Official
Mehmet Şevket Efendi
Muslim (Müslüman). Born in Istanbul (Dersaadet) in 1853/54 (AH 1270). On record 1870 to 1907, 35 annual entries.
Archive reference 54_130; 257
Life#
Born in Istanbul in 1853/54 (AH 1270) into the Muslim (Müslüman) community, Mehmet Şevket Efendi was the child of an imam. Mehmet Şevket had seven years of schooling, at a middle school (Rüşdiye Mektebi).
Work began in Üsküdar in 1869/70, at about 16, with one unpaid year as a mülazım (apprentice) before a first salary of 250 kuruş. The annual lists begin in 1870/71, with Mehmet Şevket as a communications official (Muhabere Memuru) in Üsküdar. Next came Istanbul in 1871/72 and Beyoğlu in 1872/73, then Babi seraskeri from 1873 to 1879. The annual lists then follow Mehmet Şevket to Fethiye (Meğri), Muğla and Izmir (İzmir) from 1879 to 1882, then Soma from 1882 to 1890. Mehmet Şevket then moved to six places in 15 years, with a rise to director of the second grade (2. Müdür) in 1892/93. The last post was in Yabannasif in 1906/07. In all, 14 places on two continents, a number reached by only 22 of the 5,200 officials with a place of service. Few careers in the lists are as long; fewer than 5 per cent of the 5,211 officials have entries spanning 38 years or more.
The salary went from 250 kuruş a month in 1870/71 to 1,000 in 1906/07, the peak, as 2. Müdür in Yabannasif, when 85 per cent of paid officials earned less. The last annual entry is for 1906/07.
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 1853/54 (AH 1270)
First work 1869/70 (AH 1286); 1870/71 (AH 1287)
250 kuruş a month; entries in 1 year
1873 to 1879 (AH 1290 to 1296)
400 to 600 kuruş a month; entries in 7 years
1890 to 1892 (AH 1308 to 1309)
250 to 600 kuruş a month; entries in 2 years
1906/07 (AH 1324)
No annual entry for 1905/06 (AH 1323) before it.
1,000 kuruş a month; entries in 1 year
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870/71 | 250 | 600 | 400 | 8% |
| 1871/72 | 200 | 550 | 400 | 6% |
| 1872/73 | 400 | 550 | 400 | 26% |
| 1873/74 | 400 | 500 | 400 | 24% |
| 1874/75 | 425 | 535 | 450 | 32% |
| 1875/76 | 425 | 530 | 400 | 33% |
| 1876/77 | 500 | 582.5 | 410 | 36% |
| 1877/78 | 600 | 560 | 410 | 50% |
| 1878 | 600 | 600 | 500 | 46% |
| 1878/79 | 600 | 600 | 420 | 47% |
| 1879/80 | 600 | 500 | 380 | 61% |
| 1880/81 | 600 | 500 | 400 | 60% |
| 1881/82 | 500 | 500 | 400 | 46% |
| 1882/83 | 600 | 500 | 400 | 59% |
| 1883/84 | 600 | 500 | 400 | 59% |
| 1884/85 | 600 | 500 | 400 | 59% |
| 1885/86 | 600 | 500 | 400 | 58% |
| 1886/87 | 600 | 500 | 400 | 59% |
| 1887/88 | 600 | 500 | 400 | 58% |
| 1888/89 | 600 | 500 | 400 | 58% |
| 1889/90 | 600 | 500 | 400 | 58% |
| 1890/91 | 600 | 500 | 400 | 59% |
| 1891/92 | 250 | 500 | 400 | 12% |
| 1892/93 | 800 | 500 | 800 | 80% |
| 1895/96 | 800 | 500 | 800 | 80% |
| 1896/97 | 720 | 500 | 765 | 81% |
| 1897/98 | 720 | 500 | 778.5 | 81% |
| 1898/99 | 720 | 500 | 800 | 80% |
| 1899/1900 | 720 | 500 | 783 | 79% |
| 1900/01 | 720 | 500 | 800 | 77% |
| 1901/02 | 720 | 500 | 800 | 77% |
| 1902/03 | 720 | 500 | 800 | 77% |
| 1903/04 | 720 | 475 | 800 | 77% |
| 1904/05 | 720 | 450 | 800 | 77% |
| 1906/07 | 1,000 | 450 | 800 | 85% |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1869/70AH 1286 | First work | Üsküdar | 250first-salary field |
| 1870/71AH 1287 | Muhabere Memuru | Üsküdar | 250 |
| 1871/72AH 1288 | Muhabere Memuru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 200 |
