevne) | 220 to 350 |
| 1874 to 1879AH 1291 to 1296 | Muhabere Memuru | Varna | 385 to 500 |
| 1879 to 1885AH 1297 to 1302 | Muhabere Memuru | Balıkesir | 400 |
| No annual entry: 1885/86 (AH 1303) | |||
| 1886 to 1888AH 1304 to 1305 | Muhabere Memuru | Skopje (Üsküp) | 500 |
| 1888/89AH 1306 | Muhabere Memuru | Pljevlja (Taşlıca) | 475 |
| 1889 to 1891AH 1307 to 1308 | Muhabere Memuru | Şarköy | 475 |
| 1891/92AH 1309 | Muhabere Memuru | Edirne | 475 |
| No annual entry: 1892 to 1894 (AH 1310 to 1311) | |||
| 1894/95AH 1312 | Muhabere Memuru | Pazar (Atina) | 440 |
| No annual entry: 1895/96 (AH 1313) | |||
| 1896 to 1898AH 1314 to 1315 | Muhabere Memuru | Edirne | 500 |
| No annual entry: 1898/99 (AH 1316) | |||
| 1899/1900AH 1317 | Muhabere Memuru | Berat | 500 |
| 1900/01AH 1318 | 3. Müdür | Prezovan | 600 |
| 1901/02AH 1319 | Death recorded | ||
Record#
Personal
- Born
- 1855/56 (AH 1272)
- Birthplace
- Ruse (Rusçuk)
- Community
- Muslim (Müslüman)
- Nationality as recorded
- Turkish
- Death recorded
- 1901/02 (AH 1319)the year of the annual list with the word Vefat, not a date of death
Education
- Primary
- Sıbyan Mektebi (4 years)school for young children (primary school)
- Unpaid years (mülazemet)
- 4 years
- Preparation route (classification of the paper)
- Low
- Qualification (diploma, certificate, training or nişan)
- NoShown as in the flag of the paper. The qualification column of the recovered extract gives yes.
The years count all schooling up to that school, as the record gives them.
Languages
- Turkish
- Kitabetwriting
The glosses are cautious historical readings of the recorded words, not modern levels of proficiency.
First work
- Year
- 1868/69 (AH 1285)
- Place
- Ruse (Rusçuk)
- First salary field (kuruş a month)
- 220
Legal records
- Legal record note as worded
- Görev ihmali / Mumaileyhin su-i hal ve hareketinden mezburu tebdil ve Kırkkilise Kumandanlığından gelen tahriratta bildirildiği ve mevkianın ehemmiyetine binaen bekası caiz olamayacağı Telgraf ve Posta Nezareti tezkere-i seniyyesinde emr ve iş’arı Sicil üzerine bin üç yüz on altı senesi Rebiülahirinin yirmi beşinde 21 Ağustos sene 1314 Meclis-i İdare-i Nezaret kararınca azl edilmiş; işret / Atina Vilayeti Telgraf Merkezi Muhabere Memuriyetine tayin kılınmış ise de işret etmesinden dolayı telgrafnamelerin hatadan salim olmadığı ve bu hali ile vazifesini ifa edemeyeceği anlaşılmakla ileride ıslah-ı nefs eylediği halde memuriyete katılmamak üzere sene-i merkum Recebülferdinin on dördünde 21 Kânunuevvel sene 1310 tarihinde idareten açığa çıkarılmıştır.; işret / Mumaileyhin ve müsta‘mel telgrafnameleri vaktiyle keşide etmeyüb sarhoşluk saikasıyla tehir ettiğinden bir müddet açıkta kalıp mütebenni olmak üzere bin üç yüz on bir senesi Zilhiccesinin beşinde 29 Mayıs sene 1310 tarihinde idareten azl edilmiştir.; işret / işrete olan inhimakı üzerine bir müddet dolaşıp sarhoşlukla kendisini kaybederek Postahaneye gelen insanların açık bir halde bulunduğu ve şu halde kefilleri kefaletten resmen istifa ederek hükümetçe ahvali aynen müşahede edildiği cihetle bin üç yüz on yedi senesi Muharreminin altısında 4 Mayıs sene 1315 tarihinde azil v; Görev İhmali; İşret
- Years (AH) with a criminal-record mark in the annual records
- 1312; 1314; 1315; 1317; 1318
Recorded with#
Officials who share a place, a job title, a school, a birthplace or the year of the first annual entry. Ranks compare the highest monthly salary of each official.