| 1872/73AH 1289 | Muhabere Memuru | Beyoğlu | 400 |
| 1873 to 1879AH 1290 to 1296 | Muhabere Memuru | Babi seraskeri | 400 to 600 |
| 1879/80AH 1297 | Muhabere Memuru | Fethiye (Meğri) | 600 |
| 1880/81AH 1298 | Muhabere Memuru | Muğla | 600 |
| 1881/82AH 1299 | Muhabere Memuru | Izmir (İzmir) | 500 |
| 1882 to 1890AH 1300 to 1307 | Muhabere Memuru | Soma | 600 |
| 1890 to 1892AH 1308 to 1309 | Muhabere Memuru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 600 to 250 |
| 1892/93AH 1310 | 2. Müdür | Sjenica (Seniçe) | 800 |
| No annual entry: 1893 to 1895 (AH 1311 to 1312) | |||
| 1895 to 1901AH 1313 to 1318 | 2. Müdür | Kayalar | 800 to 720 |
| 1901 to 1903AH 1319 to 1320 | 2. Müdür | Prizren | 720 |
| 1903/04AH 1321 | 2. Müdür | Pljevlja (Taşlıca) | 720 |
| 1904/05AH 1322 | 2. Müdür | Preveza (Preveze) | 720 |
| No annual entry: 1905/06 (AH 1323) | |||
| 1906/07AH 1324 | 2. Müdür | Yabannasif | 1,000 |
Record#
Personal
- Born
- 1853/54 (AH 1270)
- Birthplace
- Istanbul (Dersaadet)
- Community
- Muslim (Müslüman)
- Nationality as recorded
- Turkish
- Father's occupation
- imam
Education
- Rüşdiye
- Rüşdiye Mektebi (7 years)rüşdiye school (middle school)
- Unpaid years (mülazemet)
- 1 year
- Preparation route (classification of the paper)
- Low
- Qualification (diploma, certificate, training or nişan)
- No
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
- 1869/70 (AH 1286)
- Place
- Üsküdar
- First salary field (kuruş a month)
- 250
Legal records
- Legal record note as worded
- Hırsızlık / Zimmet / Pireveze Merkezinde iken mektup üzerine yapıştırılan pulların yolsuzluğundan dolayı iki kuruşluk iki adet pulun iki kat pahasiyle tazmini ve badema vazifesine dikkat ve itina eylemesinin şediden kendisine tebliğiyle tevbih edildiği ve ahiren merkezden sirkat olunan beş bin kuruşluk posta paketinden dolayı tahkikat icra olunmak üzere üç yüz yirmi üç senesi şehr-i Rebiülevvelinin altısında 28 Nisan sene 1321 eli işden çekdirilip mahallince cereyan eden muhakeme neticesinde mezkur beş bin kuruşun bir aylık maşının katʻıyla maa masarıf-ı muhakeme ve ücret-i vekalet kendisiyle kefilinden tahsiline hükm-i lahik olduğu Kosova Vilayeti Telgraf ve Posta Başmüdüriyeti'nin işʻar-ı telgrafiyesinden anlaşılmış ve meblağ-ı mezburun tamamen tahsil ve tesviye edildiği; Hırsızlık / Üsküp Postahanesi'nden Taşlıcaya mersul yirmi beş bin kuruşluk bir parça emanetin hin-i küşadında dört lira noksan zuhur etmekle lede't-tahkik mumaileyh tarafından suret-i mahiranede fesad karıştırıldığı anlaşılmasından naşi bin üç yüz on bir senesi şehr-i Receb-i şerifnin yirmi ikisinde 17 Kânunusani sene 1309 işden el çektirilerek; Zimmet
- Years (AH) with a criminal-record mark in the annual records
- 1313; 1314; 1315; 1316; 1317; 1318; 1319; 1320; 1321; 1322; 1324
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 586 officials with entries in Istanbul in the same years, Mehmet Şevket Efendi had the 221st highest salary.
- Emil Efendi3 shared years; highest salary 9,000 kuruş
- Suleyman Resat Bey3 shared years; highest salary 7,000 kuruş
- Mehmet Hayri Bey3 shared years; highest salary 5,500 kuruş
- Mehmet Emin Bey3 shared years; highest salary 5,000 kuruş
- Melkok Efendi3 shared years; highest salary 5,000 kuruş
Same job title, same years
Of the 1,342 officials with the title Muhabere Memuru in the same years, Mehmet Şevket Efendi had the 219th highest salary.