Same place, same years
Of the 21 officials with entries in Varna in the same years, Mehmed Şevki Efendi had the 15th highest salary.
- Şemsettin Efendi4 shared years; highest salary 1,000 kuruş
- Mehmet Nuri Efendi4 shared years; highest salary 900 kuruş
- Mehmet Sait Efend4 shared years; highest salary 620 kuruş
- Mehmet Tevfik Efendi3 shared years; highest salary 600 kuruş
- Mehmet Bey3 shared years; highest salary 500 kuruş
Same job title, same years
Of the 1,998 officials with the title Muhabere Memuru in the same years, Mehmed Şevki Efendi had the 797th highest salary.
- Nikola Yunani Efendi24 shared years; highest salary 1,350 kuruş
- Mehmet Nazım Efendi24 shared years; highest salary 1,300 kuruş
- Şarl Laze Efendi24 shared years; highest salary 1,250 kuruş
- Cemal Efendi24 shared years; highest salary 840 kuruş
- Unnamed official (23_38; 73)24 shared years; highest salary 800 kuruş
Same school
Of the 746 officials with Sıbyan Mektebi among their schools, 745 have a recorded salary; Mehmed Şevki Efendi had the 400th highest salary of them.
- Abdülhadi Efendiborn 1855/56 (AH 1272); highest salary 800 kuruş
- Ali Riza Efendiborn 1855/56 (AH 1272); highest salary 2,000 kuruş
- Hasan Efendiborn 1855/56 (AH 1272); highest salary 900 kuruş
- Hüseyin Medhi Efendiborn 1855/56 (AH 1272); highest salary 600 kuruş
- Hüseyin Şemsettin Efendiborn 1855/56 (AH 1272); highest salary 400 kuruş
Same birthplace
Of the 13 officials born in Ruse (Rusçuk), Mehmed Şevki Efendi had the 8th highest salary.
- Abdullah Kemali Efendiborn 1860/61 (AH 1277); highest salary 700 kuruş
- Huseyin Rusdi Efendiborn 1861/62 (AH 1278); highest salary 1,800 kuruş
- Abdullah Efendiborn 1862/63 (AH 1279); highest salary 500 kuruş
- İbrahim Ethem Efendiborn 1844/45 (AH 1260); highest salary 700 kuruş
- Mahmut Fazlı Efendiborn 1840/41 (AH 1256); highest salary 2,500 kuruş
First annual entry in the same year
Of the 84 officials whose first annual entry is for 1872/73 (AH 1289), Mehmed Şevki Efendi had the 66th highest salary.