- Tahir Efendi23 shared years; highest salary 1,500 kuruş
- Nikola Yunani Efendi23 shared years; highest salary 1,350 kuruş
- Mehmet Nazım Efendi23 shared years; highest salary 1,300 kuruş
- Taşçıyan Markar Efendi23 shared years; highest salary 1,300 kuruş
- Şarl Laze Efendi23 shared years; highest salary 1,250 kuruş
Same school
Of the 3,206 officials with Rüşdiye Mektebi among their schools, 3,200 have a recorded salary; Mehmet Şevket Efendi had the 289th highest salary of them.
- Abdülbaki Efendiborn 1853/54 (AH 1270); highest salary 1,000 kuruş
- Ahmet Naim Efendiborn 1853/54 (AH 1270); highest salary 500 kuruş
- Ahmet Rüştü Efendiborn 1853/54 (AH 1270); highest salary 3,000 kuruş
- Ali Haydar Efendiborn 1853/54 (AH 1270); highest salary 1,500 kuruş
- Feyzullah Zihni Efendiborn 1853/54 (AH 1270); highest salary 400 kuruş
Same birthplace
Of the 1,999 officials born in Istanbul, 1,997 have a recorded salary; Mehmet Şevket Efendi had the 354th highest salary of them.
- Agop Maryan Efendiborn 1853/54 (AH 1270); highest salary 750 kuruş
- Ahmet Canib Efendiborn 1853/54 (AH 1270); highest salary 590 kuruş
- Ahmet Naim Efendiborn 1853/54 (AH 1270); highest salary 500 kuruş
- Ali Haydar Efendiborn 1853/54 (AH 1270); highest salary 1,500 kuruş
- Ali Riza Efendiborn 1853/54 (AH 1270); highest salary 600 kuruş
First annual entry in the same year
Of the 66 officials whose first annual entry is for 1870/71 (AH 1287), Mehmet Şevket Efendi had the 24th highest salary.
- Ahmet Rüştü Efendifirst entry in Üsküdar; highest salary 3,000 kuruş
- Ali Rıza Efendifirst entry in Üsküdar; highest salary 1,000 kuruş
- Ali Rıza Efendifirst entry in Üsküdar; highest salary 800 kuruş
- Bohur Badur Efendifirst entry in Niš (Niş); highest salary 600 kuruş
- İsmail Rahmi Efendifirst entry in Bitola (Manastır); highest salary 3,000 kuruş
Full record
Annual entries (35)
| Year | Title | Place | Kuruş a month | Institution | Source | Archive reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870/71AH 1287 | Muhabere Memuru | Üsküdar | 250 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 54_130; 257 |
| 1871/72AH 1288 | Muhabere Memuru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 200 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 54_130; 257 |
| 1872/73AH 1289 | Muhabere Memuru | Beyoğlu | 400 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 54_130; 257 |
| 1873/74AH 1290 | Muhabere Memuru | Babi seraskeri | 400 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 54_130; 257 |
| 1874/75AH 1291 | Muhabere Memuru | Babi seraskeri | 425 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 54_130; 257 |
| 1875/76AH 1292 | Muhabere Memuru | Babi seraskeri | 425 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 54_130; 257 |
| 1876/77AH 1293 | Muhabere Memuru | Babi seraskeri | 500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 54_130; 257 |
| 1877/78AH 1294 | Muhabere Memuru | Babi seraskeri | 600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 54_130; 257 |
| 1878AH 1295 | Muhabere Memuru | Babi seraskeri | 600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 54_130; 257 |
| 1878/79AH 1296 | Muhabere Memuru | Babi seraskeri | 600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 54_130; 257 |
| 1879/80AH 1297 | Muhabere Memuru | Fethiye (Meğri) | 600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 54_130; 257 |
| 1880/81AH 1298 | Muhabere Memuru | Muğla | 600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 54_130; 257 |
| 1881/82AH 1299 | Muhabere Memuru | Izmir (İzmir) | 500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 54_130; 257 |
| 1882/83AH 1300 | Muhabere Memuru | Soma | 600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 54_130; 257 |
| 1883/84AH 1301 | Muhabere Memuru | Soma | 600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 54_130; 257 |
| 1884/85AH 1302 | Muhabere Memuru | Soma | 600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 54_130; 257 |
| 1885/86AH 1303 | Muhabere Memuru | Soma | 600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 54_130; 257 |
| 1886/87AH 1304 | Muhabere Memuru | Soma | 600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 54_130; 257 |
| 1887/88AH 1305 | Muhabere Memuru | Soma | 600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 54_130; 257 |
| 1888/89AH 1306 | Muhabere Memuru | Soma | 600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 54_130; 257 |
| 1889/90AH 1307 | Muhabere Memuru | Soma | 600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 54_130; 257 |
| 1890/91AH 1308 | Muhabere Memuru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 54_130; 257 |