- Mehmet Zühdü Efendifirst entry in Istanbul; highest salary 1,435 kuruş
- Rifat Necmi Efendifirst entry in Nova Zagora (Yeni Zağra); highest salary 760 kuruş
- Haci Cemal Beyfirst entry in Yemen; highest salary 1,030 kuruş
- Hafız Bekir Sıdkı Efendifirst entry in Izmir (İzmir); highest salary 1,150 kuruş
- İbrahim Ethem Efendifirst entry in Edirne; highest salary 2,800 kuruş
Full record
Annual entries (25)
| Year | Title | Place | Kuruş a month | Institution | Source | Archive reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1872/73AH 1289 | Muhabere Memuru | Pleven (Plevne) | 220 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 58- 207;407 |
| 1873/74AH 1290 | Muhabere Memuru | Pleven (Plevne) | 350 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 58- 207;407 |
| 1874/75AH 1291 | Muhabere Memuru | Varna | 385 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 58- 207;407 |
| 1875/76AH 1292 | Muhabere Memuru | Varna | 385 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 58- 207;407 |
| 1876/77AH 1293 | Muhabere Memuru | Varna | 385 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 58- 207;407 |
| 1877/78AH 1294 | Muhabere Memuru | Varna | 400 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 58- 207;407 |
| 1878AH 1295 | Muhabere Memuru | Varna | 500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 58- 207;407 |
| 1878/79AH 1296 | Muhabere Memuru | Varna | 500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 58- 207;407 |
| 1879/80AH 1297 | Muhabere Memuru | Balıkesir | 400 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 58- 207;407 |
| 1880/81AH 1298 | Muhabere Memuru | Balıkesir | 400 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 58- 207;407 |
| 1881/82AH 1299 | Muhabere Memuru | Balıkesir | 400 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 58- 207;407 |
| 1882/83AH 1300 | Muhabere Memuru | Balıkesir | 400 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 58- 207;407 |
| 1883/84AH 1301 | Muhabere Memuru | Balıkesir | 400 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 58- 207;407 |
| 1884/85AH 1302 | Muhabere Memuru | Balıkesir | 400 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 58- 207;407 |
| 1886/87AH 1304 | Muhabere Memuru | Skopje (Üsküp) | 500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 58- 207;407 |
| 1887/88AH 1305 | Muhabere Memuru | Skopje (Üsküp) | 500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 58- 207;407 |
| 1888/89AH 1306 | Muhabere Memuru | Pljevlja (Taşlıca) | 475 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 58- 207;407 |
| 1889/90AH 1307 | Muhabere Memuru | Şarköy | 475 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 58- 207;407 |
| 1890/91AH 1308 | Muhabere Memuru | Şarköy | 475 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 58- 207;407 |
| 1891/92AH 1309 | Muhabere Memuru | Edirne | 475 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 58- 207;407 |
| 1894/95AH 1312 | Muhabere Memuru | Pazar (Atina) | 440 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 58- 207;407 |
| 1896/97AH 1314 | Muhabere Memuru | Edirne | 500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 58- 207;407 |
| 1897/98AH 1315 | Muhabere Memuru | Edirne | 500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 58- 207;407 |
| 1899/1900AH 1317 | Muhabere Memuru | Berat | 500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 58- 207;407 |
| 1900/01AH 1318 | 3. Müdür | Prezovan | 600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 58- 207;407 |
What the sources named in this table are
- Recovered annual personnel extract
- The merged annual personnel file recovered for the replication of the first paper. Annual entries are taken from it for every official it holds.
Sources and original values (21)
| Field | Recorded value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Name | Mehmed Şevki Efendi | Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Birth year (AH) | 1272 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Birthplace | ruscuk | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Province of birth | tuna | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Religion | Musluman | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Nationality or community | Turkish | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Schooling | ||
| School | Sibyan Mektebi | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Years of schooling | 4 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Years of apprenticeship (mülazemet) | 4 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| First work | ||
| First work: year (AH) | 1285 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| First work: Gregorian year as stored | 1868 | Recovered annual personnel extract |
| First work: place | Ruscuk | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| First salary field (kuruş a month) | 220 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Legal records | ||