| 1891/92AH 1309 | Muhabere Memuru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 250 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 54_130; 257 |
| 1892/93AH 1310 | 2. Müdür | Sjenica (Seniçe) | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 54_130; 257 |
| 1895/96AH 1313 | 2. Müdür | Kayalar | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 54_130; 257 |
| 1896/97AH 1314 | 2. Müdür | Kayalar | 720 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 54_130; 257 |
| 1897/98AH 1315 | 2. Müdür | Kayalar | 720 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 54_130; 257 |
| 1898/99AH 1316 | 2. Müdür | Kayalar | 720 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 54_130; 257 |
| 1899/1900AH 1317 | 2. Müdür | Kayalar | 720 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 54_130; 257 |
| 1900/01AH 1318 | 2. Müdür | Kayalar | 720 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 54_130; 257 |
| 1901/02AH 1319 | 2. Müdür | Prizren | 720 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 54_130; 257 |
| 1902/03AH 1320 | 2. Müdür | Prizren | 720 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 54_130; 257 |
| 1903/04AH 1321 | 2. Müdür | Pljevlja (Taşlıca) | 720 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 54_130; 257 |
| 1904/05AH 1322 | 2. Müdür | Preveza (Preveze) | 720 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 54_130; 257 |
| 1906/07AH 1324 | 2. Müdür | Yabannasif | 1,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 54_130; 257 |
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 (18)
| Field | Recorded value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Name | Mehmet Şevket Efendi | Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Birth year (AH) | 1270 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Birthplace | dersaadet | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Province of birth | dersaadet | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Father's occupation | imam | 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 | Rusdiye Mektebi | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Years of schooling | 7 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Years of apprenticeship (mülazemet) | 1 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| First work | ||
| First work: year (AH) | 1286 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| First work: Gregorian year as stored | 1869 | Recovered annual personnel extract |
| First work: place | uskudar | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| First salary field (kuruş a month) | 250 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Legal records | ||
| Legal record note as worded | Hırsızlık / Zimmet / Pireveze Merkezinde iken mektup üzerine yapıştırılan pulların yolsuzluğundan dolayı iki kuruşluk iki adet pulun iki kat pahasiyle tazmini ve badema vazifesine dikkat ve itina eylemesinin şediden kendisine tebliğiyle tevbih edildiği ve ahiren merkezden sirkat olunan beş bin kuruşluk posta paketinden dolayı tahkikat icra olunmak üzere üç yüz yirmi üç senesi şehr-i Rebiülevvelinin altısında 28 Nisan sene 1321 eli işden çekdirilip mahallince cereyan eden muhakeme neticesinde mezkur beş bin kuruşun bir aylık maşının katʻıyla maa masarıf-ı muhakeme ve ücret-i vekalet kendisiyle kefilinden tahsiline hükm-i lahik olduğu Kosova Vilayeti Telgraf ve Posta Başmüdüriyeti'nin işʻar-ı telgrafiyesinden anlaşılmış ve meblağ-ı mezburun tamamen tahsil ve tesviye edildiği used on this page | Legal notes (earlier workbook copy); Legal notes (later workbook copy) |
| Legal record note as worded | Hırsızlık / Üsküp Postahanesi'nden Taşlıcaya mersul yirmi beş bin kuruşluk bir parça emanetin hin-i küşadında dört lira noksan zuhur etmekle lede't-tahkik mumaileyh tarafından suret-i mahiranede fesad karıştırıldığı anlaşılmasından naşi bin üç yüz on bir senesi şehr-i Receb-i şerifnin yirmi ikisinde 17 Kânunusani sene 1309 işden el çektirilerek other value | Legal notes (earlier workbook copy); Legal notes (later workbook copy) |
| Legal record note as worded | Zimmet other value | Legal notes (earlier workbook copy); Legal notes (later workbook copy) |
| Years (AH) with a criminal-record mark in the annual records | 1313; 1314; 1315; 1316; 1317; 1318; 1319; 1320; 1321; 1322; 1324 | Later annual personnel extract |
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.
- 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.
- 34 annual entries of 35 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
- Mehmet Şevket Efendi
- Communications official (Muhabere Memuru)
- Soma
- Istanbul (Dersaadet)
- Rüşdiye school (Rüşdiye 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)