| Legal record note as worded | Görev ihmali / Mumaileyhin su-i hal ve hareketinden mezburu tebdil ve Kırkkilise Kumandanlığından gelen tahriratta bildirildiği ve mevkianın ehemmiyetine binaen bekası caiz olamayacağı Telgraf ve Posta Nezareti tezkere-i seniyyesinde emr ve iş’arı Sicil üzerine bin üç yüz on altı senesi Rebiülahirinin yirmi beşinde 21 Ağustos sene 1314 Meclis-i İdare-i Nezaret kararınca azl edilmiş used on this page | Legal notes (earlier workbook copy); Legal notes (later workbook copy) |
| Legal record note as worded | işret / Atina Vilayeti Telgraf Merkezi Muhabere Memuriyetine tayin kılınmış ise de işret etmesinden dolayı telgrafnamelerin hatadan salim olmadığı ve bu hali ile vazifesini ifa edemeyeceği anlaşılmakla ileride ıslah-ı nefs eylediği halde memuriyete katılmamak üzere sene-i merkum Recebülferdinin on dördünde 21 Kânunuevvel sene 1310 tarihinde idareten açığa çıkarılmıştır. other value | Legal notes (earlier workbook copy); Legal notes (later workbook copy) |
| Legal record note as worded | işret / Mumaileyhin ve müsta‘mel telgrafnameleri vaktiyle keşide etmeyüb sarhoşluk saikasıyla tehir ettiğinden bir müddet açıkta kalıp mütebenni olmak üzere bin üç yüz on bir senesi Zilhiccesinin beşinde 29 Mayıs sene 1310 tarihinde idareten azl edilmiştir. other value | Legal notes (earlier workbook copy); Legal notes (later workbook copy) |
| Legal record note as worded | işret / işrete olan inhimakı üzerine bir müddet dolaşıp sarhoşlukla kendisini kaybederek Postahaneye gelen insanların açık bir halde bulunduğu ve şu halde kefilleri kefaletten resmen istifa ederek hükümetçe ahvali aynen müşahede edildiği cihetle bin üç yüz on yedi senesi Muharreminin altısında 4 Mayıs sene 1315 tarihinde azil v other value | Legal notes (earlier workbook copy); Legal notes (later workbook copy) |
| Legal record note as worded | Görev İhmali other value | Legal notes (earlier workbook copy); Legal notes (later workbook copy) |
| Legal record note as worded | İşret other value | Legal notes (earlier workbook copy); Legal notes (later workbook copy) |
| Years (AH) with a criminal-record mark in the annual records | 1312; 1314; 1315; 1317; 1318 | Later annual personnel extract |
| Status | ||
| Death recorded under the year (AH) | 1319 | Earlier annual personnel extract (original copy); Earlier annual personnel extract (parallel copy) |
What the sources named in this table are
- Legal notes (earlier workbook copy)
- A workbook of notes on legal records. The wording is kept as written. It may hold an accusation or an acquittal, it is not the finding of a court, and its year is the year of the record, not the date of an event.
- Legal notes (later workbook copy)
- A later copy of the workbook of notes on legal records. The same wording in both copies is one note, not two.
- Earlier annual personnel extract (original copy)
- A copy of the earlier annual personnel file, read for the title wording of each year. A death taken from it is the status word Vefat in the title field of one annual list: the year is the year of that list, not a date of death.
- Earlier annual personnel extract (parallel copy)
- A second copy of the earlier annual personnel file, read in the same way. A death taken from it is the status word Vefat in the title field of one annual list: the year is the year of that list, not a date of death. Two copies that agree are one piece of evidence, not two.
- Later annual personnel extract
- The detailed annual personnel file of October 2025. It marks single annual entries with a criminal-record flag and holds status words such as Vefat. For a death, the year is the year of the annual list in which the status word stands.
- Earlier annual personnel extract
- The detailed annual personnel file of October 2024. An official found only in this file keeps the years, titles and salaries it gives.
- Recovered annual personnel extract
- The merged annual personnel file recovered for the replication of the first paper. Annual entries are taken from it for every official it holds.
- Personnel attributes extract
- The detailed personnel file of September 2025, read for personal details such as birth, schooling and first work.
- The sources give more than one value for a marked field. Every value is listed.
- Origin of the record: Post and Telegraph personnel records.
- 25 annual entries of 25 belong to the saved estimation sample of the paper.
How to read this record: calendar years, years without an annual entry, salaries and sources.
Subjects
- Mehmed Şevki Efendi
- Communications official (Muhabere Memuru)
- Varna
- Ruse (Rusçuk)
- School for young children (Sıbyan Mektebi)
- Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)
- Muslim (Müslüman)
- Biography of an Ottoman official (Osmanlı memurunun biyografisi)
- Career and pay (memuriyet ve maaş)
- Ottoman history (Osmanlı tarihi)
- Ottoman bureaucracy (Osmanlı bürokrasisi)
- Ottoman officials (Osmanlı'da memurlar)
- Ottoman personnel registers (Sicill-i Ahvâl defterleri)
- Ottoman registers (Osmanlı defterleri)